RPG Adults
REDEMPTION OF THE LAND!
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Leviticus 25
Matthew 5:7
“And if the man have none to redeem it,
and himself be able to redeem it.”
REDEMPTION OF THE LAND!
The LORD knew that there would be poor Israelites in the Promised Land. Some might fail to work hard to farm the land or shepherd the flock. There would be those who might make bad business decisions because of greed; or they had been cheated by evil men; or they were robbed or victimised. Whatever the reason, they might find themselves in debt. The debt could be so large that they would have to use their land as collateral and, at times, even become servants to the creditor.
It would not be right or wise for the LORD to command the creditors to automatically wipe out all debts immediately, because the debtors might borrow money foolishly, or become derelict in their responsibilities to be holy and diligent servants of the LORD. At the same time, the LORD did not wish His people to live in poverty and in debt. This would not be the testimony of holiness and goodness that was bound to the Land, where the worship of God was in spirit, in truth and in location. The LORD provided in the Law of Moses for the redemption of the Land. A relative could redeem the land of one who had given his land to the creditor as collateral. The debtor himself had the right to redeem his own land. For example, he owed the creditor a five-year term where his property was used by the creditor to farm his land. The produce from the land would become payment to offset his debt. However, if he found a way to make payment for the balance of his debt, then he had to be permitted to do so. If he had no money to pay for the balance of his debt, especially if the debt was huge, then the debt would be written off in the year of Jubilee. The reason was that the land was the LORD’s. Every Israelite was a stranger and sojourner living in God’s Land. As the true owner of the Land, the LORD commanded that once every fiftieth year every debt would be written off and the property returned to the respective family as God’s people. This allowed all to start fresh without debt when they witnessed for God. The LORD made sure that all who lived in His Land were cared for.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 25:23-24
PRAYER: Help me, O Father, to help my brethren and treat them always as God’s family. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.