The Year of Jubilee
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE
At Treetops, Kenya, 6th February 1952, Princess Elizabeth heard that her father, King George VI of England, had died. She was enjoying a stay at this remote lodge when a local reporter informed one of the party’s aides, Major Martin Charteris, of a Reuter news agency flash that the King was dead. After having confirmation of the news, Prince Philip, her husband, gently broke the sad news to her. Asked at a hurriedly called press conference how Elizabeth had taken the news, Major Charteris said, Bravely, like a queen. Her accession to the throne was on 6th February 1952 and her coronation on 2nd June 1953. Historians say her greatest success is symbolising unity of the Commonwealth. In 2022 her Majesty celebrates her Platinum Jubilee. No doubt, the pageantry, including the fanfare of trumpets, will be televised around the globe.
Some of these facts remind me of the early history of the nation of Israel. Initially, they were a federation of twelve tribes whose King was God. He set laws which they were to obey. One of them was the observance of the Year of Jubilee as recorded in the Book of Leviticus chapter 25: 1-13. It came around every 50th year. During that year debts were cancelled, slaves released, people returned to their homes and property reverted to their original owners. This year was also dedicated to rest for the Israelites were not to reap or harvest .
The Year of Jubilee began with the blowing of a ram’s horn on the tenth day of the seventh month of Elul (August/September). On it the great Day of Atonement was observed annually. The Israelites were in a state of mourning for the sins they had committed during the past year. Much ritual was involved such as the high priest offering animal sacrifices to God for their sins, apart from one goat that was sent into the wilderness, known as the “scapegoat”.
Since everyone was released from debts and slavery, they had to rest during this year and were able to start off the next year with a clean slate.
This narrative reminds us of Calvary. There, like the sacrifices were killed instead of the Israelites, so Jesus died for our sins; and as the scapegoat went unto a land not inhabited ( Leviticus 16:22) so Jesus was abandoned by God on the Cross. He was forsaken that we might be forgiven. On the Cross He cried, My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?(Psalm 22:1). Just like the Israelites, we must repent of our sins. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus cancels us our debts, that is, our failure to keep all His commandments. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). He releases from slavery to sin. We can overcome the sins that have gripped us through the Holy Spirit, though this does take time to achieve. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36). As Israelites in exile returned home so can we become members of God’s family through accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. They were told by God to rest, so we can have rest from sinning. Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
The Day of Atonement was a time of repentance which turned into a time of rejoicing because the sacrifices that were offered to God. So we can rejoice because of Jesus’ death on the Cross for us. This rejoicing is now trumpeted world-wide (1 Thessalonians 1:8 (literal translation).