Words from the Mountain Top (Leviticus 25:1-26:2)

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

Parasha:  B'Har  (On the Mountain)  LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2     

 

 

 

“Give it a rest! Will ya?” I am sure you have heard that expression before, or “Give it a rest already!”

 

People tend to say that when one continues in some theme or argues over a point that is "pointless",  HOWEVER,  God is saying this when He sees the earth, soil, and ground being worked over a 6- year period; “Give it a rest!”  just as people need to rest and take their “Shabbat rest” so does the land which belongs to HIM, we are just using it.

 

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." (Psalm 24:1-2) The earth belongs to the Lord and the Lord alone and He created it.

 

     This parashah deals with giving the land a rest after six years of planting and harvesting, on the seventh year the land shall rest. This was a commandment given to the children of Israel when they were at Mt. Sinai.  The land which they would inherit was Canaan, (now Israel).  They were to implement this when entering and settling down (40 years later).  They would plow, plant, and harvest for 6 years, then let the land rest in the 7th year, and also in the 50th year.  

 

     Agriculturally, this is good and comes from the mouth of the creator of all the earth.  The reason is quite simple to understand.  Crops, such as corn, wheat, barley, vegetables, etc., when they grow in the soil, take in nutrients, quite like us, when we eat, we absorb nutrients from the food we eat.  Imagine the land after 6 years of planting and harvesting, all those nutrients, minerals, and chemicals from the soil, are being absorbed by the crops sown, if the land does not have a chance to rest and renew itself, it will soon become useless, quite void of nutrients…so… a year’s rest will give the soil enough time to replenish itself.

 

    In a way, one could apply this command (even though it was directed at the land in Israel) for those of us who have gardens in the back of our houses. We can enjoy six years of vegetables and then in the seventh year, just dump compost in the soil, food that goes bad, moldy bread, etc., don’t put it in the garbage, bury it in the garden, do that in that seventh year, and then the next year, plant and harvest again.

 

     We can look at ourselves in a similar way.  How do we count our lives? By a 365-day year? Or by sabbaticals? If we were to count our years by the day, we could say we have many days and years ahead of us! Really? Do we know tomorrow? (didn’t think so). However, if we were to count our years on earth by counting by sevens? How many “sabbaticals” have we lived? How many “might” be left?  If I were to count my sabbaticals, I would have to count starting in 1954.  1954-1960 first seven years, 1961-67, the second sabbatical.  I would have to ask myself, what have I done or accomplished in each of these periods of seven years? Anything of importance? Have I influenced other lives? If we count by sabbaticals, we will find that we really don’t have many sabbaticals to live.  I have lived 10 Sabbaticals. 

 

     We may not be able to take off from work every 7th year to rest since it wouldn't go well with the boss, we can take some time out to minister the WORD, to counsel, to teach and preach, and pass out gospel tracts.  It was wonderful to have worked in a school district for 25 years and to have the summers off (with pay).  A lot of time to do ministry work, and now that I am retired, more time.  

 

     We have our Sabbaths to rest, the land has its Sabbaths to rest.  It is part of God's perfect plan since he rested on the 7th day.  the word "Shabbat" not only means to rest but also, to cease, to stop, to halt, to detain oneself from activities.  

 

     The 7th year was also the year that slaves and servants went free in the land of Israel. They would work 6 years and be released on the 7th. If the servant or slave wished to remain with his or her master, they would be able to do that, yet on the year of "Yovel" (Jubilee) which was the 50th year, they would be released.  

 

     Even though this might not apply to us today, it teaches us to value those who work for us, or under us (if some of us are employers).  To treat employees right and with respect, caring for their needs.  They might say one day; "I wish I could work for you forever sir" (I felt that way in my school district.  I still miss the Special Ed kids).  

 

     Returning to Psalm 24, we need to remind ourselves that the "Earth and all in it belong to Adonai".  We are just caretakers for a season, the "all in it" includes spouses, pets, wild animals, the forests, the seas, etc.  One day we will give an account as to how we cared for HIS things.     

 

     We can look at this in the spiritual realm as well.  We are like the crops, which are planted, by Adonai, on this earth, to grow in HIM, and reach maturity. Yet, there comes a harvest time, when we will be harvested to go back home, to our eternal Sabbath’s rest, to enjoy our “Yovel” our time of “Jubilee” to reap what we have sown, souls that have come to YESHUA through our testimonies, believers who have grown to maturity through “teachers of the WORD.” 

 

     It is not enough to give out the WORD of God, there must be the ones who teach it, like seeds that are planted and watered.  For this reason, spiritual gifts are given, and among those are the “teachers of the WORD” and counselors,  who water the seeds so that they may grow, mature, and in the end, be harvested.

 

26:2 “YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS! AND VENERATE MY SANCTUARY.

 

     We read "Sabbaths" in the plural.  All of God's holidays (Holy Days) are considered "Sabbaths."  They are times to rest from our labors and just enjoy God, and his WORD, and fellowship with other believers.  We must also respect God's House.  It is a place of worship.  We go to meet the KING of kings and LORD of Lords.  It is not a place to run wild and cause havoc (kids out of control) It is a place to learn from God's Word and sing praises, and fellowship/dine with other believers.  (food and fellowship) "Oneg" in Messianic circles.  

 

     So, rest in Yeshua/Jesus.  Take care of HIS things.  He's always watching!.  

 

 

Shavua Tov  (Have a good week)