[Thursday's Devotional] - Freedom from Debt

Freedom from Debt The Sabbatical Year [every seven] and the Jubilee Year [every fifty] provided God's context for Israel as it settled into the 'promised land'.  This regular restoration was the basis for the clans and families of Israel to flourish.  The initial allocation of land was restored, oppressive debts were rescinded and slaves were released. Whilst this was all a long time ago and in totally different societies, we have an opportunity to reflect on something of the mind of God about how societies might work best. Perhaps that is all there is to it. And yet in the New Testament these themes are present and central to many things that Jesus said.  We just don't always recognise them.  We assume that what was 'hard edged' in Old Testament Israel has become a metaphor for supposedly spiritualised realties in the New. Look at two examples: 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.' Luke 4:18,19 [TNIV]    This is Jesus' declaration at the start of his ministry at Nazareth, using a reading from Isaiah 61:1,2.  Many commentators relate this directly to the Sabbatical and Jubilee.  It is the launch of the Kingdom, embracing more than these regulations but without removing their solid, social resonance. Second, in Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer, we read the following: 'Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.' Matthew 6:11,12 [TNIV]   For Jesus's Jewish followers there was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was alluding to God's provision of manna in the desert when he mentions 'daily bread'.  When there is talk of debts forgiven there is no mistaking that Jesus was claiming the legacy of Sabbatical and Jubilee… and more.   Take time to reflect and pray over the possible implications of this for our approach to the kind of society and communities that should and will characterise the Kingdom.   Richard Farnell    Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!