Topical Bible: The Feast of Sabbatical Year: Jews Threatened for Neglecting

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Feast of the Sabbatical Year, also known as the Shemitah, is a biblically mandated observance that occurs every seventh year. This year is marked by a cessation of agricultural activity, debt release, and a focus on spiritual renewal and trust in God's provision. The command for the Sabbatical Year is found in Leviticus 25:1-7, where the Israelites are instructed to let the land rest: "For six years you may sow your fields and prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your fields or prune your vineyards" (Leviticus 25:3-4).

The observance of the Sabbatical Year was not merely an agricultural practice but a profound act of faith and obedience. It served as a reminder that the land ultimately belonged to God and that the Israelites were stewards of His creation. The Shemitah was also a time for social justice, as debts were to be forgiven, providing relief to the poor and preventing the accumulation of perpetual poverty (Deuteronomy 15:1-2).

Despite its significance, the neglect of the Sabbatical Year became a recurring issue among the Israelites, leading to divine warnings and consequences. The failure to observe the Shemitah was seen as a breach of covenant with God, resulting in severe repercussions. In Leviticus 26:33-35, God warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience: "I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of its desolation, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time, the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths."

The historical neglect of the Sabbatical Year is further highlighted in the context of the Babylonian exile. The chronicler notes that the land finally enjoyed its Sabbaths during the seventy years of desolation, as prophesied by Jeremiah: "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11). This period of exile was seen as a direct consequence of the Israelites' failure to observe the Sabbatical Year, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:21: "So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest; all the days of the desolation it kept Sabbath, until seventy years were complete, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah."

The neglect of the Sabbatical Year serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disregarding His statutes. It underscores the principle that God's laws are designed for the well-being of His people and the land He has entrusted to them. The Shemitah remains a powerful symbol of faith, trust, and the call to live in accordance with divine principles.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 26:34,35,43
Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lies desolate, and you be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 34:13-18
Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook