Our Lord and His PrayerSample

There’s a fascinating rhythm built into the Kingdom of God: 6 beats and a rest.

The rhythm starts at creation: In six days God creates everything, and on day 7, He rests. This work/rest rhythm was not intended to be just for God. Notice Exodus 23:12. This was not just a weekly rhythm; it was designed to be a yearly rhythm, too (v.10-11)! Six years of working the land followed by one year of letting the land lie fallow reflected the work/rest rhythm that God built into creation.

There are other echoes of this 6/1 rhythm throughout Jewish law, but the pinnacle - the fortissimo coda, if you will - was to be the Year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:8-13 outline the goals of this syncopated 6/1 rhythm: Repentance (v.9), Release (v.10), Rest (v.11-12), and Restoration (v.13).

Here’s the good news: This 6/1 rhythm is not just an Old Testament refrain. Notice Luke 4:14-21. Jesus stands up in the synagogue and proclaims, “I am here to ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor’” (v.19). And when Jesus teaches us how to pray, He reminds us of this 6/1 rhythm: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus is proclaiming a New Jubilee, and this New Jubilee echoes the same notes as the original year of Jubilee:

Repentance - The first part of the New Jubilee is a right relationship with God, and Romans 10:9-10 tells us how that starts.

Release - Mark 11:25 reminds us that we cannot fully experience or celebrate God’s New Jubilee if we refuse to model the New Jubilee to those who have wronged us.

Rest - In the New Jubilee, forgiveness gives us rest from replaying the hurt and repaying the wound. If the offense needs to be repaid, God will handle that (Hebrews 10:30-31).

Restoration - Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:23-24 (before He even teaches us to pray this prayer), that reconciliation is possible and preferable. Because of Jesus, we can be restored to a healthy relationship with those who have wronged us.

May you enjoy the rhythm of repentance, release, rest, and restoration that God offers you in Jesus.