Jubilee!

It’s been a while, too long since I’ve posted to this blog. Guess other things get in the way. And a lot of days I just don’t feel like I have anything to write. I guess I should just write anyway.
I had a great time at Vacation Bible School last week. Lively Christian music and watching little children usually perks me up.

Among other things I’ve been thinking about the word Jubilee. In the bible a year of Jubilee was held every 50 years. All the land reverted back to the original families who owned it. Debts were forgiven. Slaves were freed. Actually slaves were freed and debts forgiven every 7 years.. In a Sabbath year the Israelites were not to plant or harvest anything, God would provide enough in the sixth year to last two years. The year of Jubilee was like an extra Sabbath year thrown in every 49 years. In the 48th year God would provide enough harvest to last 3 years.

What faith that would have taken to trust God in that manner. It’s unclear if Israel ever really followed this system for any period of time. I really have trouble trusting God to provide. Which is probably why I have a fair amount of debt piled up over the years, but God has been there. In one way or another he has provided for our every need and then some.
My year of Jubilee begins in a couple of months when I turn 49. I’ll be 49 so I’ll be starting my 50th year. I want it to be a year of Jubilee. When I first thought of this I thought mostly I wanted a year of freedom; freedom from financial struggle, freedom from health issues and a time to start over. As I explored the concept of the year of jubilee it became clear that it should also be a year of Sabbath and a year to trust in God’s provision.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isa 61:1-3 NIV)
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