The name Jubilee has a couple of possible derivations. It's either from the Hebrew term Yobel meaning a blast on the trumpet (the Jubilee year was announced by the blowing of a Shofar - a ram's horn - during Yom Kippur); or else it is from the Latin Jubilo - meaning shout.
Either indicates a celebration of enormous importance and joy. English words like "enjoy" and "Jublilation" come from the same root.
We saw yesterday how the Sabbath years were part of the way God built the principles of Rest, Reliance and Rejoicing into the life of his people Israel.
But the Jubilee, the 50th Year had another important function. In addition to the above, it was also about Release and Restoration.
Because in the Jubilee year, it wasn't just the land and the farmers that were released from having to do any work - anyone who was indentured as a slave was also released.
We tend to think of slavery today in absolute terms. Someone who is completely owned by another for life, and has no possible means of escape. Slavery in ancient Israel, and in much of the ancient world was practised in a very different way - more like the practice of bonded labour, where you effectively sign up with an employer for a period of time. In Israel, this time period was intended to be calculated from the Jubilee that came round every 50 years.
So if I got into debt or some kind of economic trouble, I could "sign up" as a slave, knowing that when I heard the blast of the trumpet that marks the start of Jubilee, my contract is over and I am free to go.
This release from slavery mirrors God's great saving act in Israel's history in Egypt. He put an end to their slavery and released them for a life of freedom under his loving rule.
Fast forward 1500 years to a hillside outside Jerusalem, and we see what the Exodus and the Jubliee year is really pointing to. God's ultimate act of salvation, as the Lord Jesus dies to set us free from the penalty of sin, so that we can live a life of freedom under his loving rule.
Jubilee is about celebrating the reign of the British Sovereign, Elizabeth. During here reign the UK has known a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. But the Jubilee ultimately urges us to celebrate the reign of the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus whose brings peace with God and whose service is perfect freedom.
Call back tomorrow for some thoughts on Restoration...
Tim Thornborough is the founder and Publishing Director of The Good Book Company. He is the author of The Very Best Bible Stories series, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Tim is married to Kathy, and they have three adult daughters.
