Leviticus 26:1-22
Q.1. What did God want from His Covenant people? How would they know if He was pleased with them? – (Lev.26:1-10)
The blessings of God’s Covenant with Israel were CONDITIONAL i.e. unlike the UNCONDITIONAL nature of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen.15:12-18) – 3 If you will walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, 4 then I shall give you rains in their seasons … 6 I shall grant you peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble … no sword will pass through your land … 9 So I will make you fruitful and multiply you and I will confirm My covenant (Lev.26:3, 4, 6, 9). God desired obedience. They were to shun the idols of the surrounding nations and keep the seventh day as a holy Sabbath (Lev.26:1-2). This would fortify their relationship with God. They would soon recognise God’s blessings (Lev.26:4-12) compared with His chastisement (c.f. Lev.26:16-33).
Q.2. What special blessing did God promise to Israel? How does this compare with the promise Jesus makes to believers today? – (Lev.26:11-13)
Best of all was God’s promise to dwell amongst His people. This would set them apart from all the other nations of the world – I will make My dwelling among you and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God and you shall be My people (Lev.26:11-12). He had broken the bonds of slavery in Egypt, and now called them to walk erect (Lev.26:13). Since our redemption purchased by Jesus on the cross, He has promised to be with us for all time. Most amazing of all, is God’s plan to dwell WITHIN those who have placed their trust in Him. Until we take up our citizenship in heaven, Jesus has promised to indwell those whom He has purchased with His own precious blood (c.f. 2 Cor.1:21-22; Eph.1:13-14). This is vastly better than the promises made to Israel.
Q.3. For what purpose would God punish His people? What does this warning tell us about the nature of God? – (Lev.26:14-22)
With hindsight, we can see that the curses of the broken Covenant were prophetic (c.f. Lev.26:44-45; Deut.Chpts.28-30). God would act as predicted, if Israel broke their Covenant with Him – 14 If you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, 15 if instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 I will in turn do this to you … (Lev.26:14-16). Israel would become aware that they were out of favour with God, through disease, drought, and defeat in battle (Lev.26:16-17). God would punish them – 21 If then you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins (Lev.26:21). God’s displeasure would be obvious, in His appeal to bring repentance and restoration – Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them … WHY? – for I am the Lord their God (Lev.26:44).