by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Israel began to start its observance of the 7-day Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) last Wednesday, October 16, two events occurred: for the first time, US long-range B2 stealth bombers struck 5 underground, hardened missile and weapons storage sites of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen; and the top leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel from Gaza was killed in an encounter with the IDF. The coming days will reveal the effect of these events, especially the death of Sinwar, on the war in Gaza and the fate of the hostages. All this while the world continues to awaits Israel\u2019s expected retaliation against Iran for its recent direct ballistic missile attack last October 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining 101 Israeli hostages (and 20+ other nationalities; alive or dead) and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last time, we saw in Leviticus 25:8-19 the LORD\u2019s stipulations regarding the Year of Jubilee every 50th<\/sup> year when the Israelites are in possession of the land promised to them. The Jubilee year commands a proclamation of a liberty from debt or indentured servitude and a return of property\/land back to its original owner. The next verses in Leviticus 25 will show that the Jubilee year highlights the perpetual ownership of the land and that the LORD is the only true owner of the land of Canaan. When the people remain loyal to the LORD as their God they will be taken care of in the land promised as their possession and inheritance. And in return the people are to serve no deity other than the LORD God (cf. Exodus 20:3-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leviticus 25:20-22 assures the people that the LORD will bless his people and enable them to harvest a crop sufficient for 3 years when they observe the Jubilee year. Then in Leviticus 25:23-24 the LORD declares himself as the true owner of the land of Canaan that has been promised and is to be given to the Israelites (Hebrew verses read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0597\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b9\u05a4\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b4\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05db\u05b5\u05e8\u0599 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05bb\u0594\u05ea \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05be\u05dc\u05b4\u0596\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0591\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05d2\u05b5\u05e8\u05b4\u05a7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05ea\u05b9\u05d5\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05d1\u05b4\u059b\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05d3\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b9\u0596\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b7\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05dd<\/mark> \u05d2\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05bb\u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05a5\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translations are given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 23<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cThe land<\/mark> shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land<\/mark> is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 24<\/sup><\/strong>And in all the country<\/mark> you possess<\/mark>, you shall allow a redemption of the land<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In verse 23 the familiar Hebrew word for land<\/mark> with the definite article is used again as we have seen so many times now. In verse 24 the ESV translates the 1st occurrence of \u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> as \u201ccountry<\/mark>\u201d and not \u201cland\u201d unlike most English translations. But it then reverts back to land<\/mark> in the 2nd<\/sup> occurrence of \u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark>. The underlying Hebrew word \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4<\/mark> \u201cachuzzah\u201d is now translated as \u201cyou (pl) possess<\/mark>\u201d instead of (your) property (cf. Leviticus 25:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leviticus 25:23-24 thus provides for the redemption of land property and is unequivocal about its true ownership. The Israelites are only stewards of the land to be given to them by the LORD, being merely \u201cstrangers\u201d and \u201csojourners.\u201d The LORD expects his stewards to obey and follow the rules set by him as the landlord, the true land owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following verses shows that God as the true land owner deeply cares for his people, giving provisions for redemption in cases of poverty and\/or other similar circumstances. If the land could not be redeemed under ordinary means by the person himself or a kinsman-redeemer, the property reverts back to the original owner in the Jubilee year! Leviticus 25:25-55 shows that kindness must be shown to brothers and kinsmen in particular as the LORD shows his kindness to all his people. Verses 25, 27, 28 uses the underlying word \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4<\/mark> \u201cachuzzah\u201d variously translated as possession, inheritance or property in the mechanisms provided for its redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In verses 29-34 a distinction is made for dwelling houses in a walled city\/village; not in the open fields or pastureland. In these cases redemption opportunity has a shorter deadline and not subject to the Jubilee year benefit. Verse 31 uses \u201cfield\u201d of the land\/country\/countryside for the classification of houses not in a walled city\/village and they are subject to the Jubilee year redemption. Another distinction is stipulated for the cases of fields of common land, open pastureland belonging to the Levitical cities. These properties may not be sold in the first place as they are perpetual possessions of the Levites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from land and property redemption, which is subject to the Jubilee year practice, Leviticus 25:35-55 discusses kindness toward poverty-stricken members of the Israelite community when they are in the land promised to them. The LORD instructs his people to take care of each other; even as they treat strangers and sojourners with kindness, so much more should be shown to their brother Israelites. The LORD reminds his people in Leviticus 25:38 (read right to left, top down): <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u0597\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4\u0599 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05a3\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8\u05be\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05e6\u05b5\u05a5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0591\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05a4\u05ea \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b7\u0594\u05e2\u05b7\u05df<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b9\u05a5\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05dd \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translation follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 38<\/sup><\/strong>I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land<\/mark> of Canaan<\/mark>, and to be your God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearly, this preamble is a strong reminder that as the LORD has shown love and kindness to his people, so too must they show the same to their brothers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In verses 39-41 the Israelites are prohibited from making their poor and indebted brothers as slave workers; they are to be treated as hired workers and sojourners. The Jubilee limits their indebted service up to that year only. Then verse 41 says that after serving up to the Jubilee year, the poor brother, including his family will return to the \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4<\/mark> \u201cachuzzah\u201d of his forefathers. This is a beautiful feature of social justice and community compassion of the Jubilee! The succeeding verses up to the end of the chapter discusses the detailed mechanics of personal service (not property) redemption. But Leviticus 25:42 and 55 emphasizes the point succinctly (read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b5\u0594\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8\u05be\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05e6\u05b5\u05a5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u0596\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0591\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b9\u05a5\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05db\u05b0\u05e8\u0596\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05bc\u05a5\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05e2\u05b8\u05bd\u05d1\u05b6\u05d3\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05dc\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u0599<\/mark> \u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05b4\u0594\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b5\u0594\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8\u05be\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05e6\u05b5\u05a5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05d5\u05ea\u05b8\u0596\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0591\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u0596\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translations follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 42<\/sup><\/strong>For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land<\/mark> of Egypt<\/mark>; they shall not be sold as slaves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 55<\/sup><\/strong>For it is to me that the people of Israel<\/mark> are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land<\/mark> of Egypt<\/mark>: I am the LORD your God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, the Israelites are truly chosen to serve the LORD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Shalom. As Israel began to start its observance of the 7-day Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) last Wednesday, October 16, two events occurred: for the first time, US long-range B2 stealth bombers struck 5 underground, hardened missile and weapons storage sites of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen; and the top leader of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,18,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-jesus","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":476,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions\/476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}