Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 25

Verses 1-7

The Sabbath Year (Its Purpose) Leviticus 25:1-7 discusses the Sabbath year, and the year of Jubilee, both based on seven-year cycles. The Sabbath year was intended to give man rest, both physically and mentally so that he could be renewed and refreshed spiritually. This seventh year also served to break up man’s daily routines so that he does not get into a lifetime rut in his behaviour and lifestyle; but rather, he is able to enter a new season of live with a new, fresh attitude. We still need such renewals in our lives today. We need a change in direction and daily routines. Otherwise, life becomes boring. Any industrious person knows that life becomes increasingly busy as the months and years go by. We tend to take on more work projects than we can complete. It has been my experience that after staying on a job at least seven years I become weary from the routine and increased responsibility. The Sabbath year gives us a rest from our pursuits so that we can re-evaluate our priorities.

Leviticus 25:1-7 The Sabbath Year (The Cycles of Nature) It is interesting to note that as scientists discover more of the miracles of nature and science, they find that many events in nature revolve around seven-year cycles. For example, many animal populations grow and decrease on seven-year cycles. In Scripture, we see that the weather follows seven-year cycles in the time of Joseph in Egypt.

Genesis 41:29-30, “Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine ; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;”

The famine in Elijah's time was three and a half years, exactly half of this cycle.

James 5:17, “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months .”

A famine in the time of Elisha was on this seven-year cycle.

2 Kings 8:1, “Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years .”

David chose between seven years of famine, or another type of divine judgement.

2 Samuel 24:13, “So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land ? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.”

In fact, God created this earth in six days, and rested on the seventh. This is an indication that all of creation is based on a cycle of seven. Therefore, the Sabbath year and year of Jubilee fit into God's seven-year cycles that He placed within His creation.

Verses 8-55

The Year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:8-55 teaches the children of Israel about observing the year of Jubilee.

Leviticus 25:39-40 Comments The Hired Servant - We, as servants of Jesus, are bondservants, and not hired servants.