The practice of letting the land rest on the seventh year is called the Sabbatical Year, and it is mentioned several times in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. The Sabbatical Year was part of the Law given to Moses, which included instructions for the Israelites to rest from their labor and to allow the land to rest every seventh year. Here are a few passages that reference this practice:
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“For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild beasts may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.” – Exodus 23:10-11
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“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land.” – Leviticus 25:23-24
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“Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths.” – Leviticus 26:34
The Sabbatical Year was intended to give the land a chance to rest and rejuvenate and to provide an opportunity for the poor and needy to gather food from the fields. The practice was also a reminder that the land ultimately belonged to God and that the Israelites were merely stewards of it.
What does it mean by perpetuity?
Leviticus 25:23-24 speaks about the redemption of the land. It means that the land in the promised land given by God to the Israelites was ultimately owned by God, and the Israelites were only temporary caretakers of it. Therefore, every 50 years, during the Jubilee Year, the land would be returned to its original owner and any land that had been sold during the previous 50 years would be returned to the family that originally owned it.
This passage emphasizes the importance of treating the land as a precious resource, and not simply a commodity to be bought and sold. It also highlights the idea that property rights are ultimately subject to God’s authority and that the land should be used in a way that is consistent with His will. The Jubilee Year was intended to restore economic and social justice by preventing the concentration of land and wealth in the hands of a few and ensuring that everyone had access to the resources they needed to live.
How can we apply this practice today in our own lives?
While the Sabbatical Year and Jubilee Year laws were specific to the Israelites in the context of their covenant with God, there are still valuable lessons we can learn from these practices today. Here are a few ways we might apply these principles in our own lives:
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Stewardship of the land: We can be mindful of our impact on the environment and practice responsible land use. This might involve practices like composting, reducing waste, and using sustainable agriculture methods.
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Rest and rejuvenation: Just as the land needed rest every seventh year, we too need to take time to rest and recharge. Taking a Sabbath day or setting aside a period of time for rest and renewal can be beneficial for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
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Economic and social justice: The Jubilee Year was a time to restore economic and social justice by ensuring that everyone had access to the resources they needed to live. We can apply this principle by advocating for policies and practices that promote equity and fairness, such as a living wage, affordable housing, and access to healthcare.
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Generosity and community: The Sabbatical Year provided an opportunity for the poor and needy to gather food from the fields. We can apply this principle by being generous with our resources and supporting those in need. We can also participate in community-supported agriculture programs or volunteer at local food banks to help ensure that everyone has access to healthy food.
Although we may not be able to apply these specific laws in the same way as the Israelites did, we can still learn from their principles and apply them in relevant ways in our lives today.
