Justice and the Jubilee

“You shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 25:17). This verse was essential to Israel’s celebration of the Jubilee.

At the heart of the Jubilee was the promise of freedom—and justice played an essential part in that promise. All wrongs were to be made right. All debts were to be forgiven. All slaves were to be freed. Land that had been sold reverted to its original owner. All who were downtrodden would experience freedom far beyond mere words or political promises.

Yet the Jubilee was never fully or consistently observed in Israel—nor does any other nation practice anything remotely like it today.

Why the Jubilee Failed to Deliver Justice

The Jubilee was based on the premise that all good things come from God and, ultimately, still belong to God. That premise lays claim to every aspect of our lives, and it goes against human nature to embrace it. In short, the Jubilee failed to deliver justice because we never fully bought into it.

We all long to have justice for ourselves, but how many are willing to sacrifice personal comfort or security so that others can enjoy it? Israel never found the courage to observe the Jubilee completely or consistently, and every other nation’s efforts to achieve a just society have run up against the same fatal human flaws and failings. No government can set people free from the attitudes that create injustice in the first place—and so it continues.

What Frustration Over Injustice Can Do

The longing for justice is a heartfelt hunger for a future reality, and it’s part of our spiritual DNA. God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). It follows that frustration over injustice is, at its core, a spiritual sense that something is very wrong and ought to be fixed. When we see people frustrated over injustice, we can invite them to explore where their concept of right and wrong is rooted. Clearly our hunger for justice does not come from the relativism that permeates our culture.

God is the source of true justice and true freedom, which together make for true peace. All these things remain elusive apart from Him. The Jubilee pointed to the hope of an eternity where our longing for these things will ultimately be fulfilled in His presence.

A dear friend who serves on our Jews for Jesus board of directors has often reminded me that God doesn’t always settle scores this side of heaven. His 31-year-old daughter has suffered from severe seizures much of her life, causing great pain and leaving her unable to speak or care for herself. This has been heartbreaking for my friend and his wife, but rather than become bitter, they have trusted God, and worked tirelessly on behalf of other families who suffer similarly.

Everything we do for Jesus matters.

Jubilee was an earthly hint of heaven–we must look beyond this life for ultimate satisfaction. And yet God never excuses His people from the pursuit of justice in our lifetime. Moses wrote, “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20 ESV).

God Gives Our Efforts Eternal Value

At times it feels like our best efforts are meager given the overwhelming problems in this world. Have you ever felt that way? I remind myself that Yeshua said, “Whoever gives one of the little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). Everything we do for Jesus matters.

As Jews for Jesus celebrates our Jubilee, we are in an intense time of proclaiming liberty to specific Jewish audiences. That includes distributing 1,000 care packages to some of the most disadvantaged people in Tel Aviv. The volunteers we have recruited know that we are doing this because of our faith in Jesus, as do those receiving the packages.

Thank you for partnering with us in these outreaches. Let’s take joy in knowing that they are significant in God’s eyes. He sees how our actions in this world have future consequences. Please join us in praying that those we reach out to will receive that hint of heaven and be drawn to Jesus, because it is only in Him that God will restore all things and bring about true justice and true peace forever.