First, the Sabbath year (1-7,18-22). God commanded people to rest every 7th day and the land to be given rest every 7th year, with no one working it. Then how would they eat? God promised blessings of safety and prosperity if they just did what he commanded in obedience that comes from faith (21). Second, the year of Jubilee (8-17,23). After 7 Sabbath years (49 years) there would be a special year of Jubilee (50th year). A ram's horn would be sounded on the Day of Atonement and liberty was proclaimed throughout the land (9-10).The land would again have rest and any sold land would revert to its ancestral ownership. So land in Israel wasn't sold permanently; it was really only leased. That's because God is actually the owner of the land, as well as our lives and possessions (23). We're just tenants.
Application: Lord, thank you for your promise of safety, prosperity and liberty. My life and possessions are yours. Help me to live in that freedom and rest.
One Word: Proclaim liberty throughout the land