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December 8 Daily Devotional

Twilight: The Year of Jubilee

the Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven

Monthly Theme:

The Prince of Peace, the Son of David, was announced by Isaiah. The story of his coming was proclaimed by the evangelists, each with a different emphasis. Jesus made God's kingship real in this world. Today, the kingdom is here—and it is coming.

Bible Reading:

Isaiah 61:1–3

Bible Text:

The Lord has anointed me ... to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God (Isa. 61:1–2).

Devotional:

In this passage the prophet seems to speak of himself: "The Spirit of Yahweh is on me; he has anointed me, sent me...." But the gospel writer Luke tells us that centuries later Jesus took the scroll of Isaiah and read this passage—-the same words you and I read in chapter 61. And Jesus said to the people in the synagogue of Nazareth: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). "The year of the Lord's favor is now here. It's time to be free. And I am the one anointed (Messiah) to bring this good news."

The prophet was the forerunner of the great event. Jesus is the great event. Jesus brings the messianic age, here called the year of God's favor or the Year of Jubilee.

For the Old Testament people the Year of Jubilee was the climax of all "sabbath cycles." Every seventh day in Israel was the "sabbath," a day of rest for everyone. Every seventh year was a "sabbath year." All creation rested for twelve months. And after seven-times-seven years the sound of the ram's horn announced the Year of Jubilee. The name says it: Jubilee! Shout and sing and celebrate! During that year debts were forgiven, lost property was restored, and slaves were freed (Lev. 25:8). These sabbath cycles kept alive the hope for the final shalom: the reign of Jesus Messiah.

This peace has now come. Jesus sets us free, never to be enslaved again.

"Sound the trumpet throughout the land and proclaim liberty" to the world!


Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.

 

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