Scripture: The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired worker and the sojourner who lives with you, and for your cattle and for the wild animals that are in your land: all its yield shall be for food.
Leviticus 25:1-7 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Yahweh expands on Israel’s laws regarding justice for wrongful harm: the law of retaliation (lex talionis). As familiar to many outside the Christian faith, it cites an “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (v.20) and even applies to the loss of animals that impact livelihood. While this form of justice lacks any notion of mercy and forgiveness, it emphasizes the sanctity of humans made in the image of God (imago Dei) and the importance of restitution.
For today’s reading, Yahweh directs Moses to tell Israel, as they leave Mount Sinai and embark for the Promised Land, to observe a Sabbath year when they settle in Canaan. Following the principles of the Sabbath day, they are to let the land observe a solemn rest every seventh year. Consequently, they must not sow, prune, reap, or gather even what grows without cultivation. As such, the Lord promises the Sabbath-year land will sufficiently supply sustenance for the people and their farm animals.
Takeaway: Exodus 23:10-11 and Deuteronomy 15:1-18 also mention this mandate, which aligns with the already-in-place weekly Shabbat. Indeed, the prohibition included any form of labor to allow these vines and grain stalks to decay and enrich the soil naturally. Still, there is no historical evidence that Israel understood the benefits of crop rotation, nor any record of other nations even observing an extended respite for their agricultural lands.
So, how would Israel sustain itself with food during this Sabbath year? There appears to be a contradiction in protocol in verses 6-7. While earlier verses prohibit any labor, these seem to permit gathering food from the fields. Some commentators argue that Shabbat permitted gleaning, but perhaps a better explanation comes from the story of the patriarch, Joseph, who prudently stored 20% of the grains from the seven years of plenty for the seven years of drought. Thus, if the implication holds, God expected Israel to set aside a portion of the grains and fruit from the previous years and preserve them for the seventh year.
So, what did Israel do during this downtime? Deuteronomy 31:10-13 provides a clue: Moses commanded the people to gather at the end of the seventh year to hear a reading of the law and learn how to apply it in fearing the Lord. Thus, this event would culminate in what should be an ongoing study and reflection of God’s Word in the home during the Shabbat year. Indeed, the Shema required the heads of each household to teach the next generation the Torah diligently in all life matters (Deuteronomy 6:4-8).
Our takeaway? If observed correctly, the Shabbat year would strengthen Israel’s reverence for and faith in God and provide rest for their souls through the nourishment of Scripture. The same applies to us. While we may not be able to observe a year’s break from our paying jobs, even setting aside a portion of our free time to keep a Sabbath soul rest(reflecting on God’s Word under the direction of the Holy Spirit) will grow our faith and trust in God and help us discern his will.
Our part? To engage in the Shabbat rest, we need more than a Sunday sermon or a slot of time here and there to read and reflect on Scripture. Indeed, if we follow the principle of the Shema, we read, reflect, and rehearse what Scripture reveals to us in our everyday lives. Even when we vacation or celebrate special occasions, we exercise mindfulness of the Word of God, which transforms our thoughts and feelings to align with God’s good and perfect will (Romans 12:2). Indeed, reading, marking, and inwardly digesting Scripture is a way of life that bears the fruit of soul rest no matter our external circumstances.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for offering your Son as a substitutionary sacrifice to ensure we find rest for our weary souls so that we may thrive amid a sin-marred world. With that in mind, please help us pause from routine and read, mark, and inwardly digest your Word so that we might bear the fruit of a Sabbath soul rest that matures our faith and trust in you and helps us discern your will. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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