Leviticus 25 - 26 & Psalm 25

Within Leviticus 25 we find the call for Sabbatical renewal and Jubilee. Just as the people are called to hold the seventh day as a special day, so the land should hold the seventh year as a special time. This is a reminder that all need rest, even the land; a reminder that all need liberation, even those who have sold themselves into slavery. These traditions are incumbent upon all those who reside in the land, both Israelite and alien. In many ways, the Jubilee is a reminder to Israel to remember that they were once held as captives in a foreign land and that God ransomed them. In a similar way, they are called to ransom relatives and others who have lost property or liberty.

The other reason for the Jubilee is to maintain clan holdings, this way insuring that members of Israel do not lose the land that God has granted to them. The provisions within the 25th chapter insure that land lost to aliens are purchased and brought back into the fold of Israel.

Just as the land and people will be blessed through the Sabbatical and Jubilee renewal, so God will shine upon Israel if it remains faithful to the covenant according to Chapter 26th. . If Israel turns away from idolatry and follows the commands of God, then God will bless Israel and they will be prosperous in all that they do. Not only will the land produce abundantly, but even wild animals, those considered dangerous, will be removed from the land. For their obedience, the presence of God will be constantly with Israel.

If, however, they fail to follow God and turn away then God's anger will be kindled against them. Notice, however, that God's anger is used as a means to bring Israel back to God. God desires Israel and wishes not to have to punish Israel. If they persist in their hostility to God, eventually they will be removed from the land and handed over to their enemies.

However, God, who is gracious, will restore Israel if they only confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

Psalm 25

The first interesting tidbit about the 25th Psalm is that in the Hebrew it is an acrostic poem which means that each verse begins with a letter of the alphabet and proceeds to move through the letters of the alphabet.

The content of the Psalm itself is the plea of an individual seeking assistance and help to an unspecified problem he or she is facing. The reason the petitioners turns to God is because of God innate goodness and faithfulness. God is faithful towards those who keep the covenant yet also God instructs sinners in God's ways, which shows a gracious side of God. Perhaps the petitioner understands his or her error and now seeks to confess and turn back to God. The plea is for God to turn back to the petitioner and redeem him or her from their isolation.