Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 13
Sunday


A TIME FOR
READJUSTMENT

READ:
Leviticus 25:1-7
____________________________________________________________

In the seventh year
there shall be a sabbath
of solemn rest for the
land. __Leviticus 25:4
_____________________________________________________________

The earth's solar orbit takes 365 and a quarter days. Because of this, every 4 years an extra day is added to the calendar so we don't fall behind in the natural cycle of things. Each leap year we add that day onto the end of February. In this way, the calendar is readjusted to the astronomical timetable.

In the calendar of ancient Israel, God set up a remarkable means of readjusting things. Just as mankind was commanded to rest every seventh day (Ex. 20:8-10), so the land was to be allowed to rest during the seventh year (Lev. 25:4). This sabbatical year allowed the farmland to replenish for greater fertility. In addition, debts were canceled (Deut. 15:1-11) and Hebrew slaves were set free (vv. 12-18).

With our busy schedules and our hectic pace of life, we too need readjustment. Demands of work, family, and church can require reevaluation. One way we do that is by observing the sabbath principle--making sure to set aside time to rest and prayerfully refocus our priorities. Jesus, for example, went "to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35).

When can you pull aside from your activities and prayerfully ask God to reset your spiritual calendar to His Word and His will? Is it time for a readjustment? __Dennis Fisher
_____________________________________________________________

`````````````````````To face life's many challenges```````````````
````````````````````````And overcome each test,````````````````
`````````````````````The Lord tells us to take the time`````````````
`````````````````````To stop, to pray, to rest. __Sper`````````````
_____________________________________________________________

To make the most of your time, take time to pray.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Leviticus 25:1-7**********

1 And the LORD spoke to
Moses on Mount Sinai,
saying, 2 "Speak to the
children of Israel, and say
to them: 'When you come
into the land which I give
you, then the land shall
keep a sabbath to the LORD.

3 Six years you shall sow
your field, and six years
you shall prune your
vineyard, and gather its
fruit; 4 but in the seventh
year there shall be a sabbath
of solemn rest for the land,
a sabbath to the LORD. You
shall neither sow your field nor
prune your vineyard.

5 What grows of its own
accord of your harvest you
shall not reap, nor gather
the grapes of your untended
vine, for it is a year of rest
for the land. 6 And the
sabbath produce of the land
shall be food for you: for
you, your male and female
servants, your hired man,
and the stranger who dwells
with you, 7 for your
livestock and the beasts that
are in your land--all its
produce shall be for food.'"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the seventh year, the Israelites' land was to "rest," as did human
beings with their weekly Sabbath (Lev. 25:3-4). Also included in the
sabbatical year were gleaning rights for the poor and the forgiveness
of debts (Ex. 23:10-11; Deut. 15:1-2). __DENNIS FISHER

__The New Bible Commentary