What does "become holy to the LORD" teach about God's ownership of the land? Opening the Text “When the field is released in the Jubilee, it shall become holy to the LORD like a field set apart; it shall become the property of the priests.” What We See in the Verse • A privately owned field had been vowed to God. • At the Jubilee it is not returned to the former owner but “becomes holy to the LORD.” • Its new custodians are the priests, underscoring that the land is now viewed as God’s special possession. God’s Ultimate Ownership • Leviticus 25:23—“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine…” • Psalm 24:1—“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof…” • Deuteronomy 10:14—“To the LORD your God belong the heavens… the earth and all that is in it.” • These passages align with Leviticus 27:21, driving home that any human “ownership” is stewardship under God’s supreme title. Why “Become Holy” Matters • “Holy” (Hebrew qodesh) marks something as set apart exclusively for God. • When a field “becomes holy,” every economic, agricultural, and legal right over it shifts to the Lord. • The Jubilee timing reinforces that even Israel’s cyclical property resets answer to God’s calendar, not human negotiation. Implications for Israel • Tribal allotments (Joshua 13–21) were grants of stewardship, not absolute ownership. • The tithe of the land (Leviticus 27:30) repeats the theme: “All the tithe of the land… belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” • By placing vowed land in priestly hands, God visibly reminded the nation that their inheritance was leased, never owned outright. Broader Biblical Echoes • 1 Chronicles 29:11—David confesses, “Everything in heaven and on earth is Yours.” • Isaiah 61:6—Priests again stand as mediators of God’s property, “You will be called priests of the LORD… you will feed on the wealth of nations.” • Romans 11:36—“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things,” bridging Old Testament land theology to New Testament cosmology. Living the Truth Today • Property, vocation, and resources are entrusted, not possessed—prompting gratitude and faithfulness. • Land care and generosity flow from recognizing God’s title deed over creation (Genesis 2:15). • Hope rises from knowing the final “Jubilee” in Christ (Luke 4:18–19) will restore all creation to its rightful Owner. |
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