Kinsman Redeemer
The theme of a kinsman redeemer runs throughout the Bible. Someone has become poor through whatever circumstance and a close relative must come and purchase his freedom. We see that theme played out in discussions concerning the year of Jubilee.
The last section in the chapter is a peculiar instance whereby a member of Israel may become poor and sell themselves to a stranger.
Leviticus 25:47–49 (ESV) “If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, 48 then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.
In this case, it is important to note that God instructs His people to purchase their fellow brothers out of slavery. There is not to be a perpetual slavery for God's chosen people. They are responsible for each other as well as themselves.
In this way, Israel was once again to stand apart from all the other nations. First in that lost brothers are important to them. This nation was to keep accounting for each other. Why? Because every one of them mattered. They were God's people, they were chosen and precious.
Second, the lost brother's distant relatives can and should take responsibility for him even if there is no close brother able to afford his freedom. Leviticus 25:49 (ESV) or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. God was making sure there was a way - no matter how distant - for His children to be freed.
Finally, even when there's no one to step in and redeem the lost brother, God has a year in which he goes free:
Leviticus 25:54–55 (ESV) And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he and his children with him shall be released in the year of jubilee.
In the end of the matter, no matter what, God's people were to live knowing that one day they would be free even if at the time they were not. An Israelite was to never feel completely disconnected from their God or their people. God was making sure of that.
The last verse in Leviticus 25 reveals the reason for all these stipulations:
Leviticus 25:55 (ESV) For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
The last section in the chapter is a peculiar instance whereby a member of Israel may become poor and sell themselves to a stranger.
Leviticus 25:47–49 (ESV) “If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, 48 then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.
In this case, it is important to note that God instructs His people to purchase their fellow brothers out of slavery. There is not to be a perpetual slavery for God's chosen people. They are responsible for each other as well as themselves.
In this way, Israel was once again to stand apart from all the other nations. First in that lost brothers are important to them. This nation was to keep accounting for each other. Why? Because every one of them mattered. They were God's people, they were chosen and precious.
Second, the lost brother's distant relatives can and should take responsibility for him even if there is no close brother able to afford his freedom. Leviticus 25:49 (ESV) or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. God was making sure there was a way - no matter how distant - for His children to be freed.
Finally, even when there's no one to step in and redeem the lost brother, God has a year in which he goes free:
Leviticus 25:54–55 (ESV) And if he is not redeemed by these means, then he and his children with him shall be released in the year of jubilee.
In the end of the matter, no matter what, God's people were to live knowing that one day they would be free even if at the time they were not. An Israelite was to never feel completely disconnected from their God or their people. God was making sure of that.
The last verse in Leviticus 25 reveals the reason for all these stipulations:
Leviticus 25:55 (ESV) For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
For Christians, this principle is stipulated in various ways throughout the New Testament. God's chosen people are to look out for one another, pray for one another, care for one another and love one another with brotherly affection. Consider this list:
Edify one another (Rom. 14:19).
Serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).
Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).
Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).
Instruct one another (Col. 3:16).
Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18).
Rebuke one another (Titus 1:13).
Encourage one another to do good (Heb. 10:24–25).
Confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).
Pray for one another (James 5:16).
Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9–10).
The Church is to be a social structure set apart from a world absorbed in itself. We are NOT alone. We are to show that to each other in real practical ways so that when life's storm hit us, we know we have a family who cares.
In the end of the matter however, God has provided a way Himself for those who still feel lost when the Church is not acting as it should. There is coming a final day in which all oppression will cease and every captive will be released. Our very distant relative has transversed the great divide and come to pay for our freedom. It's guaranteed in His blood.
So we are people of definite freedom.
Comments
Post a Comment