|
In 2 Chronicles 7. 14 the Lord says that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land." THE YEAR OF JUBILEE, Leviticus 25. 8 The year was meant to be celebrated every fifty years. It cancelled all debts, freed all slaves and returned to original owners all land that had been sold. There is no indication in the Bible that this year of jubilee (every fiftieth year) was ever kept. If Israel had followed the practice faithfully, there would have been a society without permanent poverty, since all people would have been restored to their original position. No work would have been done during the jubilee since it was a year for God. They were told "Do not reap, nor do not sow, for it is a jubilee and is to be holy to you". God would be the provider. 2 Chronicles 7. 1 - 7 explains that God required his people to observe seven weeks of years, treating each period of seven years as they would a normal week. This meant that, just as his people had to rest on the seventh day, so the land was to lie fallow on the seventh year They had to trust God to provide for each seventh year, and he said he would, but they did not believe him. The people one day would possess Cannon, but in God's plan only God's ownership was absolute. God wanted his people to avoid greed and materialism. So their attitude had to be made right and all things had to be held lightly. The people were, in effect, managers of God's property. Generalising this, we take care of everything because he provided it. EMPHASIS PLACED ON HELPING THE POOR. God puts emphasis on helping the poor: widows, orphans and the handicapped. God said that neglecting the poor was a sin. PRESENT DAY IMPLICATIONS The year of jubilee was not a time of jamboree but a time for national repentance and restoration. These principles apply just as much to our country today. Our nation needs to repent and so do we as Christians in it. We have failed our country when we have failed to preach God's word and to present the world with a living Saviour and a relevant message. We need to move with the Holy Spirit and keep spiritually alive and renewed. We need to love and accept one another, to live as Jesus lived, to take action against things which are ruining our country. In his book of daily readings "Through The Year", David Watson (who was, up to his death in the late twentieth century, Anglican vicar in York) says that” Someone had worked out a recipe for a country's ruin: 1. Affirm man's original animal nature and function to the exclusion of everything else. 2. Ridicule all references to spiritual qualities. 3. Inculcate general disrespect for any kind of authority -- urge people to obey only their own impulses. 4. Soft-pedal all discussion on loyalty, responsibility, duty and sacrifice in order for freedom of dissent to be established. 5. Discourage the practice of prayer and Bible reading by forbidding them in schools. 6. Indoctrinate the public to believe that Jesus Christ is a myth, Christianity a byword for ancient superstition and the Church an institution that mankind has outgrown. Add to this media control of people, lowering of moral standards, brain washing into acceptance of sin situations (for example, sex, abortion, etc.), the Thatcherite "what's mine is mine" principle, the break-up of family life and support. Since David's death all the foregoing have become ingrained as principles in our society. As a result our society has become a moral cripple in need of fundamental healing. HEALING THE LAND 2 Chronicles 7 14 is the recipe for a country's healing: "But it is MY people who must pray". Solomon asked God to make provisions for the people when they sinned and God answered with four conditions for forgiveness: 1. Humble yourself by admitting your sins. 2. Pray to God asking for forgiveness. 3. Seek God continually. ` 4. Turn from sinful behaviour. True repentance is more than just talk: it is a change of behaviour. We sin individually, as a group and as a nation. Following these steps will lead to forgiveness; God answers earnest prayer AND WILL HEAL OUR LAND.
Related Articles -
Healing the land, Christian, humble, pray, prayer, sinful, david, country, david Watson, soloman, poor, year of jubilee,
| 
