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              Blessed Is the People Who Know the Joyful Sound!
                  Understanding the Power Of the Jubilee

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By David Wilkerson
October 13, 1997
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          The psalmist writes of a glorious secret to enjoying a
          fulfilled, joyful life: "Blessed is the people that
          know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the
          light of thy countenance" (Psalm 89:15). The Hebrew
          meaning of this verse suggests, "Those who have a
          revelation of the joyful sound will wake up every day
          with peace, strength and happiness. Their life will be
          filled with the joy of the morning sun."

          In short, the psalmist is telling us, "There is a
          certain, joyful sound that is of such powerful
          significance, it is the very foundation of victorious
          living. And if you know and understand this sound, you
          will be changed from glory to glory.

          "All who know the meaning of the joyful sound become
          self-assured, fearless. They walk through life with an
          ever-increasing sense of security. They are able to
          overcome depression, even when being sifted by Satan.
          Their hearts are steadfast and at rest - because the
          Holy Spirit has revealed to them the meaning behind the
          joyful sound!"

          So, what is this joyful sound?

                      -------------------------------

                    The Joyful Sound the Psalmist Refers
                    to Is a Powerful Revelation Based on
                        the Jewish Year of Jubilee!

                      -------------------------------

          The history of the Jewish festival of Jubilee is found
          in Leviticus 25. This observance begins with the Lord's
          command that Israel allow the land to rest from
          cultivation every seventh year. The seventh year was to
          be a sabbath year, in which the land would lie fallow.
          During that year, the people were to do no planting,
          picking of fruit or harvesting of any kind: "Six years
          thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt
          prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;
          but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto
          the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither
          sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard" (Leviticus
          25:3-4).

          God was literally shutting down all agricultural
          activity for an entire year. And that meant Israel
          would have to live for that period without any visible
          means of support. They would have to put their lives
          completely in God's hands, trusting him for all
          supplies.

          Of course, this required a lot of faith. Think about
          it: For an entire year there would be no intake of
          crops for food...no harvest of grain to feed
          cattle...no work for farmers...no labor for vineyard
          keepers. Most Christians today would panic after only a
          week of this, much less a year. Indeed, the Israelites
          wondered: "What are we going to do for food during the
          seventh year? How will we feed our families, our
          cattle? We'll use up everything we have in the sixth
          year. Are we supposed to sit idly by while our children
          go hungry? Does God really expect us to watch the
          grapes rot on the vine? Will he not even allow the poor
          to take what they can?"

          Yet God had a clear purpose in commanding a sabbath
          year for the land. It was meant to reveal his
          faithfulness to his people! "If ye shall say, What
          shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not
          sow, nor gather in our increase. Then I will command my
          blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring
          forth fruit for three years" (verses 20-21).

          What an incredible promise - God was guaranteeing
          Israel a triple harvest! He was saying, "If you'll just
          step out in faith and trust me, I'll give you a harvest
          during the sixth year that will provide you with enough
          provisions for three years." "And ye shall sow the
          eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth
          year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old
          store" (verse 25).

          I believe the Lord is saying something important here.
          And that is, no matter what our circumstances, he
          always provides for those who trust and obey him.

          Think for a moment about all the ways God has met the
          needs of his people throughout history:

          When Israel was in the wilderness, they had no
          supermarkets or grocery stores. There wasn't even a
          blade of grass in sight. But God rained down manna from
          heaven, so the people would have bread. And he caused
          birds to fall by the bushel from the sky, so they would
          have meat. He caused water to gush from a rock. And he
          supernaturally kept their shoes and clothing intact, so
          that they never wore out in forty years of use.

          In the Old Testament, we read that a hungry prophet was
          fed by a raven. A barrel of meal and a bottle of oil
          supernaturally replenished themselves. And an entire
          enemy army fled upon hearing a strange noise - leaving
          behind enough supplies to feed an entire city of
          starving Israelites!

          In the New Testament, we read that water was turned
          into wine. Money was found in a fish's mouth to pay
          taxes. And five thousand people were fed with only five
          loaves of bread and two fish.

          All these miracles of supply cry out to us, "God is
          faithful. He can be trusted!" And now, in Leviticus 25,
          we read of another supernatural phenomenon - a ripe
          harvest in the sixth year.

          Next, God commanded that the people observe seven
          consecutive cycles of sabbaths for the land: "Thou
          shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven
          times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths
          of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years"
          (verse 8). In other words: "You are to celebrate this
          sabbath every seventh year, for a period of forty-nine
          years - seven sabbaths times seven."

          In biblical terms, the forty-nine-year period would
          comprise a whole generation. The inference here is that
          such a period would provide enough time for an entire
          generation to learn to trust the Lord. Over that time,
          parents and grandparents would build up a history of
          faith, so they could tell their children:

          "Yes, it's true! After the first six years, God
          supplied everything we needed. But when the seventh
          year came, many of us were afraid. Yet God's provision
          saw us though to the eighth year, and right up to the
          ninth. Sometimes it was frightening, but there was
          always enough. No one starved, and no one had to beg.
          Every need was supplied. God tested our faith - and he
          remained faithful!"

          I'm sure that once the sabbaths were instituted, some
          people must have cheated. They probably thought, "I
          can't go through that kind of testing. I don't have the
          faith." And so they secretly went out to their fields
          at night and planted. But their harvests were diseased
          and bore little fruit.

          And the people ended up going deeper into debt and
          having to borrow from their neighbors.

          The point is, when God says, "Trust me," he means it!

                      -------------------------------

                 The Fiftieth Year Was Called "Jubilee" -
                  Which Means "the Sounding of Trumpets"!

                      -------------------------------

          After a "sabbath of sabbaths" - that is, seven
          seven-year periods - the fiftieth year was to be a year
          of Jubilee. When this time arrived, there would be a
          sounding of trumpets (The word "jubilee" itself means
          "the clamoring of trumpets."):

          "Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile 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).

          Indeed, the Jubilee fell on the day of atonement - that
          is, the tenth day of the seventh month. And, at a
          predetermined hour - as the high priest entered the
          holy place to sprinkle the sacrificial blood - trumpets
          began to blare all across the land.

          The trumpets' clamoring could be heard in every city,
          hamlet, village, mountain and valley. And every
          Israelite knew the meaning of the sound. What did it
          all signify? It heralded an incredible blessing of
          liberty and deliverance - by the Lord's decree!

          "Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim
          liberty throughout all the land unto all the
          inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and
          ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye
          shall return every man unto his family" (verse 10).

          Such a decree was unheard of: The sound of the trumpets
          canceled all debts and restored all goods to the
          original owners. And it freed every servant from every
          form of captivity and bondage!

          Needless to say, the trumpets' blaring was a joyful
          sound to every servant, prisoner and disenfranchised
          person throughout the land. It signaled the end of all
          bondage and a new start in life. Let me give you an
          example of this.

          Under Jewish law, no man owned any land. Even though he
          may have inherited his property, and it remained in his
          family as long as the family survived, God owned
          everything. Every Israelite was to recognize that God
          possessed the hills, the valleys, the cattle, the
          wealth of this world - and that his people were only
          the lifetime leaseholders. They were to hold onto their
          possessions lightly.

          Yet, if a person fell into debt - whether through
          mismanagement, disobedience, sloth or some kind of
          disaster - there was no provision for bankruptcy. Let's
          say a farmer owed someone a large sum of money. He
          might have to sell his own children and servants to pay
          off the debt.

          Then, if the farmer fell further behind, he would have
          to hand over his land, forfeiting all profits from the
          harvest. And in an extreme case, the farmer might even
          have to sell himself to another farmer, just to provide
          a living.

          But when the Jubilee came - in the fiftieth year, after
          a sabbath of sabbaths - every debt was wiped out. All
          leases and possessions reverted back to the original
          leaseholder. And that meant the farmer would get his
          land and his family back!

          You can imagine the rejoicing that took place in Israel
          and Judah when the trumpets sounded. At that moment -
          on the tenth day of the seventh month, while the high
          priest was making atonement - every bondservant who'd
          been sold into slavery was set free. And every person
          who'd lost property was given back everything. Families
          were reunited. Homes were restored. It was a time of
          liberty, freedom, deliverance!

          I picture destitute farmers standing along the
          demarcation lines of their old property, waiting to
          step over as soon as the trumpets sounded. They'd been
          waiting ten years...then five...then one...and now they
          counted the minutes to hear the joyful sound. They must
          have thought, "I'm getting back everything I lost. It's
          mine again - because this is the year of Jubilee!"

          There was to be no planting or harvesting during the
          year of Jubilee. Instead, it was a time to be spent
          rejoicing. Think of it: Jubilee was an entire year of
          Christmas every day - of praising God for his grace,
          provision and freedom!

          Please understand - the liberty proclaimed at Jubilee
          was not some nebulous idea founded on faith alone. It
          was the law of the land. And all a debtor needed to do
          to have the law enforced was to stand on it. The
          Levites acted as monitors, or sheriffs, so that
          everyone was assured justice.

          Occasionally, a master might say to a bondservant,
          "You're not leaving - you're still my servant! Get back
          to your labors." But that servant could laugh in the
          master's face and say, "We both know what that trumpet
          sound means. It's the joyful sound of my freedom! You
          have no legal rights to me anymore. I'm free!"

          How the people waited and longed to hear that joyful
          sound. It meant having the freedom to say, "Nothing in
          my past can be held against me. I've been unshackled,
          delivered. And no one can rob me of my inheritance."
          Yet the person in bondage had to act in order to take
          possession of his freedom or his lost property. He
          could dance and shout in the synagogue all he wanted,
          crying, "I'm free! Everything has been restored!" But
          until he stepped out and claimed his rights, he
          couldn't enjoy any of it. Do you see the significance
          here? Most Christians have not claimed the Jubilee
          Jesus Christ has given them. Many think the "joyful
          sound" today is merely hand-clapping or dancing in an
          emotional time of praise. But it is so much more! God
          calls us to appropriate the freedom, peace and glory he
          has provided for us through the forgiveness of sins. We
          are to step out and claim it!

                      -------------------------------

                        The Prophet Isaiah Declares
                       Jesus Christ Is Our Jubilee!

                      -------------------------------

          Isaiah writes: "...he hath sent me...to proclaim
          liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison
          to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year
          of the Lord..." (Isaiah 61:1-2).

          We're familiar with this passage as a proclamation of
          Christ's victory over death and sin. Yet Isaiah is
          using the language of Jubilee here. He's saying, "Let
          the trumpets blast - announcing the cheerful, joyous
          year of liberty our savior has given us!"

          This passage also refers to the scene of Christ's
          ascension into glory. The heavenly father - after
          beholding the awful sufferings of his blessed son -
          prepared for Jesus a glorious entrance into heaven.
          Indeed, as Christ made his ascension, he was escorted
          by a host of angels and multitudes of chariots:

          "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even
          thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in
          Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on
          high..." (Psalm 68:17-18).

          Our finite minds can't begin to conceive of this
          glorious event. As Christ approached the eternal city
          of God, riding on his white horse, he was escorted by
          this huge procession. And as he entered the gates, the
          trumpets of God began to sound: "God is gone up with a
          shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet" (47:5).

          This was the joyful sound - the trumpets blaring,
          announcing the believer's year of Jubilee! And the
          sound proclaimed to all humankind, "I have made
          provision for you - to walk out of prison, be restored
          to your family and have everything you need for a
          fulfilled life. You are free to live without fear of
          any enemy. Enter now into my joy!"

          Paul writes of Christ's ascension: "Having spoiled
          principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
          openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15).
          That's right - staggering behind our Lord's triumphant
          procession was the prince of darkness himself, bound in
          chains! And behind the defeated devil - underneath the
          wheels of the heavenly hosts - were all the powers of
          darkness, bound and vanquished. They were being put to
          an open shame before all those who had died in faith
          before the cross.

          And Jesus entered the gates carrying in his hand a
          scepter of righteousness - his "rod of iron" with which
          he rules all nations. Then, after his triumphant
          entrance, he took his rightful place on the throne, in
          full possession of all power, authority and dominion.

          What a glorious picture! Satan is not in control.
          Communism is not in control. Atheism is not in control.
          No, the enemies of Christ exist only by his permission.
          And right now they only continue to fill up their cups
          of iniquity. Jesus is in control of all things - and
          one day, when he is ready, he will "...dash them in
          pieces like a potter's vessel..." (Psalm 2:9).

          Beloved, our understanding of Christ's victory over
          Satan and the dominion of sin cannot be a vague,
          confused theology. We must know and understand the
          joyful sound! Satan is totally defeated; he cannot hold
          us prisoner. And Christ has freed us by his blood from
          every bondage. Now he sits on his throne with all power
          and authority - offering us peace, joy and freedom!

                      -------------------------------

                   Christ Ascended Into Glory Not Only as
                    Our Conquering King, but as Our High
                   Priest - To Make Intercession for Us!

                      -------------------------------

          Just as the high priest ascended the stairs to the holy
          place on the day of atonement, our high priest Jesus
          ascended into the heavenly tabernacle, "...a greater
          and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands..."
          (Hebrews 9:11). Indeed, John describes seeing Jesus in
          his priestly robe: "...a garment down to the foot, and
          girt about the paps with a golden girdle" (Revelation
          1:13).

          Yet Jesus ascended not merely to enjoy the glory he
          deserves - but to do a work on our behalf. The apostle
          Paul writes: "...When he ascended upon high, he led
          captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men" (Ephesians
          4:8). Paul is quoting from Psalm 68 here: "Thou hast
          ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou
          hast received gifts for men... Blessed be the Lord, who
          daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our
          salvation...." (Psalm 68:18-19). The psalmist is
          saying, "Our savior has given us every gift and benefit
          we need to live in freedom!"

          And the writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus' work
          in heaven is all for us: "For Christ is not entered
          into the holy places made with hands, which are the
          figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to
          appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).
          "...he ever liveth to make intercession for them [us]"
          (7:25). Christ does it all for us!

          Yet, what exactly does this phrase mean, "He lives to
          make intercession for us"? I believe Jesus intercedes
          for us in three ways:

          Some of us imagine Jesus standing before the father,
          pleading with him to show us mercy when we fail. No!
          Christ's intercession for us has to do with Satan's
          accusations against us.

          You see, the devil comes to God's throne to accuse us
          of every failure and transgression. He cries, "I want
          justice! And if you're a just God, you'll damn and
          destroy this person. He deserves it!"

          But just then, Jesus steps in. He doesn't have to
          persuade the father of anything. Rather, he simply
          declares the victory of his cross. Then he turns to
          Satan and says, "Didn't you hear the trumpet sound,
          devil? You know you have no claim over this child of
          mine. Keep your hands off my property!"

          Second, Christ's intercession for us means he makes
          sure we obtain and enjoy all the benefits provided by
          Jubilee. Just as the Levites enforced the law that
          provided every man with his just blessings, Jesus today
          enforces the privileges of Jubilee for us. He makes
          sure we know we are legally free!

          Satan may try the circumvent the victory of the cross
          by telling us, "You're under my hold, and you know it.
          You'll be bound by lust all your life! You'll never get
          victory over your habits."

          But the moment that happens, Jesus intervenes. He sends
          his sheriff - the Holy Ghost - to enforce his decree of
          Jubilee, saying, "The trumpets have sounded, devil.
          It's Jubilee time! Release your claim on this free
          child. You have no further rights to him!"

          We may still struggle with sin - but we have been
          legally declared free from all bondage. And we are to
          claim our freedom and our full inheritance, no matter
          how condemned we may feel.

          Third, Jesus intercedes in our own hearts, reconciling
          us with the father. He continually answers our doubts
          and fears, reminding us: 1. we are forgiven, 2. we must
          remember God's goodness and mercy toward us, and 3. we
          can trust in God's faithfulness to provide us with all
          the power and strength we need.

          Because of Christ's intercession, we now can say, "I
          may have my battles with the flesh - but I know in my
          heart what Jesus did for me. Sin can no longer hold me.
          I've heard the joyful sound!"

                      -------------------------------

                   Behold All the Blessings To Be Enjoyed
                       If You Know the Joyful Sound!

                      -------------------------------

          There is a reason so many Christians today live in fear
          and confusion. It is because they don't understand the
          joyful sound of Jubilee! Yes, they know Jesus died and
          rose again; they know his blood has power to save. But
          they have not yet understood the joyful sound of all
          that he has provided for us to live in freedom!

          "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound..."
          (Psalm 89:15). The joyful sound we hear today is the
          trumpet of God proclaiming our deliverance, through the
          blood of Jesus Christ. Now, here are the other
          blessings of Jubilee:

          1. "...they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy
          countenance" (same verse). The Hebrew meaning here
          suggests, "They shall walk in cheerfulness, secure in
          God's promises, at ease in his presence." Simply put,
          we no longer have to walk in darkness or confusion -
          because we will behold the light of his face!

          2. "In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in
          thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (verse 16). We
          know our own righteousness is as filthy rags. And so we
          are to take courage by rejoicing in his righteousness -
          which is ours by faith alone!

          3. "For thou art the glory of their strength: and in
          thy favour our horn shall be exalted" (verse 17). We
          know that Christ alone is the source of all our
          strength. And we don't have to live under the devil's
          thumb anymore. All we have to do is look upon Satan's
          back, where we'll see the heel print of our savior.
          Jesus has crushed our enemy!

          4. "For the Lord is our defence..." (verse 18). We are
          utterly helpless in our flesh. And so we trust totally
          in the victory of Jesus' cross. He defends us against
          every enemy!

          Dear saint, we are headed for one last, great Jubilee -
          signaled by the final trumpet blast: "...We shall not
          all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in
          the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
          trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
          incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians
          15:51-52).

          "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
          shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
          trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
          then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
          together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
          the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1
          Thessalonians 4:16-17).

          When those trumpets sound, the dead shall be raised.
          There will be no more prisons, no more bondage, no more
          sin, no more sickness. And in that moment, we will have
          eternal Jubilee.

          Hallelujah!

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