Promises of Blessing for Obedience
May 13, 2022
Commentary
This chapter clearly teaches that God promises blessings for obedience and discipline for disobedience. The instructions in Leviticus 26 and 27 highlight important responsibilities that every believer has toward the Lord. First is obeying His commandments (Leviticus 26:1-13). Moses gives 4 good reasons why the Israelites should obey the Lord.
1. Because of who God is (v. 1). The Lord reminded His people that when the Israelites abandoned Him to worship idols, the consequences were disastrous. They broke the first two commandments and turned away from the One who deserved their worship and devotion.
2. Because of what God commanded (vv. 2-3). The weekly Sabbath reminded them that they were God’s special people. As they rested on the 7th day, they could reflect on His goodness and thank Him for giving them strength for the week ahead. Keeping the Sabbath showed their trust in His provision and willingness to follow His instructions.
3. Because of where God dwells (v. 4). God’s presence was with Israel, symbolized by the glory cloud over the tabernacle, while the other nations worshiped idols in their temples. Today, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, so use them to honor and glorify God.
4. Because of what God promised (vv. 5-13). The Lord promised peace and security in the land (vv. 5-8), an increase in their population (v. 9), and abundant harvests (v. 10). He promised to dwell among His people and walk with them. God also reminded them that He had brought them out of slavery in Egypt and broken the chains of their bondage. His presence was their greatest blessing, for all other blessings flowed from their relationship with Him. (vv.11-13).
Application
God calls me to obey Him because of who He is and what He has done for me. Am I putting God first in my life? Do I take time to rest and reflect on His goodness? Am I using my body and daily choices to honor Him? How can I show my trust in His promises today? Do I walk closely with God and find my greatest joy in Him?
Leviticus 26:1–13 (NET)
1 “‘You must not make for yourselves idols, so you must not set up for yourselves a carved image or a pillar, and you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down before it, for I am the Lord your God. 2 You must keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
3 “‘If you walk in my statutes and are sure to obey my commandments, 4 I will give you your rains in their time so that the land will give its yield and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. 5 Threshing season will extend for you until the season for harvesting grapes, and the season for harvesting grapes will extend until sowing season, so you will eat your bread until you are satisfied, and you will live securely in your land. 6 I will grant peace in the land so that you will lie down to sleep without anyone terrifying you. I will remove harmful animals from the land, and no sword of war will pass through your land. 7 You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. 9 I will turn to you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and maintain my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating stored produce from the previous year and will have to clean out what is stored from the previous year to make room for new.
11 “‘I will put my tabernacle in your midst and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from being their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and caused you to walk upright.
Noah the poster child for obedience
Noah could have been the poster child for obedience. But I wonder if Noah ever felt foolish out there building a boat out in his back yard. Were there days when he thought about quitting? For Noah, building this boat was a huge step of obedience b … Continue