Last January, during my church’s time of prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit told me that 2012 would be the Year of Completion, a time of hard work like the final stages of giving birth. And sure enough, it was hard, but the work brought about the completion of some major projects. For instance, we purchased a house and moved. My husband graduated with his degree in business. I pushed to finish my coursework for my master’s degree. These projects, among others, were major undertakings that required an immense amount of energy. With the promise of completion, we made it through the year, and on December 31, 2012, my degree was officially posted, marking the end of this season in my life.

A year ago when the Holy Spirit promised the completion of these projects, He said the Year of Completion would be followed by the Year of Jubilee. I took this as a reference to the ancient practice of the 50th year as a time of restoration and rejoicing. So, with the Year of Completion being…completed, and 2013, the Year of Jubilee ahead, I took some time to read more of what Jubilee was all about in Leviticus 25.

“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.”  Leviticus 25:10, NKJV

In reading the Hebrew law regarding the year of Jubilee, here are some observations that stood out to me.

1. It signaled a return or restoration of family, land, and possessions (verse 10).
2. It required the cancellation of debts and release of contracts (verse 28, 31).
3. It offered freedom from bondage including slavery (verse 40).
4. It was a time of rest and Sabbath renewal for the people and the land (verse 8, 11).
5. It proclaimed redemption of people and property (verse 21).
6. It ushered in a time of extra blessing (verse 21) and resting in God’s provision (verse 12).

All of this sounds really good to me, especially after persevering through the Year of Completion. I am ready for some Jubilee!

There are several aspects of Jubilee that I am still contemplating, but here is one verse that caught my attention today. “Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety” (Leviticus 25:19). You see, the law commanded the whole year was one of Sabbath rest in which the people were not to plant or harvest crops. In other words, they were to cease their endless cycle of work and rely wholly on God to provide. And God said He would.

Not only does verse 19 say that the land would, on its own, bear fruit, but that there would plenty of it for the people to be satisfied. Then the promise goes a step further to promise safety as well. Isn’t that what we want? For our needs to be satisfied and to feel safe?

In our world, wars and rumors of wars, financial crises, never-ending work, and the bonds of responsibility weigh on us. Christ has good news for us. The Year of Completion is over. On the cross, Christ finished the work. He proclaimed, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The Year of Jubilee is here! Sound the “trumpet of the Jubilee” and announce the good news (Leviticus 25:9). We can rest in the full provision of Christ in our lives and celebrate the Jubilee together!