Categories: Leviticus

Leviticus 26


Leviticus 26 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

First off, this is a crazy awesome chapter that raises many significant questions. In the most direct and straightforward language that He can use, God lays out the future possibilities for His people. These were the promises made under the covenant which He established with Israel. Namely, you can obey or disobey. Of course, when viewed through a New Testament lens, there are many questions. What will happen to God’s people who rejected His Son? Do these promises now apply to the church, the Jews, or both? The NT has clues for these answers.

First let’s take note that at the end of this chapter, although they were disobedient, God did not forget His covenant or decide to turn His back on them.

‘Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 ‘But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, 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 NASB

With that backdrop, let’s jump to Romans where Paul essentially says the same thing when talking about the Jewish nation.

“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:27-29 NASB

Irrevocable. Let that word sink in for a moment. If we are upset at the fact that God is still merciful to His people though they rejected His Son, then we only need to look in the mirror at our own rebellion against Him. We too were once enemies of God and have only been made righteous through Christ. One day, Paul expects Israel to be saved.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery – so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

Romans 11:25-26 NASB

After the fullness of the Gentiles (which most believe is the church age), so all Israel will be saved. Jesus also says that Jerusalem will be trampled and destroyed UNTIL the age of the Gentiles has been accomplished.

and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Luke 21:24 NASB

What does all this mean? First, we can read Leviticus 26 and know it is specifically for the Jewish people. When reading the NT, it seems that God’s covenant which was established long ago will not be forgotten for the people of Israel. Second, we can read Leviticus 26 and identify the relevant application for us as Christians.  We, too, will be rewarded in heaven for our obedience or disobedience. We, too, will face either blessings or curses at the final judgment. In fact, if you read Revelation 6 and compare it to Leviticus 26, you will find that the disobedient will face the same horrifying wrath from God.

The nature of God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

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Published by
Living Hope Missionary Church

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