The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 433

Lord." He thus stamps the land as his, and had we the clear vision, we might see the "sign manual" of the Lord upon all the world. Il. THE FALLOW YEAR CHANGED AGRICULTURAL INTO PASTORAL LIFE. The people of necessity gave greater attention to the rearing and the tending of cattle. It is evident from ver. 7 that the care of the cattle and of the beasts of the field was specially con- templated by the arrangement. National life would become in consequence more idyllic. A wholesome change would thus be introduced every seventh year, and the people would morally be improved. 'l'he population would become more and more humane, and the whole country profit thereby. Now, in pastoral countries there is of necessity more time for pensive meditation and thought. Pastoral life is in the interests of reflection. It is a providential aid thereto. Hence we see in the sabbatic year the condition supplied for greater thought- fulness and reflection. If we compare the blank intellectual condition of agricultural labourers, ground down by ceaseless toil, with the thoughtful, poetic mood often met with among shepherds, we can have no difficulty in recognizing the great moral import- ance of a pastoral year. ill, THE FALLOW YEAB WAS A FINE EXERCISE FOB THE NATIONAL FAITH. For men would naturally ask," What shall we eat the seventh year?" (ver. 20). And to this the Lord made answer, "Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years" (ver. 21). For a nation to prepare for this fallow year required great faith in God. The sixth year was a year of "great expectations;" they looked to God to provide for the coming year of rest, and thus were drawn up to an exercise of faith and hope of the most profitable description. Amid our multiplied methods of livelihood we are in danger of losing sight of the Divine hand altogether, and of living a low life of sight. And yet, by periodic returns of hard times and difficulties, the Lord is still calling on us for faith in him, to enable us to serve him. He still desires us to exercise this faith in him, that none of us shall ever suffer real loss in seeking to serve him. "So those who abstain from their labours upon the sabbath," says an old writer in this connection, "it shall never impoverish them, for the blessing of God upon the week-days shall supply all their wants; so the Lord promised, when they shall go up to Jerusalem to serve him at their feasts, that he would keep their land from the incursion of their enemies (Exod. xxxiv. 24). We see also (Josh. v. 1, 2), when they were circumcised, the Lord struck such a fear and terror into the hearts of the Canaanites, that they durst not touch thrm, as Simeon and Levi killed the Shechemites when they were newly circumcised. Never man yet got hurt in the service of God; he shall still find the Lord'~ protecting hand and blessing in his service." IV. THE FALLOW YEAB BROUGHT INTO PROMINENCE THE GREAT TRUTH ABOUT THE JIBOTHEBH0OD OF MAN. .Although the land was to lie fallow, it gave much in the way of spontaneous growth. This became public and common property, so that servant, and maid, and hired servant, and stranger, as well as the rightful owner, "had all things common." In fact, there was, to adopt the modern phraseology, a" commune" established in Canaan so far as the produce of the sabhatic year was concerned. Was this not a recognition of the brotherhood of man, and of the obligation to make some provision for poorer brethren? It was thus the year of charity, when all alike sat at the table of the Divine bounty, and realized thereat their common relation. It was a similar outcome of the religious spirit which occurred at Pentecost. Then "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common" (Acts iv. 32). And although the Christian commune did not work well, but broke down speedily, it showed the true tendency of inspired men. The obligation under which they live to do their best for all about them, especially for those of the household of faith, is cheerfully and gladly recognized. And possibly, in the perfect world and sabbath of the spirit, this community of goods will be found workable, the selfish elements which now cause friction having entirely disappeared. V, THE FALLOW YEAR AFFORDED SPECIAL FACILITIES FOB PBOIIOTING NATIONAL EDUCATION, It is evident from Deut. xxxi. 10-13 that the sabbatic year was to be a season of special study of the Law. The Feast of Tabernacles with which it began was tu be devoted to the public reading of it. Not only the adulta, male and female, but CB. nv. 1-55.J THE .BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 399