by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israel has now been at war for over a year. It now fights on multiple fronts: against the remnants of Hamas in Gaza; Hamas and other terror groups in Judea and Samaria (West Bank); against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, against various Iran-sponsored Shiite militias in Syria and in Iraq, against the Houthis in Yemen; and Iran itself. This tiny democratic Jewish nation, in a 200-million sea of Arab, Iranian, Turkish and other Muslim peoples in the Middle East truly fights for its very life and existence. And by God\u2019s grace it seems to be prevailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world now currently awaits its response to the recent 2nd<\/sup> direct Iranian missile attack. We marvel at its military technological prowess in the Iron Dome, David\u2019s Sling and Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 active airborne threat-defense systems, but we should see the hand of God in these miracles of saving the Jewish people from death and mass destruction from the hundreds of explosive drones, cruise missiles and ballistic rockets directly launched against it from Iran last April 13; and from the 180 ballistic missiles last October 1. Add to this the many thousands of drones, missiles, rockets and mortar shells fired by Hezbollah at Israel since October 8, 2023 and one gets to truly see how God saves his people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And let us not forget that 101 people, including elderly men, women and children (with more than 30 individuals already dead) are still held hostage by Hamas somewhere in Gaza where they have been in captivity for over a year. Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining hostages 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 25:1-7 God\u2019s instructions sanctifying and caring for the land promised; specifically in the observance of the Sabbath Year. We continue with the LORD\u2019s stipulations regarding the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25:8-22. Verse 8 sets the context of the counting off of seven sevens (literally, sabbaths) of years, or 49 years. The next verse instructs the people to sound a blast of the trumpet (the \u05e9\u05b9\u05c1\u05d5\u05e4\u05b8\u0596\u05e8 \u201cshofar\u201d) on Yom Kippur (\u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8), the Day of Atonement in all the land. It is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This 2024, Israel observed Yom Kippur, sunset to sunset, last October 11-12. It comes on the 10th<\/sup> day after Yom Teruah\/Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year; now the year 5785).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hebrew verse of Leviticus 25:9 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the LORD instructing the Israelites about the observance of Yom Kippur throughout their land as a prelude to the observance of the Jubilee:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05bd\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u059e \u05e9\u05b9\u05c1\u05d5\u05e4\u05b7\u05a4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05b0\u05bc\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05e2\u05b8\u05d4\u0599 \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05d7\u05b9\u05a3\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05bc\u05c1\u05d1\u05b4\u05e2\u05b4\u0594\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b9\u05c2\u0596\u05d5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u0591\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d9\u05b9\u05d5\u05dd\u0599 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05e4\u05bb\u05bc\u05e8\u05b4\u0594\u05d9\u05dd \u05ea\u05b7\u05bc\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05b9\u05c1\u05d5\u05e4\u05b8\u0596\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translation is given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9<\/sup><\/strong>Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, the LORD sets up the timing of the proclamation for his people to observe the Jubilee year in the land they were going to possess. The Jubilee would follow the Day of Atonement after 49 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next verse, Leviticus 25:10 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the LORD instructing the Israelites about the sanctification and observance of the Jubilee year on the 50th<\/sup> year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05e7\u05b4\u05d3\u05b7\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0597\u05dd \u05d0\u05b5\u05a3\u05ea \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e0\u05b7\u05a4\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b4\u05bc\u05c1\u05d9\u05dd\u0599 \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05e0\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05ea\u05b6\u05a5\u05dd \u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05e8\u05b9\u059b\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u0596\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d9\u05b9\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05d1\u05b6\u0591\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d5\u05d1\u05b5\u05a5\u05dc<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0\u0599 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a3\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05b7\u05c1\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0597\u05dd \u05d0\u05b4\u059a\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05ea\u05b9\u0594\u05d5<\/mark> \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b7\u05bc\u05d7\u05b0\u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u0596\u05d5 \u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05bb\u05bd\u05c1\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translation follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10<\/sup><\/strong>And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land<\/mark> to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee<\/mark> for you, when each of you shall return to his property<\/mark> and each of you shall return to his clan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 50th<\/sup> year is specified for the observance of the Jubilee year. While \u05d9\u05b9\u05d5\u05d1\u05b5\u05a5\u05dc \u201cyovel\u201d (translated: Jubilee) literally means a ram or a ram\u2019s horn, The Jewish Study Bible<\/em> commentary says that it seems to have been derived from a Jewish term that means \u201csending forth, homebringing or simply liberation.\u201d This can be seen in this verse where 2 aspects of the Jubilee year are highlighted. First is the proclamation of a liberty from debt or indentured servitude; and the second is the return of property\/land back to its original owner. The IVP Bible Background Commentary \u2013 Old Testament<\/em> notes that the intention was \u201ca general release from debt, servitude and a return of all the land that had been mortgaged or sold (back) to the rightful owner.\u201d The perpetual ownership of the land is in view. Moreover, as The Jewish Study Bible<\/em> points out: the LORD is the only true owner of the land of Canaan, \u201cthe Israelites are mere leaseholders, tenants on the divine estate, and the holdings God has parceled out to them are inalienable.\u201d The commentary further says that the Jubilee, as much as the Sabbath and the other designated feasts of the LORD is a theocentric \u201cassertion of God\u2019s exclusive proprietorship and dominion.\u201d Later, it will be made clearer that the LORD as their God will take care of Israel in the land promised as their possession and inheritance. And the people are only to serve the LORD God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leviticus 25:11 prohibits the organized, widespread sowing and reaping of the fields during the Jubilee. The next verses 12-13 further reinforce its tight connection of the land\/property (read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u059a\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d5\u05d1\u05b5\u05a3\u05dc<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b4\u0594\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e7\u05b9\u0596\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a3\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05df\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05a8\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c2\u05d3\u05b6\u0594\u05d4<\/mark> \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u0596\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05ea\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05bd\u05d4\u05bc\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e0\u05b7\u05a5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05d1\u05b5\u0596\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b9\u05bc\u0591\u05d0\u05ea \u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05bb\u05c1\u0595\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u0596\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05ea\u05b9\u05bd\u05d5<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translations follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12<\/sup><\/strong>For it is a jubilee<\/mark>. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 13<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cIn this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hebrew term for field<\/mark> \u05e9\u05b8\u05c2\u05d3\u05b6\u05d4 \u201csadeh\u201d is the same word we have seen many times now. Likewise, property<\/mark> is a translation of the Hebrew word \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u201cachuzzah.\u201d It could also be rendered as possession or holding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leviticus 25:18-19 gives the LORD\u2019s assurances to his people that they will be provided for in the land promised when they obey and follow the instructions given to them about the Jubilee practices (read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05c2\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d7\u05bb\u05e7\u05b9\u05bc\u05ea\u05b7\u0594\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d8\u05b7\u05a5\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u0596\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05c2\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05a3\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05e9\u05b7\u05c1\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05a5\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0596\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b6\u05bd\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05a4\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0599\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5\u0599<\/mark> \u05e4\u05b4\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u0594\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05e9\u05b9\u05c2\u0591\u05d1\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d5\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05e9\u05b7\u05c1\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05a5\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b6\u0596\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7<\/mark> \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05bd\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translations are given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cTherefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land<\/mark> securely<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 19<\/sup><\/strong>The land<\/mark> will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely<\/mark>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hebrew word \u05d1\u05b6\u05bd\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7 \u201cbetach\u201d meaning security<\/mark>, may also mean safety.<\/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. Israel has now been at war for over a year. It now fights on multiple fronts: against the remnants of Hamas in Gaza; Hamas and other terror groups in Judea and Samaria (West Bank); against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, against various Iran-sponsored Shiite militias in Syria and in Iraq, against…<\/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-477","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\/477","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=477"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":478,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477\/revisions\/478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}