Leviticus 25: A Radical Vision of God’s Justiceনমুনা

God’s mercy and our care for the poor

The year of jubilee was meant to be sounded with a trumpet blast, as on the Day of Atonement – and some scholars believe that this is not a coincidence. The Day of Atonement signaled the restoration of just relationship with God, and the year of jubilee was the restoration of just relationships with others and nature.

In Leviticus, God displays His mercy, and He requires His people to display mercy, especially towards the poor. They are to leave crops for all to glean in the jubilee year, and should they be tempted to hoard for themselves, He reminds them twice that it all belongs to Him. As His servants, He commands us to have the same care for the poor that He does, showing mercy because we have been shown mercy.

Scripture poses a challenge to the church to seek restorative justice for those who were stripped of both land and dignity, not just respond with charity “handouts”. It also challenges wealthy Christians across the world in terms of living and acting justly towards their neighbor based on the understanding that to live justly is a gospel imperative.

As we pray for justice, we become sensitive to how we might be used for justice, and as we pray for our world, we remember that we just might also be part of the answer to those prayers!   

REFLECTION:

How often do you pray about “big” issues like hunger, slavery, and extreme poverty? What do those prayers look like?