The doctrine of free grace, and of full redemption by JESUS, became so important to be shadowed forth, and kept in view through the whole of the law, that the HOLY GHOST was pleased to repeat the same precepts again and again, only with a little variation, as suited to different circumstances: and to those that looked for the redemption in Israel, nothing could be more interesting. The striking difference the law made between the services of a true Israelite in bondage, and that of a stranger under similar cases, may serve to show that even in bondage the LORD'S right in his people is manifested. They may and frequently will be, found in the service of men, while at the same moment they are the LORD'S free men: and this is what the apostle had in view, when he said ye are bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23. But what a mercy is it, Reader, that in the very moment that you and I have by sin forfeited all right to freedom, JESUS our nearest of kin, even our Goel, our kinsman Redeemer, hath made us free! What a sweet description of this unequalled love is that the sacred writer gives of it. Deuteronomy 32:36.
Leviticus 25:39-55
39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compele him to serve as a bondservant:
40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:
41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.
42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold asf bondmen.
43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.
47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax richg by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:
48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:
49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.
50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
51 If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.
53 And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.
54 And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go outh in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him.
55 For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.