The Blessing Of a Repentant Generation
November 13, 2021
Commentary
God is faithful to His Covenant even though Israel broke their covenant with Him. Although God will chasten His rebellious people, He does not utterly cast them off. When they repent of their sin, God remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and they are delivered from their enemies (vv 40-43). This principle is repeatedly illustrated in the book of Judges. In the days of prosperity, Israel forsook God and adopted the idolatrous practices of the heathen. At that point enemy nations oppressed Israel until they were in despair and they cried out to God for deliverance. He heard their prayers and raised up a judge who brought military victory. Then prosperity brought its temptations, and Israel forgot God and lapsed into idolatry. This round of chastisement, repentance and deliverance was repeated several times
This may also be illustrated by the events of the Babylonian exile. While the exile was a punishment brought on by the idolatry of God’s people, it was also a means of preserving a faithful remnant who confessed and forsook their sins. God proved Himself faithful in bringing them back to their land where in the fulness of time, the Savior was born.
The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6-7). Yes, God may punish His people, but He will never reject them or cast them away (vv. 44-46). In fact a big reason for His chastening is to bring His erring people back to His loving arms where He can enjoy them and bless them once again. God will someday fulfill His covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3) by blessing a repentantgeneration of Jews in the land of Israel.
Application
God’s covenant with His people never changes; and if we confess our sins (I John 1:9) and repent, He will forgive and restore (v. 40). Lord, help me to deal with my pride and when I sin be quick to confess it to you.
Leviticus 26:40– 46 (NET)
40 However, when they confess their iniquity and their ancestors’ iniquities which they committed by trespassing against me, by which they also walked in hostility against me 41 (and I myself will walk in hostility against them and bring them into the land of their enemies), and then their uncircumcised hearts become humbled and they make up for their iniquities, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 The land will be abandoned by them in order that it may make up for its Sabbaths while it is made desolate without them, and they will make up for their iniquity because they have rejected my regulations and have abhorred my statutes. 44 In spite of this, however, when they are in the land of their enemies I will not reject them and abhor them to make a complete end of them, to break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. 45 I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out from the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”
46 These are the statutes, regulations, and instructions which the Lord established between himself and the Israelites at Mount Sinai through Moses.