Day 49 · Part 3: Out of Egypt
Blessings and Warnings
In the Story
In context
Leviticus 26 comes near the end of the laws the Lord gave Israel at Mount Sinai (Leviticus 26:46; 27:34). It sets two roads side by side. If Israel kept his commands: rain in its season, full harvests, peace in the land, and “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you will be my people” (Leviticus 26:3–12). If they would not listen: sickness, failed crops, enemies, and at last being scattered among the nations while the land lay empty and rested (Leviticus 26:14–39). Some of the warnings are grim, in plain words.
The chapter doesn’t end with the warnings. Even in their enemies’ land, if the people confessed, the Lord would “remember my covenant with Jacob,” Isaac and Abraham, and would not reject them (Leviticus 26:40–45). Centuries later, when Judah was carried away to Babylon, Chronicles says the land “enjoyed its Sabbaths” (2 Chronicles 36:20–21).
Chapter 27 is about vows and gifts to the Lord. It sets the value in silver of a person vowed to him, from fifty shekels (a little over a pound) down to three, with a lower price for someone too poor to pay, and it says a tenth of the crops and of the herds and flocks “is Yahweh’s” (Leviticus 27:3–8, 30–32).
I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:3–4 · Leviticus 26 promises “I will walk among you … and you will be my people”; John hears that God’s dwelling is with people, who “will be his people.”
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Leviticus 26
Loading…
Leviticus 27
Loading…
A hymn for today
In the Garden · words by C. Austin Miles
- I come to the garden alone,While the dew is still on the roses;And the voice I hear,Falling on my ear,The Son of God discloses.RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.
- He speaks, and the sound of His voiceIs so sweet the birds hush their singing;And the melodyThat He gave to meWithin my heart is ringing.RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.
- I'd stay in the garden with Him,Though the night around me be falling;But He bids me go;Through the voice of woe,His voice to me is calling.RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.