Leviticus 26: Blessings and Curses of the Covenant
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.
As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.
And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.
But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
Leviticus 26, a pivotal chapter, unveils the profound consequences of covenant faithfulness and unfaithfulness. Structured in a manner reminiscent of ancient treaties between kings and their subjects, this chapter emphasizes the Lord's role as sovereign King, setting forth the terms of the covenant relationship with His people, Israel. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the blessings that flow from obedience and the curses that inevitably follow disobedience. It also reveals the enduring hope of restoration through repentance. Leviticus 26 is a crucial text to understand the conditional nature of the Mosaic covenant and God's unwavering commitment to justice and mercy.
The Foundation of Blessing: Obedience and Reverence (Leviticus 26:1-2)
The chapter begins by laying the groundwork for a blessed relationship with God. The very first command is a prohibition against idolatry: “Do not make idols for yourselves… keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary” (Leviticus 26:1-2). This call to exclusive devotion highlights the core of the covenant relationship. It’s a reminder that true worship and reverence for God's presence are inseparable from obedience to His commands. The simple yet profound reason for this obedience is stated clearly: “I am the LORD your God.” This declaration underscores God's authority and His intimate relationship with His people.
The Blessings of Obedience: Abundance and Peace (Leviticus 26:3-13)
What awaits those who faithfully follow God? A cascade of blessings. God promises abundant rain, leading to rich harvests, and peace and protection from enemies (Leviticus 26:4-8). The land's fruitfulness would be so overwhelming that the people would struggle to consume the old harvest before the new one arrived (Leviticus 26:10). This overflowing provision paints a vivid picture of God's generous hand upon His obedient people.
However, the greatest blessing of all is God's promise to dwell among them: “I will place my dwelling among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:11-12). This intimate presence of God, walking alongside His people, is the ultimate expression of His favor and love. This relationship isn't based on Israel's merit but on God's initiative: "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high." (Leviticus 26:13). Just as 1 John 4:19 teaches us in the New Testament, "We love because he first loved us."
The Curses of Disobedience: Reversal of Blessings (Leviticus 26:14-26)
The chapter then takes a stark turn, outlining the consequences of rejecting the Lord and His covenant. Disobedience would trigger a reversal of the blessings, unleashing a series of curses upon Israel (Leviticus 26:14-20). These curses include debilitating diseases, defeat at the hands of enemies, and a pervasive sense of fear, even when no enemy is present (Leviticus 26:16-17).
The land itself would suffer, becoming unproductive and resistant to cultivation: "I will make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze" (Leviticus 26:19). This graphic imagery depicts drought and famine, rendering the people's efforts futile (Leviticus 26:18-20). Furthermore, God would send wild animals to prey on both people and livestock (Leviticus 26:22), a stark contrast to the promise of safety and security. Continued disobedience would invite the sword, pestilence, and severe food shortages (Leviticus 26:23-26).
Escalating Consequences: From Siege to Exile (Leviticus 26:27-39)
The consequences for persistent disobedience would escalate dramatically. As God's patience wears thin, He would allow enemies to besiege Israel, leading to unimaginable horrors, including cannibalism (Leviticus 26:29). Ultimately, the people would be exiled from their land (Leviticus 26:33), allowing the land to finally enjoy its unfulfilled Sabbath rests (Leviticus 26:34-35). Even in exile, the survivors would be consumed by fear and despair, ultimately perishing in a foreign land, wasting away “because of their sin…and because of their fathers’ sin” (Leviticus 26:39).
It's important to recognize that these punishments, though severe, were a direct result of Israel's deliberate and prideful rejection of God. The repeated "if" clauses (Leviticus 26:14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 27) and the description of the people rejecting God's ordinances and abhorring His statutes (Leviticus 26:43) underscore the intentional nature of their disobedience. They weren't innocent victims but a nation that consistently chose idolatry and hatred over the God who had rescued them, ignoring His warnings while expecting His blessings.
Hope Amidst Judgment: Repentance and Restoration (Leviticus 26:40-46)
Despite the grim warnings, a glimmer of hope remains. This hope is rooted in the possibility of repentance and a return to God. If the people, even in the midst of judgment, would humble themselves, confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors (Leviticus 26:40), and turn back to God in sincerity and brokenness, He would remember His covenant and restore them (Leviticus 26:45). God promises: "But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land." (Leviticus 26:40-42). This promise highlights God's enduring mercy and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises.
Generational Sin and Breaking the Cycle
Leviticus 26:39 mentions the Israelites wasting away "because of their sin…and because of their fathers' sin," hinting at the complex reality of generational curses. Generational curses can be understood as patterns of behavior, often rooted in rebellion against God, that are passed down from one generation to the next. Just as physical traits are inherited, spiritual tendencies, both positive and negative, can be transmitted through families.
Problems like addictions, unhealthy habits, and destructive attitudes can have deep roots, extending back through generations. God emphasizes the importance of imparting spiritual truth and love to children and grandchildren (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Conversely, modeling negative behaviors can have a similarly powerful impact.
The key, however, is not to simply blame the past but to actively break these cycles. The first step is acknowledging and confessing our participation in these patterns. God calls us to confess both our sins and the sins of our ancestors (Leviticus 26:40). This act of confession and repentance is a powerful remedy, breaking the chains of iniquity and opening the door to God's blessings. It's about owning up to our iniquity and confessing our part in any generational problems that have a hold on us.
Leviticus 26 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of covenant faithfulness and the transformative power of repentance. It challenges us to examine our own hearts, confess our sins, and embrace the blessings that come from walking in obedience to the Lord.
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.
As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.
And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.
But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
Leviticus 26, a pivotal chapter, unveils the profound consequences of covenant faithfulness and unfaithfulness. Structured in a manner reminiscent of ancient treaties between kings and their subjects, this chapter emphasizes the Lord's role as sovereign King, setting forth the terms of the covenant relationship with His people, Israel. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the blessings that flow from obedience and the curses that inevitably follow disobedience. It also reveals the enduring hope of restoration through repentance. Leviticus 26 is a crucial text to understand the conditional nature of the Mosaic covenant and God's unwavering commitment to justice and mercy.
The Foundation of Blessing: Obedience and Reverence (Leviticus 26:1-2)
The chapter begins by laying the groundwork for a blessed relationship with God. The very first command is a prohibition against idolatry: “Do not make idols for yourselves… keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary” (Leviticus 26:1-2). This call to exclusive devotion highlights the core of the covenant relationship. It’s a reminder that true worship and reverence for God's presence are inseparable from obedience to His commands. The simple yet profound reason for this obedience is stated clearly: “I am the LORD your God.” This declaration underscores God's authority and His intimate relationship with His people.
The Blessings of Obedience: Abundance and Peace (Leviticus 26:3-13)
What awaits those who faithfully follow God? A cascade of blessings. God promises abundant rain, leading to rich harvests, and peace and protection from enemies (Leviticus 26:4-8). The land's fruitfulness would be so overwhelming that the people would struggle to consume the old harvest before the new one arrived (Leviticus 26:10). This overflowing provision paints a vivid picture of God's generous hand upon His obedient people.
However, the greatest blessing of all is God's promise to dwell among them: “I will place my dwelling among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:11-12). This intimate presence of God, walking alongside His people, is the ultimate expression of His favor and love. This relationship isn't based on Israel's merit but on God's initiative: "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high." (Leviticus 26:13). Just as 1 John 4:19 teaches us in the New Testament, "We love because he first loved us."
The Curses of Disobedience: Reversal of Blessings (Leviticus 26:14-26)
The chapter then takes a stark turn, outlining the consequences of rejecting the Lord and His covenant. Disobedience would trigger a reversal of the blessings, unleashing a series of curses upon Israel (Leviticus 26:14-20). These curses include debilitating diseases, defeat at the hands of enemies, and a pervasive sense of fear, even when no enemy is present (Leviticus 26:16-17).
The land itself would suffer, becoming unproductive and resistant to cultivation: "I will make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze" (Leviticus 26:19). This graphic imagery depicts drought and famine, rendering the people's efforts futile (Leviticus 26:18-20). Furthermore, God would send wild animals to prey on both people and livestock (Leviticus 26:22), a stark contrast to the promise of safety and security. Continued disobedience would invite the sword, pestilence, and severe food shortages (Leviticus 26:23-26).
Escalating Consequences: From Siege to Exile (Leviticus 26:27-39)
The consequences for persistent disobedience would escalate dramatically. As God's patience wears thin, He would allow enemies to besiege Israel, leading to unimaginable horrors, including cannibalism (Leviticus 26:29). Ultimately, the people would be exiled from their land (Leviticus 26:33), allowing the land to finally enjoy its unfulfilled Sabbath rests (Leviticus 26:34-35). Even in exile, the survivors would be consumed by fear and despair, ultimately perishing in a foreign land, wasting away “because of their sin…and because of their fathers’ sin” (Leviticus 26:39).
It's important to recognize that these punishments, though severe, were a direct result of Israel's deliberate and prideful rejection of God. The repeated "if" clauses (Leviticus 26:14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 27) and the description of the people rejecting God's ordinances and abhorring His statutes (Leviticus 26:43) underscore the intentional nature of their disobedience. They weren't innocent victims but a nation that consistently chose idolatry and hatred over the God who had rescued them, ignoring His warnings while expecting His blessings.
Hope Amidst Judgment: Repentance and Restoration (Leviticus 26:40-46)
Despite the grim warnings, a glimmer of hope remains. This hope is rooted in the possibility of repentance and a return to God. If the people, even in the midst of judgment, would humble themselves, confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors (Leviticus 26:40), and turn back to God in sincerity and brokenness, He would remember His covenant and restore them (Leviticus 26:45). God promises: "But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land." (Leviticus 26:40-42). This promise highlights God's enduring mercy and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises.
Generational Sin and Breaking the Cycle
Leviticus 26:39 mentions the Israelites wasting away "because of their sin…and because of their fathers' sin," hinting at the complex reality of generational curses. Generational curses can be understood as patterns of behavior, often rooted in rebellion against God, that are passed down from one generation to the next. Just as physical traits are inherited, spiritual tendencies, both positive and negative, can be transmitted through families.
Problems like addictions, unhealthy habits, and destructive attitudes can have deep roots, extending back through generations. God emphasizes the importance of imparting spiritual truth and love to children and grandchildren (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Conversely, modeling negative behaviors can have a similarly powerful impact.
The key, however, is not to simply blame the past but to actively break these cycles. The first step is acknowledging and confessing our participation in these patterns. God calls us to confess both our sins and the sins of our ancestors (Leviticus 26:40). This act of confession and repentance is a powerful remedy, breaking the chains of iniquity and opening the door to God's blessings. It's about owning up to our iniquity and confessing our part in any generational problems that have a hold on us.
Leviticus 26 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of covenant faithfulness and the transformative power of repentance. It challenges us to examine our own hearts, confess our sins, and embrace the blessings that come from walking in obedience to the Lord.