"Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land." Leviticus 25:9

During this month our nation is celebrating the Queen’s golden jubilee. Such events are indeed rare. The last golden jubilee was that of Queen Victoria and was celebrated in 1887. The likelihood is that very few of us will ever see another golden jubilee.
While some are critical of the royal family we are mindful of the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2 which instruct us to "Fear God. Honour the king". While she like most families has had her problems and done things with which we would not agree yet she has proved to be a stabilising influence.
The question perhaps arises why celebrate 50 years and not 45. Even her own web site acknowledges that it goes back to the word of God. Every 50 years the trumpets or the ram's horn sounding all slaves and bondservants were set free. The land returning to its original owners it was not to be cultivated nor were its crops to be harvested during that year. The people ceasing their labour it was a year of rest and more than that it was a year of rejoicing. The slave's debts being wiped out, his land being returned, he was given a new start.
In the gospel we have a far greater jubilee. It offers us not only rest and joy but also a new start. Speaking from his own experience Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new". Coming to Christ the persecutor receiving a new beginning he became a preacher of the gospel. Christians are not merely nice people but they are new people. The gospel gives them not only a new beginning but one characterized by joy and peace. In thinking about these trumpets, which sounded the commencement of the Jubilee, notice: -

1. WHEN THEY SOUNDED: Unlike our modern calendar the Jewish civil calendar did not begin on the 1st day of the 1st month but rather on the 1st day of the 7th month. These trumpet not sounding until the 10th day we find that before the jubilee could commence: -

a) Atonement Was Required: We read in v9 "Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land". On this 10th day the whole nation came to a stand still. The high priest offering up a sacrifice for his own sin he then came again to the brazen altar. Taking two goats he slaying one of them sprinkled its blood upon the mercy seat. Then placing his hands upon the other and confessing the sins of the people it was then led out into the wilderness where it was never seen again. Finishing making atonement it was then and only then that the jubilee with its new beginning and rest commenced.
Without propitiation there can be no peace. It flows from his atoning death. Indeed, reminding the Hebrew converts of this Paul said in Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission". He uses here the word "almost" because in the Old Testament some things were purified by water and by fire. For example, fire was used to purify gold and water cleansed their clothes. However, coming to the subject of sin he reminded them that nothing but the blood was able to cleanse away its defilement.
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission and there is no rest. The soul will never find pardon or peace. Go out into the streets and ask those celebrating the Queen’s jubilee what colours make up the Union flag and rather than saying blue, red and white they will answer red, white and blue. Just as we say red, white and blue so without the shedding of the blood you will never be made white or clean or enter into the blueness or the rest of the eternal heavens. In fact you go through the New Testament and you will find that while there are some 290 references to the love of God there are more than 1,300 references to the atonement. Without atonement there is no jubilee. The hymn writer said, "what can wash away my sin/ Nothing but the blood of Jesus’.

b) Affliction Was Required: Before sounding the jubilee they keeping the feast of the atonement the Lord said in Ch.16:31 "ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever". The word "afflict" here literally means to "stoop down". It was also used to describe Israel trials in the land of Egypt. As their afflictions broke their hearts causing them to flee their persecutors he was telling them now not only to weep over but also to leave their sin. In so doing he added the word "forever". Permanently turning from their sin the trumpet then sounded.
Before entering into our rest there must be repentance. An abhorring and an abandoning of our sin. Indeed, reminding the Pharisees of the Galilaeans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices the Lord said in Luke 13:5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish". The word "repent" here means more than to be sorry for our sin. It means to turn around.
Before entering into a new life there must be an exiting of the old life. A lamenting and then a leaving of our sin. I suppose no word is more misunderstood than the word repent. Some imagine it is confession but in Exodus 9:27 Pharaoh said "I have sinned" but he still perished. Some imagine it is conviction but Felix trembled and he still perished. Some imagine it is contrition but Judas was sorry for the way things turned out but his soul was lost. Some people say, "well I will turn form 95% of my sin". But would marry someone who said I will be 95% faithful. As well be broken over your sin there must be a complete breaking from all of your sin. Until you are willing to leave your sin there is no new beginning and there will be no rest.

c) Acceptance Was Required: The trumpet sounding we read in v11"A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed". During the jubilee they were not to plough their fields. Lying fallow their crops were not to be harvested. Following immediately after the Sabbatical Year in which there was also to be no ploughing or harvesting of their fields it meant that they had to trust the Lord to supply their needs for almost three years. Failing to do this we never read of them ever enjoying the blessings of the jubilee.
Without a resting on God there will never be rest. Your soul will never find peace. Indeed, reminding the Romans of this Paul said in Romans 5:1"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" It was through faith they entered into their rest.
Faith is more than recognising of God. It is a resting on God. Many years ago there was a tightrope walker, which did incredible aerial feats. An American promoter hearing about him he sent him a letter saying "I don’t believe you can do it, but I’m willing to offer you a very substantial sum of money to do your act over Niagara Falls." The man agreed and later the drums rolling he walked on his tightrope over the falls. Turning to the promoter he said "Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?" Stating he did he then asked him if he believed he could wheel a barrow over the falls. Stating he did the Tightrope walker said, "get in the wheelbarrow." You believe there is a God and that he can save but are you willing as it were to get in the wheelbarrow? Without faith it is impossible to please God.

2. WHAT THEY SOUNDED: The priest having made atonement the trumpeters then took up their trumpets. Placing them to their lips their sound was extremely sweet. Announcing glad tidings notice:-

a) Their Loans Were Removed: The name jubilee coming from a root which means "to restore or bring back" we read v13 "In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession". In the previous 49 years a man getting into financial difficulty he would have been forced to sell or mortgage his property. Disposing of his home and his land to pay his debts he would then have been forced to sell himself and even his family into slavery. Losing everything the Jubilee certainly brought good news. Ending his slavery his lands were returned to him. In other words his debts were all cancelled.
Through atonement our debt by sin is abolished. It is wiped out. Emphasising this we read in Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;". The word 'forgiveness' here is an interesting word. It literally means 'to carry away' or 'dismiss'. As the High Priest on the day of Atonement sent the scapegoat away into the wilderness he through the blood was sending their sin away never to be discovered again.
Through the blood there is pardon. Our debt by sin is scattered as far as the east is from the west. The world continually tells us "you make your bed and you lie in it". However, the Lord Jesus Christ says, "Take up thy bed and walk. Thy sins are forgiven." As he discharged the debt of the two debtors he will discharge the debt of your sin. The moment you believe the trump sounding your sin will be gone.

b) Their Liberties Were Restored: These trumpets sounding across the land we read in v10 "it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family". The father who through circumstances beyond his control had been enslaved was suddenly set free. His chains being broken open he was able to walk through the gates that had separated him from his home and family for so many years. He was now free. It proclaimed his liberty
The blood of Christ not only brings forgiveness but freedom. It breaks the chains of sin and habits that bind. Reminding the Romans of this Paul said in Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life". Sometimes people misinterpreting this verse they imagine that because they are saved they are free to live, as they like. Freedom does not mean the absence of law. We live in the free world but we are still subject to the law. What he was saying was not that they were free to sin but free to overcome sin.
Through the blood there is not only remission but also release. The controlling power of sin is broken. That does not mean that if you come to Christ that you will never be tempted to sin. It means that being tempted you will be able to overcome those temptations.

c) Their Lands Were Returned: v13 "In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession". The lands previously lost were turned. Their original inheritance given by Joshua was restored.
Through the blood there is not only release but also restoration. All that was lost through the fall is returned. Believe and you will receive not only peace, which passeth all understanding but joy and even better heaven.

3. WHY THEY SOUNDED: They announced the coming of the jubilee. In a higher sense Christ being our Jubilee Paul tells us that at the sounding of the trump he will return. Coming notice:

a) Their Farms Were Revalued: v15 "According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee:" Their lands were valued according to the time of the Jubilee. For example, if it was purchased just after the jubilee the new owner would posses it for 49 years. However, if he waited 10 years he would posses it for only 39 years. Therefore the nearer the jubilee came the less valuable it became.
The nearer the Saviour’s coming the less valuable the things of earth should become to us. Someone rightly asking how much money a wealthy man left behind they answered "everything". Christ coming you will leave all behind. Don’t labour for that which is really worth nothing. Lay your treasure up above.

b) Their Families Were Reunited: v10 "ye shall return every man unto his family". The chains of slavery being broken fathers, mothers and children who had been forced into slavery were set free. Coming back to the old homestead there were reunited.
At the coming of our jubilee, which is Christ, there will not only be rest but reunion. Those that know him will be reunited. The Hymn writer wrote: -

c) Their Futures Were Restful: v11 "ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed". There was perfect rest. Although there were no crops in the field the Lord promised v19 to meet their every need.
Coming again Christ will bring us into that perfect rest. There our every need will be met. Have you given your life to the Lord? Do you have the assurance that if the Lord were to return today, he would be coming to take you to heaven? If not, please make him your Jubilee today by confessing your sin and calling upon him for salvation. If I can be of any help to do not hesitate to contact me at - thomas.murray3@ntlworld.com