Year 1, Week 15, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 15, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Leviticus 26.

Today’s reading provides Israel with the clear difference between the kind of life that they would experience through obedience to the commands of the LORD as opposed to disobedience to the commands of the LORD. Leviticus 26 expresses the stipulations and consequences that are a part of the Mosaic Covenant. Israel belonged to the LORD for He rescued them from slavery and brought them into a relationship with Himself. While Israel’s relationship with the LORD was not merit-based; nevertheless, the full experience of their relationship with the LORD and all the blessings that come with that relationship, was conditioned upon obedience: “So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.” (Psalm 105:43-45). Tragically, today’s reading previews Israel’s history. They would not choose to live in light of the promises of the covenant, not heed the warnings. Nonetheless, the LORD will be faithful to His unfaithful people.

What struck me in today’s reading was the LORD’s desire to richly bless His people. “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them…I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.” (Leviticus 26:3,11-13). The imagery of the LORD walking among His people is reminiscent of Eden. In fact, the host of blessings described in Leviticus 26:3-13 are Edenic-like experiences. The curses upon the ground and the labors of Adam, described in Genesis 3:17-19, were countered: "then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.” (Leviticus 26:4-5). The curses on the challenges of childbearing for Eve, as described in Genesis 3:16, were countered: “I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you.” (Leviticus 26:9). The curse could have been reversed through obedience. The blessings of obedience are attractive enough, but they will not be realized for Israel.

God’s desire to bless Israel is also seen in the extensiveness of the curses that would come upon them due to disobedience. Israel was sufficiently warned to stay away from disobedience: “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you” (Leviticus 26:14-16a). The host of disciplinary curses described in Leviticus 26:16b-39 as the LORD promises to increasingly ratchet up the consequences for continued disobedience: "I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins,” (Leviticus 26:17-18). If Israel resolved to stay in a state of disobedience, the ultimate discipline would be removal from the Land and loss of the LORD’s presence from them. The intent of the increased severity for disobedience was meant to show Israel something of the LORD’s desire to bless them through their obedience. However, in the end, what Israel reveals about themselves is a heart that lacks the desire for obedience: “But if they confess their iniquity and…if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant” (Leviticus 26:40-42).

But the LORD’s desire to bless His people will remain His intent in spite of Israel’s disobedience: "Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God. But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.”” (Leviticus 26:44-45). The LORD would remain faithful even as Israel remained unfaithful. Now we have a sense of how the Old Testament will conclude.

But as the New Testament opens, Jesus enters the scene and establishes a New Covenant with His people. The relationship that the New Covenant establishes also pertains to blessings and curses. And yet, the curses for disobedience are placed entirely on Jesus: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14). The blessings for obedience are completely acquired by Jesus: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1:3). God’s desire to bless His people has come to fruition by tethering His intent to bless and not curse to the Lord Jesus Christ.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe