ADULT STS LESSON 134 YEAR OF RELEASE
MEMORY VERSE: “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release” (Deuteronomy 15:1,2).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 15:1-23
God had been instructing the children of Israel through His servant, Moses on the observance of His statutes and judgments. This study, which focuses on the year of release covers the following: one, the release of the poor and indebted who cannot free themselves, and servants who may have gone into servanthood because of poverty; two, God’s warning to the wealthy who might refuse to cater for the poor as the year of release approached; and three, the freedom of Hebrew servants at the seventh year of servitude. These commands were to be so observed, “because it is called the LORD’s release”. Obedience to these commandments was demanded from them if they were to fully enjoy God’s promised blessings in the land of Canaan. It is incumbent on us to obey Him in all things.for our blessings. The study also takes us back to Calvary and shows us that having received unconditional forgiveness, we should not hesitate to preach salvation to the lost and render help to the needy. It also shows that forgiveness of sins is available to any sinner who embraces God’s offer of salvation at the right time (2 Corinthians 6:2).
1.SEVENTH YEAR OF RELEASE FOR THE POOR (Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Exodus 23:10,11; Nehemiah 5:1-12; Matthew 6:12,14,15)
The seventh year or the sabbatical year in Israel was to be observed as a year of release in which debts owed the brethren by fellow Israelites were to be forgiven. During this year, land remained uncultivated (Leviticus 25:2-7). Crops that grew on their own were meant for the poor, strangers and beasts of the field, and not for the owner of the land. God required Israel to observe this law essentially for the benefit of the poor: to give them relief and cause the land and the servants to rest. Debt is any obligation (moral, material, monetary) owed another person. In Israel, God required a debtor to pay his debt. Defaulters risked losing their domestic animals, land and other items of property. If he becomes insolvent and it was established that he could not pay, creditors seized him to become a slave to pay with his labour. Where a debtor died, the creditor took his children as slaves (2 Kings 4:1). The Mosaic Law gave parents the right to give out their children for payment of their debts. In cases of extreme poverty, the law allowed them to sell themselves or surrender to serve the creditor in lieu of the debts owed. Isaiah alluded to this kind of enslavement through debts when he enquired, “which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves…” (Isaiah 50:1). Christ also referred to this practice among the Jews in the parable of an insolvent debtor while teaching on the necessity of forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. Whereas the Israelite debtor was released in the seventh year and freed from indebtedness, the stranger in the land was still required to pay.
Also, the law requires those who are financially buoyant to pay. It is only the poor who were not able to pay all through six years that had their debts cancelled. How God loves and cares for the poor! Loss of status and freedom comes with not only financial but also spiritual bankruptcy: “Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves”. The greatest debt any person can ever owe is the debt for sin. All are debtors to God by reason of their sinfulness and wilful disobedience to His laws. No one can ever pay the debt for their own sin or the sin of another. But Christ paid it all. He is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins (John 1:29,36). But we need to appropriate the mercy of God for forgiveness of sins committed. Pardon and freedom from sin are provided through faith in the atoning blood of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Many people get into debt through indiscipline, lack of contentment, covetousness, idleness, inability to manage resources, natural disaster, demonic oppression, poverty, etc. To live a debt-free life, a believer must avoid materialism, trust God as provider in every situation, work hard and renounce unchristian attitudes towards money and riches. It is God’s will to prosper His people and keep them free from debt (3 John 2; Philippians 4:19; Job 36:11).
Though it is no sin to borrow, it is advisable for a Christian to avoid borrowing, if possible. Again, a renowned minister’s counsel on borrowing is apt “Always live a little below your means, never get into debt, and remember, he who goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing”. Refusal to pay debts owed another when the debtor is financially buoyant is an act of wickedness (Psalm 37:21). As part of restitution, God requires believers to pay just debts, and in the case of employers, wages or salaries of employees should be paid promptly. This command of the Lord for debt cancellation to the kind-hearted Israelite who had lent money to a poor fellow came with His promise of blessing. The obedient will be enriched by the Lord. And since God is so good and cares much for the poor, everyone in this condition needs to pray earnestly for abundant supply.
It should be noted that distinction was made between a Hebrew debtor and a foreigner; a foreigner might not enjoy the benefits and privilege of release (verse 3). Here we learn that our relationship with fellow believers should be unique, portraying the compassion of Christ. “…Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We also learn that certain promises of God are reserved only for His children. The conditions for the fulfilment of God’s promises are clearly expressed in the Scriptures. “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 28:2). God makes the condition very clear and this should challenge sinners to repent and be converted so that they can appropriate God’s promises and enjoy them. Moses warned the people: “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart… and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother” (verse 9).
Refusal to lend to the poor on the ground that the year of release is at hand or to avoid losing money would amount to wickedness. The Scripture clearly admonishes against refusal to help a brother or sister in need (Proverbs 3:28). However, it is advisable that a Christian should be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading when embarking on any charitable exercise. The Lord expects us to give generously to the poor because He cares about their state. Givers should give lovingly, liberally and cheerfully.
2.SLAVES RELEASED WITH ABUNDANT PROVISIONS (Deuteronomy 15:12-18; Exodus 21:2-11; Leviticus 25:39-46; Jeremiah 34:14; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 4:1)
“And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee” (Deuteronomy 15:12). The children of Israel were commanded to keep servants or slaves of their brethren for six years of service and to set them free at the seventh year. It means that the slave was to be freed even if the year of release happened before the expiration of the six-year service. This demand from the Lord challenges us to treat our servants or wards with fairness and kindness. Servants who faithfully serve as apprentices for an agreed period of time should not be sent away empty. Present-day believers are no slaves to sin, Satan and sickness.
They have been liberated by Christ. Therefore, they should treat one another with brotherly love and kindness, irrespective of their divers social status. The most important and greatest freedom any person can enjoy is freedom from sin. True freedom is freedom from the debt and burden of sin, made possible through Christ’s vicarious death on the Cross. A sinner can be free from slavery and servitude by appropriating the merits of Christ’s death. To actualise this, a sinner needs to acknowledge His atoning sacrifice by faith and ask for cleansing from sin. Moses added that the freed slave must not “go away empty: Thou shalt furnish him liberally” (verses 13,14). God prospers the generous and multiplies His blessings upon those who obey Him (Proverbs 19:17). However, the slave who chooses “not to go away” on the ground that he loves his master, was made to undergo some ceremony such as the piercing of the ear to mark his perpetual and wilful service to his master. One aspect of voluntary service of believers is to willingly consecrate to the service of our Lord and Master. The sabbatical year had its antecedent from Genesis when God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth and giving the seventh day and year as rest to His people from their labours. This is to be observed in Israel as a holy day unto the Lord (Exodus 20:10,11). The sabbatical year therefore, belongs to the Lord and was to be honoured as such. With the land lying fallow, debts forgiven and slaves released, except for those who chose perpetual servitude, everyone in Israel was to depend on divine providence. Thus, this seventh year of release typifies the period of grace through the gospel for which Christ proclaimed that He was anointed to release captives from their slave market of sin, sickness and Satan (Luke 4:18). Thus, those who repent of their sin and believe the gospel will receive forgiveness and release from the bondage of Satan.
3.SEPARATION OF THE FIRSTLING OF ANIMALS (Deuteronomy 15:19-23; 26:2; Numbers 3:13; Nehemiah 10:35,36; Exodus 13:2,15)
“All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep” (Deuteronomy 15:19). Moses ended this canon by enjoining the children of Israel to dedicate every first-born male of their cattle to the Lord. However, such should be eaten “before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household” (Deuteronomy 15:20). The reason for the consecration of the first-born male is in remembrance of and thankfulness to the Lord for sparing Israel’s first born males in the land of Egypt on the night the angel of death went out and slew the first-born of all the Egyptians (Exodus 13:2,15). This law shows divine ownership of all things (Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 24:1; Ezekiel 18:4). The implication of this revelation is to daily live for Christ and submit all we are and have for His use and glory. Moses instructed Israel not to present any blemished firstling to the Lord.
This typifies the offering of the blameless and only begotten Son of God. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:19; Exodus 12:5). As God required Israel to give Him the unblemished male firstling of their cattle, we are equally required to offer ourselves as “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Also, we are to render to Him the best of our talents, time and treasures as firstfruits unto God. The best of our strength and comfort are to be ploughed back into His service and glory.
Questions for review:
- What does the year of release teach believers and sinners? 2. What is the greatest debt humanity owe God and how Can we pay it?
- How do people get into debt and what is the secret of a debt-free life?
- What should be the Christian’s attitude to borrowing?
- Why should New Testament believers lend to the poor among us?
- How can a sinner be free from slavery and servitude?
- Why were the children of Israel commanded to offer their male firstlings and forbidden to offer blemished animals to the Lord?
