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The Cross and its Shadow - Stephen N. Haskell

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Instances are recorded where the work of the<br />

Jubilee year was performed by the Israelites.<br />

Nehemiah, in his great reformatory work, required<br />

the Jews to give freedom to their servants <strong>and</strong> to<br />

restore the l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> vineyards to the original<br />

owners. (Neh. 5:1-19)<br />

On the eve of the Babylonian captivity,<br />

Zedekiah proclaimed liberty to every one. He<br />

evidently designed to celebrate the Jubilee. If he<br />

had done so, it would have given him liberty, but<br />

he was too vacillating to carry out the<br />

requirements. <strong>The</strong> Lord sent a message, saying that<br />

he had done right in proclaiming liberty, "every<br />

man to his neighbour," but that in failing to grant it,<br />

he had polluted the name of the Lord. (Jer. 34: 8-<br />

17)<br />

All the commercial interests of the ancient<br />

Israelite taught the gospel. While he was allowed to<br />

dwell in the promised l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> enjoy <strong>its</strong> privileges,<br />

yet he was only the steward, not the owner. <strong>The</strong><br />

divine decree was: "<strong>The</strong> l<strong>and</strong> shall not be sold<br />

forever: for the l<strong>and</strong> is Mine; for ye are strangers<br />

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