This year, instead of words and vision boards, I’ve chosen a new path, inspired by the book of Leviticus.
Question: was that last sentence as scary to read as it was to write? The audacity of someone using Leviticus as a point of direction in this day and age! First of all… that book is tough to read no matter what day or age you’re in. Second of all… who in their right post-Jesus’ resurrection mind would turn to the Old Testament book of law for direction?
It’s me. Hi. I did it. But I can explain.
In Matthew 5, Jesus says that He came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. We’re really good at forgetting that. We so often want to rely on grace – which is freely available to us – that we forget about the fact that we’ve actually been set free for a purpose. That purpose is not so that we can go on sinning (cue the apostle Paul in Romans 6), but so that we can live a new life free from the bondage of sin.
I want to know what Jesus fulfilled for me. I’ve never once had to sacrifice a single animal because the Lamb went willingly to the slaughter on my behalf. How do you even begin to say thank you for that?
In Matthew 5, Jesus says that He came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. We’re really good at forgetting that. We so often want to rely on grace – which is freely available to us – that we forget about the fact that we’ve actually been set free for a purpose. That purpose is not so that we can go on sinning (cue the apostle Paul in Romans 6), but so that we can live a new life free from the bondage of sin.
So why Leviticus? Because I want to know what Jesus fulfilled for me. And as I’ve perused the pages of this book, I have become increasingly more aware of what it costs to stay in right relationship with God. That makes me all the more grateful for the fact that Jesus took all of this on Himself and made a way for this non-Israelite to be adopted into the family of God.
I’ve never had to sacrifice a single animal because the Lamb went willingly to the slaughter on my behalf. How do you even begin to say thank you for that?
But it’s the latter part of the book that I believe houses a subtle little hint towards something that I think God may want to speak to us now. Maybe a little nugget of truth before the year amps up. A piece of encouragement while those mountains are still part of the scenic view, yet to become obstacles needing to be removed.
Even in this moment, He is in the process of bringing His promise to pass. He is never not working.
We’ve heard of Sabbath before. The day of rest afforded to us by God’s grace as He demonstrated rest in the midst of creating the world, not because He needed it, but because He knew we would. But Leviticus 25 speaks of a different kind of Sabbath.
…When you have entered the land I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath rest before the Lord every seventh year. Leviticus 25:2
So much to unpack here. This passage is yet another moment where God speaks to Moses and gives him instructions for the Israelites. To put this into context, the Israelites have been delivered from salvery, crossed the Red Sea (among other miracles…more on that next week), and dishonored the Lord by building the golden calf. God has now spent the entirety of this book re-establishing His law for His people.
“The land I am giving you” – the promised land. And pay attention to the tense here. God says “I am giving you,” implying that even in this moment, as He speaks, He is in the process of bringing His promise to pass. He is never not working.
Furthermore, He is always guiding, always instructing. In this verse, God is giving them instructions that don’t apply now, but will soon. I wonder, what is God speaking into your life at this very moment that doesn’t seem to make sense? Could it be instruction for the promise He is still bringing to pass? A reminder that it’s coming, and when it does, you need to be able to care for it well. Listen up, friend. It will make sense soon.
May we rest, making the dedication in our hearts that this year belongs to the Lord. And may that dedication manifest itself in our actions, letting creation move on the schedule of the Creator.
Finally… “the land itself must observe a Sabbath…” Even the land needs a moment to breathe. To rest. To renew.
As the passage goes on beyond verse 2, we read that God further instructs the Israelites to plant, prune, and harvest for six years. But in the seventh year, pause. Let it rest. That year belongs to the Lord. Let Him renew the land. Do not plant. Do not prune. Let it rest.
But, He says, they can eat whatever the land produces on its own. Did you catch that? The land will produce on its own. Even while at rest, it will produce. Even in a year of renewal, there exists an expectation of creation. Of joy, energy, excitement, provision… all free from labor and toil.
As this new year breaks through, may we breakthrough to a place of provision, free from striving. May we rest, making the dedication in our hearts that this year belongs to the Lord. And may that dedication manifest itself in our actions, letting creation move on the schedule of the Creator.
Let the land be renewed, for this terrain will soon be ripe for miracles.
My goal for the year and those that follow is to get rid of ambient noise. I can spend an entire morning calling out to God and presenting my requests to Him, crying out for Him to speak to me and direct me, only to close my Bible and go about filling my day with so many other sounds and voices and distractions – sometimes in the name of ministry – that I couldn’t hear a shout from God, much less His still small voice. I want to commune with Him. So maybe that will be my word for the year- COMMUNE!