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Deuteronomy 31:10
Then Moses gave them this command:“ At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters,
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Leviticus 25:2-4
“ Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you have entered the land I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath rest before the Lord every seventh year.For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops,but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the Lord’s Sabbath. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards during that year.
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Exodus 23:10-11
“ Plant and harvest your crops for six years,but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.
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Exodus 21:2
“ If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.
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Jeremiah 36:8-18
Baruch did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the Lord to the people at the Temple.He did this on a day of sacred fasting held in late autumn, during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah. People from all over Judah had come to Jerusalem to attend the services at the Temple on that day.Baruch read Jeremiah’s words on the scroll to all the people. He stood in front of the Temple room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan the secretary. This room was just off the upper courtyard of the Temple, near the New Gate entrance.When Micaiah son of Gemariah and grandson of Shaphan heard the messages from the Lord,he went down to the secretary’s room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people,the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them.“ Sit down and read the scroll to us,” the officials said, and Baruch did as they requested.When they heard all the messages, they looked at one another in alarm.“ We must tell the king what we have heard,” they said to Baruch.“ But first, tell us how you got these messages. Did they come directly from Jeremiah?”So Baruch explained,“ Jeremiah dictated them, and I wrote them down in ink, word for word, on this scroll.”
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Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
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Luke 4:18-19
“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
