Jubilee
by Brad Scott
In the 25th chapter of Vayiqera (Leviticus), we read of the instructions concerning one of the laws of the land called the year of jubilee.
Vayiqera 25:10And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
This fiftieth year was called the jubilee. Our English word jubilant or jubilation is taken directly from the Hebrew word yaval (יבל). This word means to return to a proper place or to lead someone to their home. It is used in context with another Hebrew word for return: shoov (שוּב). This word is used to teach the concept of repentance. For they both refer to something returning where it, he, or she came from. The root of jubilee is used in some interesting ways in scripture.
Yiremeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:8-9Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, and, with them, the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travaileth with child together; a great company shall return here. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.
Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 53:7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Yesha’yahu 55:12For YE SHALL GO OUT with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 7:14Because narrow is the gate, and hard is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
That sounds like a good reason for jubilation!
Shalom Alecheim! ◊