Leviticus 25, Psalm 32, Ecclesiastes 8, 2 Timothy 4

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@April 21, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Leviticus 25

Leviticus 25:23–24 (ESV) 23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. 24 And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land.

The land among the Israelites was not to be sold in perpetuity, which is to say that ownership of land was not to be permanent. God gives reason that the people were strangers and sojourners with Him in all the country they possess because He was the land’s ultimate Owner. In a jubilee year (every fifty years), property leased to families could be returned to its original owner. As the Believer’s Bible Commentary explains:

There were three ways in which land could be “redeemed” (revert to its original Jewish owner): The nearest relative could buy it back for the seller (v. 25); the seller (original owner), if he regained financial solvency, could redeem it, paying the purchaser for the years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (vv. 26, 27); otherwise, the land automatically reverted to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee (v. 28).

Psalm 32

Psalm 32:10–11 (ESV) 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

The final words of David in this psalm are wonderful to read on this worship Sunday. The wicked will suffer many pangs of sorrow but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD. As the righteous gather this day, let the upright in heart come to the Lord with the gladness of David, singing, rejoicing and shouting for joy.

Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8:12–13 (ESV) 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

The wicked may seem to prosper for a time but, in the long term, it will go well for those who fear God. The reason is not rooted in their well-doing but in their fear before God. Their hearts are set right to honor and glorify Him in everything to which they set their hands. The wicked have no such disposition, leaving them only with selfish motivations and their efforts to prolong their life as being but a shadow.

2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:14–15, 17 (ESV) 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. … 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

In the final words of his second letter to Timothy, Paul lists a number of people to both greet and be aware. The Alexander mentioned in these verses may also be the same Alexander referenced in 1 Tim. 1:20 as having made shipwreck of his faith, but this cannot be confirmed. Among the many things to draw from this, one is that we should expect a faithful proclamation of the gospel to be met with adversity. There will be some who strongly oppose the message but this is not to detract from our heralding. As with Paul, the Lord provides strength in order that through us the message might reach those ready to hear.

Carson on Psalm 32

We dare not ask for justice — we would be crushed. But how can we hide from the God who sees everything? That is self-delusion. There is only one way forward that does not destroy us: we must be forgiven. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven.” And what is bound up with such forgiveness? For a start, such a person will not pretend there are no sins to forgive: blessed is the man “in whose spirit is no deceit.”

This is a helpful exposition by Carson on confession and forgiveness. We deceive ourselves in thinking that we can hide anything from God. Forgiveness is the only non-destructive option, making confession a necessity. Carson appropriately mentions the first letter of John where he said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Justin Houtz