1. God’s decree for holidays

Ref. Lev 25; Deut 15:1-15.

Sabbath played an important part in the life and economy of the Children of Israel under the Law of Moses. Or at least it should have done. One of the many warnings of the prophets, and one aspect of God’s judgement on the nation, concerned their indifference to the sabbaths.

Every 7th day	a day of rest and worship
At Passover	a 7-day celebration of salvation
After harvest	Feast of Tabernacles - a 7-day celebration of thanksgiving
7 weeks after harvest	Feast of Weeks - a 7-day celebration of joy
Every 7th year	a year of rest and cancelling debts
After 7 times 7 years	Jubilee - a bonus year of rest and restoration of land

The sabbath holidays were designed by God for His people, for worship, rest, receiving, joy & celebration, giving, releasing and forgiving.

For His people God’s decrees only applied to His people, although others that lived amongst them also shared in the benefits. But, for example, there was no obligation to release foreigners from debt in the 7th year.

Worship Each holiday was dedicated to the Lord, a sabbath to the Lord. The holidays, and their benefits were for those who belonged to the Lord.

Rest Each holiday was free of any normal work.

Receiving Each holiday involved receiving. In the holiday year they could eat what grew naturally, but in addition God promised that the sixth year would produce enough to provide for three years’ supply of food. God’s generosity would overflow towards them.

Celebration Each holiday involved celebration, feasting, music, rejoicing.

Giving The holidays involved giving in proportion to the generous supply they had received from God. The poor, and those unable to fend for themselves, through mishap or foolishness, would be amply supplied.

Releasing and Forgiving Debts were to be cancelled in the seventh year, even if the loan had only been made the year before. Land was not sold (since it was God’s anyway) - it was the rights to harvest that were sold, and in the Jubilee year these rights were restored to the original owners or their descendants. In the Jubilee year those who had sold themselves into service were released without debt. However, other property such as houses in walled cities was not to be restored in the Jubilee year - only land.

2. Jesus’ ministry

Ref. Luke 4:16-21

Jesus proclaimed a year of Jubilee at the commencement of His ministry - “the year of the Lord’s favour.” He demonstrated God’s overwhelming generosity, and applied the Jubilee principle of release from debt and captivity to all aspects of human experience. He taught that the legalistic interpretation of tithing that the Pharisees had adopted fell far short of God’s intention. The gospel was as much a matter of material blessing and responsibility as it was spiritual blessing and responsibility. Indeed these two aspects of life are not separated in Scripture.

3. lessons for us

· The commonly held view that sabbaths and tithes are God’s unrealistic demands on our time and money, to be handed over grudgingly, are a gross distortion of the truth. Sabbaths in fact were opportunities to receive the abundant generosity of God with great joy and celebration; the tithes were opportunities to give to others out of the abundant over-supply God had given.

· God’s attributes of generous giving and forgiving should be reflected in our life-style. In particular cancelling debt and forgiving injury should be a joyful response to God’s forgiveness to us. Giving generously to others should be in proportion to God’s provision to us.

· God delights in feasting and celebration, provided nobody is left out of sharing the bounty and the joy.