YOUTH STS LESSON 134 YEAR OF RELEASE

TEXT: Deuteronomy 15:1-23     

MEMORY VERSE: “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release” (Deuteronomy 15:1).

The Lord’s dealings with the nation of Israel show that they were peculiar to Him. He had told them in the previous chapter that, “thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2). He called and chose the nation of Israel to Himself, and wanted them to be different in principles and practice and other ways from the heathen nations. From our text, the Lord reveals the brotherly relationship that should exist between the creditor and the debtor, the rich and the poor as wells as the master and his servants. The privileges were to be considerate, kind and hospitable to the less privileged. Thus, the Lord introduced the year of release- a sabbatical year which was to be a form of celebration all over the land of Israel. Similarly, the church of Christ is called and chosen to be a peculiar body. The Scripture says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

1.THE LAW OF CANCELLING DEBTS (Deuteronomy 15:1-6: 23:19,20; Galatians 4:3-5; Romans 5:6-9; Matthew 6:12; 18:27)

Debt is a sum of money owed to somebody. The creditor is the lender while the borrower is the debtor. In our text, the Lord wanted the creditor to relate with his debtor on the basis of brotherly love. He therefore established a law of forgiveness and release. “At the end of every seven years thou shall 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” (verses 1,2).

Question 1: Why must the creditor cancel the debtor’s debt at the end of the sabbatical year?

The Lord’s instruction was that at the end of every seven years, the children of Israel must cancel debt. At this period, the creditor must not require payment from his fellow Israelites. This is because the Lord’s time for cancelling debt has been proclaimed. The creditor may require it from a foreigner but must cancel any debt his brother owed him. However, in the New Testament dispensation, Jesus said, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8).

Question 2: What is the significance of the release of the debtor at the sabbatical year?

By this law, the Lord released the debtor from the bondage of debt. The seven years of indebtedness shows the helplessness and hopelessness of the debtor to free himself of the bondage of debt. It represents their release from Egypt. Therefore, only by the “LORD’S release”– a divine intervention – can a sinner be freed and set at liberty.

Question 3: How does the ‘Lord’s release’ apply to youths today?

All sinners are debtors spiritually. They owe a debt they cannot pay. But at the fullness of time, Christ paid the price of release and redemption from the spiritual debt they owed. “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:3-5).This is the Lord’s release from the power and bondage of sin. At the fullness and perfection of time, Christ came and died so that our sins could be blotted out. However, when we borrow anything, we should endeavour to return it to the rightful owner. Only a wicked person that owes and refuses to payback. “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth” (Psalm 37:21). “Save when there shall be no more poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it: Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day” (verses 4,5). The plan of God for the nation of Israel was that they should be richly blessed. He, however, exhorted them to “carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God”and do as they were commanded by His word. The condition of blessing is hinged on obedience to His word. For a Christian to be richly blessed by the Lord, he must observe and do as God’s word instructs. This will make Christian youths rich and diligent in their spiritual lives and other areas.

2.THE LAW OF CARING FOR THE POOR (Deuteronomy 15:7- 11; Exodus 23:10,11; Leviticus 25:35-38; 1 John 3:17,18; Galatians 6:7-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6,7; Romans 12:8,13; 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shall not harden thy nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother” (verse 7). This was a command from God to the rich people of the land to take care of the poor around them. The Lord’s command was that the rich should not be hardhearted or tight-fisted towards their brethren. Rather, they should be open-handed and cheerfully give of their riches to care for the poor and needy. Neither should the rich harbour any wicked thought that the year of release is near, therefore show ill will towards the needy. The rich should give generously to the poor so as to be blessed by God. By this law, the Lord thoughtfully made provision for the care of the poor and needy in the land of Israel. This also shows how compassionate the Lord is. It brings to light the divine thoughtfulness of our benevolent God. He had even made some provision for the care of the poor before now. “And six years thou shall sow thy land, and shall gather in the fruit thereof: But the seventh year thou shall let it rest and lie still: that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shall deal with thy vine-yard, and with thy olive yard” (Exodus 23:10,11). God accepted the gifts to the poor and needy as an offering to Himself. Therefore, the rich were to take it as a responsibility to care for the poor and needy people of the land. Jesus said, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). Also the Scripture says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17). The rich are therefore not to overlook the condition of the poor and needy.

Question 4: How can Christian youths care for the poor and needy, today?

The word of God applies to everyone. As Christian youths, we can manifest care and be generous to fellow youths around us. We can help those that are academically poor by assisting them in their areas of deficiency. We can share our personal belongings with the poor and the less privileged. More than these, we can share the gospel of salvation to sinning youths around us.

3. THE LAW OF CONCESSION FOR SLAVES (Deuteronomy 15:12-23; Exodus 21: 1-6; Leviticus 25: 39-43; Jeremiah 34:13, 14; Isaiah 61:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

“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” (verse 12). If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman is sold and serves his master six years, the master must freely release him (the slave) in the seventh year, being the year of the Lord’s release. By this law, the Lord wanted Hebrew masters to manifest the following virtues toward their slaves:

(1) concern for servants;

(2) care for servants;

(3) compassion in servitude and

(4) compensation for services.

The law required the masters to make provisions for their servants on the year of release. The Lord reminded them, “Thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt” but were released at God’s appointed time. Similarly, masters today should manifest concern, care, compassion, and make provision for compensating their servants.

Furthermore, when we preach the gospel, the acceptable year of the Lord is proclaimed. That is, the year of release of the sinner, deliverance of the soul, and obtaining rest in Christ. We are called to be agents of the Lord’s year of release (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today, believers are Christ’s servants for life by virtue of the redemptive work that He accomplished on our behalf. If not that Christ offered Himself for the salvation of our souls, we would have been lost forever. Therefore, we are the Lord’s and have been bought with a price. Believers should give their best to the Lord and give Him first place in their hearts. God and His word must be our first point of consideration in all matters of life. He demands and rightly deserves our best because He gave us His best to save our souls. In view of this undeniable fact, Paul by the Spirit’s inspiration admonished thus: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).