In our prior lesson, we began studying Jubilee, particularly focusing on its past. We noted that Jubilee came to be used as a synonym for the sounding of a trumpet. After seven cycles of Sabbath-year rests, the fiftieth year would come and Israel was not allowed to sow or reap the entire year. It was a year of rest, reflection, and trusting in God--focusing on the simple things of life. Beyond letting the ground lie fallow, there were two other details for the fiftieth year that had to be obeyed:

• All land should automatically revert to its original owner in the Jubilee.
  Keep Leviticus 25:23 in mind, where God declared - "The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me." The people then--as we are today--are merely stewards of what God has blessed us with. We don't really own anything in an absolute sense. When the Israelites conquered Canaan, the land was divided among the tribes and it was intended that each tribe's land not diminish. However, sometimes individuals, in difficult circumstances, would "sell" their land to those of other tribes. But, this parcel of land would only be under the control of the other tribe until Jubilee. Then, all property ownership would be reset to the family of the original tribe. This is significantly different than how land is bought and sold today. Our land sales are considered "permanent," though there is really nothing permanent about this temporal realm in which we currently live!
  
• Those who had sold themselves as slaves, due to poverty, should regain their liberty in the Jubilee.
  Don't make the mistake of thinking that this law only benefited the poor souls who were slaves. It also benefited the owners! It was a reminder to the rich that they were not better than the poor. They were brothers and citizens of a theocratic kingdom. They owed their lives to God and were subject to His sovereign will. Jubilee required mercy, and it was in the best interest of everyone.

So, to sum it up, there were three distinct factors constituting the essential features of the Jubilee year: personal liberty, restitution of property, and what we might call "the simple life" (which would be a consequence of the prohibition against sowing & reaping in their society).

SECOND, LET'S CONSIDER JUBILEE IN THE PRESENT.
The congregation of the Lord's people for which I serve, celebrated our fiftieth anniversary in Clinton back in 2008. Although the church of Christ dates back to the first century, our presence is, of course, not nearly that old here in this small, Midwestern town.

But, rather than counting the number of years a congregation has had its doors open, let me encourage you to think of Jubilee in the present as something to be celebrated daily. Today, the word "jubilee" means jubilation or rejoicing. The New Testament of Christ commands us to rejoice:

• Matthew 5:11,12 - "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
• Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
• I Thessalonians 5:16 - "Rejoice always."

Our lives should be characterized by jubilee (rejoicing). You may not always be happy, but you should always be joyful! You see, happiness (root word: hap) indicates something that is based upon chance or circumstances. Joy is much deeper than that. Happiness is a temporary feeling that results from pleasant physical circumstances. Joy is independent of such. Joy is a positive attitude of contentment that results from understanding and remembering the fundamental spiritual truth: namely, that God loves us!

To rejoice in difficult times requires absolute trust in God (as celebrating the Jubilee year required for the Hebrews). To trust God as His faithful children and rejoice in Him is very liberating. It frees us from bondage to sin, fear, and even death! The year of Jubilee was the time for freeing slaves, and friends, everyday should be a day of freedom for Christians! Recall what Paul wrote in Romans 8:1,2 - "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Additionally, followers of Christ should be living a simple life. It should be a pure, holy, and joyful life--even when we're surrounded by a sea of turmoil and temptation. Let us not get distracted by the cares of this life and allow them to choke out what's really important (cf. Matt. 13:22).

We will conclude this study in our next lesson.