This chapter describes one of the specific sins of the Hebrews which leads to their Babylonian exile: refusal to set their enslaved brothers / sisters free.
” ‘You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves. Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty…’ ” (v15-17 abr)
Hebrews who got themselves into situations of extreme debt could sell themselves as slaves to pay for it. One of the Mosaic laws stated God’s people were to only keep their fellow Hebrews as slaves for six years, and set them free on the seventh (see v13-14). Apparently this seventh year release mandate had been ignored for several generations, and when the people finally did it, they went back and reclaimed those they freed.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve probably done something similar – obeyed God one day, and then disobeyed Him the next. Would we appreciate it if someone did this to us? Probably not.
I know how difficult it is to “go and sin no more”. Despite the difficulty, let’s not be discouraged and give up on trying to obey God consistently, every day. He, through the Holy Spirit, will help us to obey because He wants us to succeed at obedience.
Father God, our Magnificent Creator, and Lord of All, your words and deeds are mighty beyond compare. We humbly ask You to please forgive our disobedience, and help us to obey You, so we would be the light of Jesus in this world. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training