Everyone (with any Bible background at all) knows how the Old Testament carefully teaches that honor is due to the Sabbath day. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

But now we are learning that Israel was also to observe a whole “Sabbath Year” … during every seventh year of their national life! Yes, and that’s the subject of Leviticus 25:1-7.

God to Moses: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the SEVENTH YEAR shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” Leviticus 25:2-4

Wow!

My first question … how will the people eat during this whole year? Remember, they are farmers for the most part. This is an “agricultural economy!”

The answer: GOD WILL FEED THEM FROM THE VOLUNTEER PRODUCE of that fallow land! This is total dependence upon the Lord! This is faith! (If God fails, starvation ensues!) “And the sabbath of the land shall be MEAT for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, and for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.” Leviticus 25:6-7

But note too that God will not only feed the Jews from that “resting” (observing the Sabbath) land … but also feed their “servants!” And too the “foreigners” in their midst, “strangers” in our King James Version. Then add the “livestock” as well! (A Lesson could be written on God’s care for the animals here!) But not just the domesticated animals, the wildlife too! This is astounding!

But (today’s emphasis) Deuteronomy 31:9-13 explicitly tells us even more about this Sabbatical Year. “And Moses wrote this law (the Book of Deuteronomy at least, maybe the whole Pentateuch), and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every SEVEN YEARS, in the solemnity of the YEAR OF RELEASE (THE SABBATH YEAR), in the feast of tabernacles (IN THE FALL OF THAT SABBATICAL YEAR). When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt READ THIS LAW (THE WORD OF GOD) before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may HEAR, and that they may LEARN, and FEAR the LORD your God, and observe to do (OBEY) all the words of this law: and that their CHILDREN, which have not known any thing, may HEAR, and LEARN to FEAR the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”

A Bible Conference!

Lasting for seven days, if not eight!

This is what was happening in Nehemiah chapter 8 … when Ezra was reading God’s Law (“And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law”) and explaining the Scripture (“They read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading”) to all the people! (Expository Preaching, now!)

Wow!

Bible Study for a whole Nation!

During the Sabbath Year!

God’s Word … it is that important!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Are you studying, learning, obeying that precious old Book (our God-inspired Bible) every day of your life?

Acts 17:11 says of a noble people: “They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily.”

May we be that noble!

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I have counted, and the word “land” occurs 19 times in Leviticus chapter 25. Once every 3 verses, on average!

Then in Leviticus chapter 26 … 23 more times, the noun “land!”

What’s more, God gave these upcoming “laws” about the “land” … while Moses was still on Mount Sinai!

Leviticus 25:1 … “And the LORD spake unto Moses IN MOUNT SINAI, saying ….” Then follow 54 more verses about the “land,” properly treating it under God’s Authority!

After all, He (the Lord) made the land (Genesis 1:1), and certainly knows how it is designed to optimally function!

The thing that strikes me this morning is the very fact that God is so sure Israel is going to arrive and dwell in the “land,” that He is already legislating behavior in that “land!” For that “land,” for the very “ground” itself!

And Israel could have been occupants of that “land” much sooner, had she trusted God!

In only eleven short days, to be exact! “There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb (Sinai) by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.” Deuteronomy 1:2

But Israel (through doubt, through disobedience) managed to stretch that brief time into forty long years!

Still … God knew they were going to arrive some day!

My point here … God’s Laws can (at least at times) be viewed as “assurances!” As virtual “guarantees!” As “commitments” on His Part to do what He has commanded, in the very location He has specified!

You can’t let the land “rest,” unless you are living on that land, unless you own that land!

Back to Leviticus 25:1-4 … “And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.”

Let the land rest one year of every seven!

The acreage you own gets a “Sabbath” too!

Wow!

Let me give a New Testament illustration of the principle I am here trying to show you.

In Luke 8:22 we read: “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE of the lake. And they launched forth.” 

This is a command (as was “Let the land rest” in Leviticus 25), a mandate from God! That is … “Disciples, launch the boat, the ship!” We’re going (now a promise) to the “other side” of the lake, Sea of Galilee.

But then a storm arose! And the crew (Disciples) panicked! “But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.” Verses 23-24

They were fearful … even though Jesus had just told them, “We’re going to the other side!” He, our Lord, meant that Statement to be not only a command (“Prepare the ship”) … but also a promise. We shall arrive over there! Let US go!

In like manner God’s Laws about the land … long before Israel ever set foot on that land … were promises that one day (in this case not 11 days but 40 years) they would conquer and indwell Canaan!

And they did!

Old Alexander Maclaren used to preach, “God’s Commandments are also God’s enablements!”

Indeed!

Tomorrow we shall look in greater detail at the first seven verse of Leviticus 25, that “land.” That Promised Land!

Come to think of it … that Land Israel now possesses again!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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WHY NOW?

Such a “Sabbath” emphasis in Leviticus?

I mean especially after chapter 24 … with its heavy focus on God’s shining (the Tabernacle’s Golden Candlestick) on/toward/upon that Table of Bread with its 12 Loaves (Shewbread, literally “the Bread of His Face”) … implying God delighting in fellowship with mankind, His Creation! And equally implying man’s delight in such glorious communion with Almighty God!

Because the Sabbath to ancient Israel was the “temporal” expression of that “spatial” dimension Leviticus 24 just pictured!

WHEN particularly did God “shine” upon man and man in turn “bask” in such Light?

The answer … the Sabbath!

Hence, logically, as per the Holy Spirit’s Omniscient Design … comes Leviticus 25, the “Sabbath” Chapter!

Here’s an overview of the next couple of Lessons, centered on that amazing chapter …

Leviticus 25 has 55 verses! Making it the third longest chapter in the whole Book!

And it talks about the Sabbath Principle in detail!

The TIMES when God has proclaimed special Periods (days or weeks or even years) of fellowship! Rest and Communion … God with man and Man with God!

So Leviticus 25 initially talks about the Sabbatical Year!Then about the Jubilee Year, the culmination of seven “Sabbatical Years.” Then about the Kinsman Redeemer, a Type of Jesus communing with His people!

So the next few Lessons will center on these Sabbath ideas. Time for God! Enjoyable time!

Leviticus 23 was all about TIME … the seven Feasts of God, the very Israelite Calendar, God-ordained!

And now Leviticus 25 is about TIME, Sabbath years and Jubilees! Time for God and man … for man and his God! “”Knowing” God time!)

And these two chapters form an “inclusio” … bracketing/wrapping the TIME idea around the FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD idea, as set forth in Leviticus 24. That is, the Golden Lampstand shining upon the Table of 12 Loaves of Bread! God enlightening His people … and them reciprocally basking in the Light of His Glory/Love/Person!

Hallelujah!

Leviticus as a Book (the central Book of Moses) is actually built on this idea of “sevens.” As is another Bible Book, the last one, Revelation!

And both Books also long for (and predict) this pristine (Edenic) Goal of perfect harmony/fellowship/communion … God with man! And man with God!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Be reminded that the Book of Leviticus only contains 27 chapters. So we are nearing the end of our literary and spiritual journey. (Having just completed chapter 24.)

Yet the Book too has been subtly “building” a major Thesis, Principle, Pattern with Almighty God at the Center.

And this Thrust centers around two terms. Two Hebrew expressions, one just a word (“shakan”) and the other a phrase (“ohel moed”). Let me explain, translate. “Shakan” is a verb meaning “to dwell.” While “ohel” means “tent” (as in the “Tabernacle” itself) … and is so often linked with the noun “moed” meaning “assembly, feast, congregation.” Thus “ohel moed” suggests a “place of meeting!” If you will allow me, “a place of fellowship, communion, harmony, intimacy!”

Remember this too, basically how the Book of Exodus ends: “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34-35

God is in the Tabernacle!

But Moses is not!

God is there … “shakan.” (This is the very root of the ineffable “Shekinah Glory” Ideal!

But Moses is not yet there … the Place not yet being the “ohel moed,” the Place where God and man can “meet and fellowship” ever so sweetly!

Wow!

This difference/distinction/shade of meaning holds true in the Book of Exodus too. As the Tabernacle is under construction it is generally characterized as God’s “dwelling” place, or at least that’s the goal. “Shakan,” in summary.

But once it is in use, with the priesthood functioning for example, the Place becomes the “Tent of Meeting!” Again in sum, “ohel moed.”

Wow again!

GOD BUILT THAT HOLY STRUCTURE TO COME DOWN TO EARTH (“shakan”) AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY “TO RESIDE WITH HIS PEOPLE”, WITH ISRAEL (“ohel moed)!

“Moed” is actually translated “feasts” or “seasons” three dozen times in the King James Version of Scripture. That’s the main emphasis of Leviticus 23, those seven Feasts! God inviting His people to come fellowship with Him!

That’s the meaning of Leviticus 24 too! The LIGHT of the Candlestick shining over against (upon) the Table of Bread with its twelve loaves! A Picture of GOD shining/fellowshipping/communion with His people (all twelve tribes of them) in sweet peace and harmony!

And this is also the function of Leviticus 25 … with its renewed emphasis on the Sabbath principle, God longing for (even demanding) His people to honor and adore (worship) Him one day out of every seven! Still basically, God and man in fellowship!

And you know what this is? It is a reestablishing of the Goal our great God had for mankind way back in the Garden of Eden! The Lord coming down (“shakan”) in the cool of the day … and “walking” (as in “ohel moed”) with Adam and Eve! Genesis 3:8, for example.

This discussion could get a lot more technical and include a lot more statistics and information … but the Theorem I have outlined above holds true, Biblically.

First God has come down and now dwells (“shakan”) in that Holy Place, Most Holy Place!

Next God has invited us to come and congregate (“moed”) around Him in that Tabernacle (“ohel)!

Hallelujah!

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we go into chapter 25 with its strongly suggestive Sabbatical emphasis.

Leviticus, what a spiritually inviting Book!

And no wonder, God Himself has been the Major Speaker … I mean from its very first verse (“And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …”) to its very last chapter (“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying …”). A thrilling thought indeed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A chapter about worship, about the Tabernacle, and specifically about the golden Lampstand/Candlestick and the Table (also overlaid with gold) then loaded with fresh Bread … ending in such a “sad” way!

A man has “blasphemed the Name of the Lord!” While in a fight, in a moment of anger, but still he “slighted, belittled, dishonored” God’s Very name! Leviticus 24:11 … “And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.”

We learned in verse 10 that the man’s “father was an Egyptian,” likely a half-hearted follower of God anyway. (Part of the “mixt multitude” maybe … as in Numbers 11:4?)

Parents have great influence on their sons, their children. For good or (sorrowfully) for evil.

But Moses did not know what to do with this blasphemous offender! So … “They put him in ward (jail, confinement), that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.” Verse 12

Then shortly, the heavenly Answer came! “The LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation STONE HIM. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever CURSETH HIS GOD shall bear his sin. And he that BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, HE SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH, and all the congregation shall certainly STONE HIM: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.” Verses 13-16, conclusive!

Serious to God, THE HONOR DUE HIS NAME!

So … “Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel DID as the LORD commanded Moses.” Leviticus 24, last verse.

Surely this “Word/Instruction from God” has nexus to the Third Commandment. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

I’ve related this whole Story in order to share a “quote” this morning, something I read in preparation for this Lesson.

“In the Bible GOD’S DIVINE NAME takes the place which in other religions was occupied by their graven image.”

Wow!

Of course we worship God and God alone (the Godhead) … but the only conception we have of our precious God is … HIS NAME!

His Name becomes His Character, His Person, His Essence!

Think of the nearly countless times in the Bible GOD’S NAME is uplifted, and rightly so!

Exodus 20 continues to teach us along this same line: “Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record MY NAME I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” Verses 23-24!

Did you get that Last Clause, God speaking … “IN ALL PLACES WHERE I RECORD MY NAME I WILL COME UNTO THEE, AND I WILL BLESS THEE.” 

God’s Name … need I say more?

No wonder then His Name is never to be denigrated, cursed, blasphemed!

Psalm 72:19 … “And blessed be HIS GLORIOUS NAME for ever.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Hallowed be THY NAME,” Jesus taught us to pray! (Matthew 6:9, sometimes called “The Lord’s Prayer.” But for sure, “The Model Prayer!”

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