Jubilee - The King's Dominion

As the Queen's Jubilee celebration approaches, we've been looking at the origin of the Jubilee festival and made some fascinating discoveries.

The trumpet blast that started the Jubilee 50th year was the sign that anyone who was a slave was released. But there was another important economic aspect of the Jubilee as outlined in Leviticus 25. The land itself as restored to its original owners. In other words - there is no such thing as freehold.

When someone sold a field or a plot of land, they were only leasing it for the time until the next Year of Jubilee. Why? As a reminder that: "The land is mine, and you are to reside in my land as foreigners and strangers." (Leviticus 25 v 23)

This whole economic system of land ownership has some very interesting implications for the way that business was conducted - not least that relationships and families became more important than money. But did you get the spiritual dimension of the command for restoration? It was a constant reminder to remember that the land they lived in was not theirs at all - but held as a gift from God.

It was the Lord who had rescued them from Egypt. It was the Lord who brought them through the wilderness to the land of Milk and Honey. It was with the Lord's strength that the Canaanites were driven out. It was the Lord's promise to Abraham that was fulfilled by the Lord's hand. The Jubilee enshrined in the rhythm of life the reminder that what they have comes as a gift to them from a gracious God. They must hold onto it lightly. They must live in it and enjoy its blessings with gratitude.

Many people admire the hard work and dedication to duty that has marked the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She has worked hard to fulfill her role. She deserves to be celebrated this weekend. But I am sure that Her Majesty would echo the sentiments of the original Jubilee. That it is a time for recognising that all the good things we enjoy come from the hand of God. Your house, our country, your work, your bank account, your stuff. It's all his really.

Tomorrow: the real Jubilee!