Leviticus 25:50-55 ~ Triple R ~ Reckoning~Redemption~Reminder!

Good morning, my friends and fellow sojourners on this earth.  During our last visit we supped together on Leviticus 25:47-49: click here to review.  We learned of our God's awesome provision for the Israelites, when they fell upon tough times.  The law of Kinsman Redeemer was introduced. 

Lord willing, we will finish up Leviticus 25 today.  This morning's measure of manna is spiced with God's Triple R seasoning: Reckoning, Reminder, and Redemption.  Please join us, as we share a delicious portion of God's Word. 

LEVITICUS 25:50-55

And he shall Reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.  If there yet be many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.  And if their remains but a few years until the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his Redemption.  And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in your sight.  And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him. (Reminder) For unto Me the children of Israel are servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 

:50 ~ And he shall Reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. 


"Is God instituting slavery in these laws regarding the price of a slave's redemption? prior to the Year of Jubilee?" asks Jon Courson in his Application Commentary on the Old Testament.  "No, He's regulating what was already taking place.  Why didn't God forbid slavery?  Because God's way is to change people.  Changed people, in turn--like England's abolitionist William Wilberforce, an outspoken believer, will then change politics."

What do you think of that statement?  Of course, no argument, God is definitely in the business of changing people and using them to effect change in the world!  It makes me think ... regulation versus prohibition ... would, or does, it work for today's governments?

You can listen (for free) to Pastor Jon's Bible teachings: by Book, Verse by Verse, or In-Depth Topical and Expositional Teachings.  Many excellent resources there, including a Daily Devotional.  Guaranteed blessings.

Also, speaking of reckoning ... shall there not be a Reckoning (settling of accounts) when we meet our LORD at the Throne of Judgement???   For Scriptures regarding the "day of judgment" in Biblos: click here. 

Jesus does give us the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23-34.  This Scripture follows the whole set up, back here in Leviticus.  The forgiveness of debt ... of course, Jesus died to pay our debts, once and for all.  But, I also notice that, in this text from Matthew, the Lord spoke of settling of accounts with His servants ... not everyone.

Photo credit and thanks to: The Bible a Book of Truth

Then, there is the 'day of reckoning' described in Matthew 25 which includes His servants (His sheep) and the 'others' (goats). I adore the above photo.  While it does not depict the final separation; it does beautifully portray the ongoing enmity between the sheep and the goats.

I know that I have left out other relevant Scriptures, including: Revelation 20:11-12 which describes the reckoning at the Great White Throne ... this would be another whole study:  please add your comments!

Hebrew law limited the service of the Israelite servant to 6 years, unless he offered a voluntary service after that period ... Exodus 21:1-6

:51 ~ If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his Redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 

If he was only in service a short time, the Israelite servant must have been expected to still have the money he was originally given when he sold himself into his master's service.  And could buy back (redeem) his debt or contract.

:52 ~ And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again  the price of his Redemption.

On the other hand, if he had served most of his term of service; he was soon to be set free at Jubilee anyway; he had to reckon with his master for the Redemption price of an early release from his contract or to pay off his debt early.

53 ~ And as a yearly  hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in your sight.

There were stringent rules about how a stranger or sojourner was to treat an Israelite in his service.  He was to be treated fairly and with respect.  I believe that the same rules still hold true today ... between us and our employers.  The employers of God's servants are held to a higher accountability for how they treat their employees.  We discussed that more in depth in our last study.

:54 ~ And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him.

Year of Jubile (Jubilee) ~ The 50th year, which followed seven Sabbath years, was to proclaim liberty to those who were servants because of debt, and to return lands to their former owners.  (Leviticus 25:8-55, 27:17-24; Ezekiel 46:17)  As Christians, is this not me and you, as well???  Jesus (our Kinsman Redeemer) said that He came to proclaim liberty!!!  Are we not His servants?!  Bless Him, for paying the debt, that we could never pay!  Hallelujah!!!

This also brings up a question: what children is he to take with him?  Scripture states that if a servant meets a female servant while in the employ of the master and she bears his children, that the woman and the children are the property of the owner and are to stay there.

Aha!  There is a very different situation here ... don't you just LOVE hunting for treasure in the Bible???  According to John Gill's Exposition on the Bible: "his wife too, if he had any, was comprehended in himself, and whom, both wife and children, his master was obliged to maintain during his servitude."

So, it was quite a commitment for a master to take on an Israelite slave!  Beside the rules of fair treatment; he was also responsible for the well-being of this man's immediate family.  I would think that it would take a more compassionate and responsible man, than most, to hire a Jewish servant. He would have more mouths to feed, but probably more hands to work, as well!

Hmmm ... I feel like there is more to this!  Anyone?  Can you contribute to this point about the children?
  
John Calvin said in his Commentary:  "The object of the law was, that none of those whom God had adopted, should be alienated from their race, and thus should depart from the true worship of God Himself. The whole of this is comprehended in the last verse, where God declares that the children of Abraham were His property, inasmuch as He had led them forth from the land of Egypt, and, on the other hand, that He is their peculiar God. For, whilst it was just that they should enjoy His blessing, so also it behooved that they should be kept sound in His pure and undivided worship..."

Now, the LORD concludes with a very clear Reminder!

:55 ~ For unto Me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I AM the LORD your God.

This Reminder is comforting to His sheep and foreboding to the goats!

I do believe that it will not go well to anyone who mistreats one of God's servants!  There is no room, for "interpretation" here.  This last verse is the bottom line!
To us, this Reminder is a blessed assurance; at the same time, it is also a strict warning...lest we ever forget from Whom comes our freedom, our joy, our very life and breath!  And to Whom belongs our everlasting thanks, worship and praise!

Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! ~ Psalms 103:1 

Until we meet again, Tot ons weer ontmoet (Afrikaans)

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~

 

LEVITICUS 25:47-49 ~ Have You Sold Yourself to a Stranger?

I have been on a little hiatus from publishing. It is a blessing to be back to feast on God's Word with you.  While camped in Leviticus, we last shared LEVITICUS 25:44-46 ~ click to review.  There, the LORD had given rules, regarding the purchase of bondmen and bondmaids, which brought up the subject of slavery.  A very important issue in our modern day world ... because, right now, slavery is at the highest numbers, than at any other time in history!

Included in this next portion of Scripture, is the law of goel or ga'al, kinsman redeemer.  There is a beautiful illustration of this in the Book of Ruth.  Of course, this concept is but a shadow of Jesus' role, as our ultimate Kinsman Redeemer.  He bought back our eternal souls from the bondage of sin and death, once and for all, through the price He paid (in full) on the cross ... for that we are eternally grateful!

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld - Ruth in Boaz's Field [1828]

Once again, we warmly invite you to come in, get comfortable and share this morning's measure of manna with us.  We return back to 1445 BC, when this Book of Moses was written.

LEVITICUS 25:47-49:
And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by you, and your brother that dwells by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by you, or to the stock of the stranger's family:  After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is near of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.

:47 ~ And if a sojourner or stranger wax (becomes) rich by (near) you, and your brother that dwells by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by you, or to the stock of the stranger's family:

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: 
Sojourner:  guest, foreigner, alien, temporary resident
Stranger:  dweller, especially as distinguished from a native citizen or countryman

Rich:  indicates power, means, or direction - in distinction
Stock:  transplanted, naturalized citizen
Family:  circle of relatives, a tribe or people

LOTS of good information here: Biblos~Context. 

*Note to self:  There is much treasure to be found in this verse, need to dig further. Especially re: the "stock" of the stranger's family.  hmmm

:48 ~ After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

Redeem: according to the Oriental Law of Kinship = i.e. to be the next of kin and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc. = to do or perform the part of near, next of kin/kinsfolk-man, purchase, ransom, redeem(-er)

Click here: for Biblos~Parallel Commentaries.


:49 ~ Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is near of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, ⁵³⁸¹ he may redeem himself.

It was the family's duty to redeem their impoverished relative.  If he had no kin or his kin could not "buy him back," and he had no means to redeem himself; then, he would be released in the Year of Jubilee.  GOD's people were never meant to be permanently sold to strangers.  He made very specific provisions, so that the Israelites could always return to their families and the land that the LORD had given them.

Below are "Words and Images from the people of Yunnan Province, China"  Click, on the link or picture, for a peek into remote cultures that, although not Christian, still depend completely on family and community ... as they have for many generations.

"...three families of relatives helping each other during the busy agricultural season " :Zhao Yuxi: 56-year-old Naxi woman, Lower Nanyao Village

What has happened to us?  What has happened to our sense of duty to and responsibility for our families and communities?  Today, so MANY "strangers" and "sojourners,"  both literally and figuratively, have become very rich in our lands!  Our global culture is changing rapidly.

Yet, due to the present state of the economy, citizens of our own lands are losing their jobs, their homes, their ability to support themselves.  Today, we are 'forced' to take (and/or to remain in) demeaning and/or low paying jobs.  Too often, our employers are as "strangers" or "sojourners."  They treat us like temporary residents; as slaves, not servants ... numbers not names.  They plan to make their money and move on, not caring for the land nor the people that support them.  This is out of God's order!

I do not intend for the cartoon (above) to be a personal statement about Wal Mart stores ... but, to me, this cartoon is symbolic of corporations, in general.  Family owned businesses are getting "swallowed up" by much bigger fish (corporations).  In turn, families are split up and many of us end up working for (selling ourselves to) these larger, more impersonal entities (strangers) to make ends meet.

Unless, we have set aside a "nest egg," or come into an inheritance, what can we do?

Businesses are closing, labor is being "outsourced" ... the unemployment rate soars.  What help do our current systems provide for the poor?  If we are lucky, there is Unemployment Insurance, Welfare Benefits ... but, what relief does this really give?  Is this really solving the problems? ... not usually!  Here and in other countries, the poor are left to beg on the streets, many are literally selling themselves and their children!  I believe that this is happening, because we are not following God's laws and ways.

Click here: for interactive map ... Global Employment Tracking from Gallup.

Families have lost the feeling of responsibility for their kin.   Also our communities for their native and permanent residents.  There is no Jubilee ... which would allow one to start over, debt-free and blame-free.  Thus ... we have the mess, that so many countries are currently in.

I personally, "sold" myself to "strangers," at one point in my life.  I remained, for years, at a job run by ungodly, ruthlessly competitive people.  I endured endless, demeaning mistreatment ... for the financial security that job seemed to provide for me.  However, "making bricks" in "Pharaoh's brickyard" proved to be only profitable to "Pharaoh" (and, to some extent, the "slave-masters" in his employ).

Illustration: by Simon Pemberton

**NOTE: Are any of you being intimidated at work?  Here is an excellent article, from the UK, with sound, practical advice.  Please read: Bully for You: Intimidation at Work.  There is much more information offered; just Google ... bullying at work or intimidation at work.

God never meant for us to remain permanently under "alien" influence.  Employers actually were given a pretty high standard ... to care for the children of Israel as servants, not slaves ...  to employ us, not own us.

Sadly, in every country, there are employers whose bottom line is profit, at any and all cost.  So much unhappiness, depression, stress, displaced anger and illness is caused when we feel trapped under the heavy hand of a boss (or company) who doesn't care for us or our welfare.  However, that feeling that there is no way out, is a LIE from the enemy!  God always provides a way and a means for redemption!  Our Kinsman Redeemer lives and He laid down His plan for us, right here in Leviticus, so long ago.

We are God's children ... we are not to be treated poorly!  Is it time to redeem ourselves from our current positions ... to rethink our direction and our source of provision???  Are our employers taking advantage of us and/or cheating us?  Are we wasting the time that we are given on this earth to produce profit for man and not for God?

Are we, have we been, unequally yoked with our employers??  Is there spiritual fruit from the time we have been giving to this person or place?  Have we seriously prayed for confirmation that it is God's will that we work here?  Or ... was it our own idea to "sell ourselves" to these people?  Have we been leaning on our own understanding?  Is there any other way?

'The Ideal Servant': courtesy of Grace Baptist Church

This particular portion of manna has been difficult, for me, to prepare.  I seem to ask myself more questions, the deeper I get into it.  However, for each question, I find but one answer ... God's!  He set up these rules and laws for our own best good.  Simple and clear are His commands.   He indeed has always had a perfect plan for us ... and His ways still ROCK!

Indeed, we are not bound to the Old Testament ... but we have SO MUCH to learn from it.  We could save ourselves so much grief ... by merely following the plans He has already laid out for us.  We need not be dogmatic ... but His rules are really quite practical today and definitely profitable!

Manna was uniquely provided for each family and each person.  I would love to know what the LORD has shown you in this portion of His Word. Would you be so kind as to share with us, your manna for today?

Until we meet again, Totdat we elkaar weer ontmoeten, (Dutch)

We thank You, LORD, for Your Living Word and for all the blessings You bestow on us.

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

~Shalom~

LEVITICUS 25:25-28 ~ Redeem the Country! A good ol' country song!

In Leviticus 25:23-24, the LORD made it very clear that He rightfully and eternally owns all land.  Therefore, the land could never be sold forever ... because we are just temporarily "visiting" His land with Him.  What a beautiful and awesome assurance ... to remember and take into our hearts! 

On that note, please come in and visit our "tent" for awhile.  For this morning's measure  of manna, we will be presented with the LORD's very first introduction to the concept of a kinsman redeemer.  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! ~ Psalms 34:8 

LEVITICUS 25:25-28 ~ If your brother be waxen (has become) poor, and has sold away some of his possession, and if any of this kin come to redeem it, then he shall redeem that which his brother sold.   And if the man has none to redeem it, and himself is able to redeem it; then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.  But if he not be able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that has bought it, until the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. 

:25 ~ If your brother be waxen (has become so) poor, and has sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then he shall redeem that which his brother sold. 

According to the Oriental law of kinship, the land of a poor man could be redeemed by himself or his nearest relation, anytime during the period between the Years of Jubilee. 

This concept of kinsman redeemer was:

1. Introduced here
2. Illustrated in Boaz ~ Ruth~Chapters 2-4
3. Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

 

Photo: Courtesy of Revival Worship Catalog

:26 ~ and if the man has none to redeem it, and himself is able to redeem it;

If a man has no kin to redeem his property after he sold it, then he has the right to buy it back himself.  If he is not able to buy it back, then he would have to wait, until the Year of Jubilee, when his property would be returned to him.

:27 ~ Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.

The redemption price was determined by the number of years remaining, from the date of redemption to the next Jubilee.  At that time, all such property was returned to original owner and he could return to his land.  What a happy day!!!

Even though a man and his family might have fallen on hard times ... looking forward, there was always hope ... Jubilee was coming ... and they knew that they would get back everything GOD had given them!  What an assurance for them.  But, wait ... we have even a more Blessed Assurance!  Our Redeemer lives and He has promised us a Grand and Ultimate Jubilee!

:28 ~ But if he not be able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that has bought it, until the year of Jubilee: and in the Jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.

If neither the seller nor the seller's kin could redeem it, then the land remained in the possession of the buyer until Jubilee.  This gave a poor man another chance, an opportunity to regain his property and go back to his home ~ something he could never do otherwise.

Sound familiar?   Just as we can never redeem ourselves by our own hands ~ thanks to GOD, we have a Kinsman Redeemer ... Jesus Christ! ... He paid the full redemption price for us ... and at Grand Jubilee, we will be going Home!!!!

NOTE:  הַיֹּובֵ֑ל  hai·yo·v·vel 3104 ~ The Hebrew word for Jubilee means: a ram, a ram's horn, a wind instrument!

1. Jesus is the Ram that took our place: The Horn speaks of Salvation.
2. Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer paid the redemption price for our sin.
3. One day, we will hear the sound of the great Ram's Horn from heaven, announcing the Great Jubilee!

Jubilee:  a shadow of what was to happen in Joshua 6:5 and what will happen 1Thessalonians 4:16-17!

Oh, and there is SO much more treasure here!  The Living Word of God so beautifully ties together the past, the present and the future!

Hallelujah!  Our Redeemer Lives!

Until we meet again, swatdee  ~  สวัสดี

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~