But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
Leviticus 26:14 begins the warning to the disobedient, set over against the promise to the obedient. To refuse to listen to God and to refuse to do all His commandments is to break His covenant. That refusal includes failing to keep His Sabbaths and to reverence His sanctuary, and despising His statutes and abhorring His judgments so as to break His covenant.
All of God's promises and blessings are conditional upon obedience. Heeding Him and keeping all His commandments brings security and abundance, with rain in season, fruitful land, safety, and His presence dwelling among His people. Refusal brings the opposite, and failure to follow His commandments brings the Lord's displeasure in the management of His work. Bearing witness to His goodness on this earth requires obedience to His commandments.
The threatened curses for such refusal are terror, wasting disease, and burning fever that consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. The disobedient sow their seed in vain, for their enemies eat it. God sets His face against them, so they are defeated and slain before their enemies, are ruled by those who hate them, and flee when none pursues.
If disobedience continues there is sevenfold further punishment. The pride of power is broken, heaven is made as iron and earth as brass, strength is spent in vain, and land and trees yield no increase or fruit. In that continued resistance God walks contrary to the disobedient.
The suffering of the Jews under foreign rule fulfilled this warning, because they had departed from God through disobedience and iniquity. In the days of John they were experiencing the fulfillment of this threatened curse, ruled over by a people that hated them. Their afflictions were the covenant curses for turning from God.
Enlightenment, past faithfulness, and special promises do not keep a people safe while they persist in sin, even if once loved by God. He does not excuse their disobedience. Yet the Jews claimed the blessings promised only to the obedient and faithful without repenting of their disobedience, without humbling themselves, and without recognizing the cause of their suffering.
The time of this prophecy is nearly accomplished, and soon He whose right it is to reign will come to receive the kingdom and sit upon the throne of His Father.
Its warning applies both to ancient Israel and to people now. Those given greater light are accountable for it, and disobedience can lead to God withdrawing prosperity and to punishment. It makes every difference to a people whether they are obedient or disobedient to the law of Jehovah, and bearing witness to His goodness and managing His work require obedience to His commandments.
The chapter should be read carefully, with an open heart willing to receive instruction, since hardness of heart and refusal to be enlightened are contrary to obedience. The warning is applied to those who selfishly withhold means entrusted for God's work, whose wealth God may scatter through losses, though the absence of such losses does not prove faithfulness. Its lesson is also applied to the duty to show brotherly love by helping a fellow believer become able to support himself.
Leviticus 26:14 begins the warning to the disobedient, set over against the promise to the obedient. To refuse to listen to God and to refuse to do all His commandments is to break His covenant. That refusal includes failing to keep His Sabbaths and to reverence His sanctuary, and despising His statutes and abhorring His judgments so as to break His covenant.
All of God's promises and blessings are conditional upon obedience. Heeding Him and keeping all His commandments brings security and abundance, with rain in season, fruitful land, safety, and His presence dwelling among His people. Refusal brings the opposite, and failure to follow His commandments brings the Lord's displeasure in the management of His work. Bearing witness to His goodness on this earth requires obedience to His commandments.
The threatened curses for such refusal are terror, wasting disease, and burning fever that consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. The disobedient sow their seed in vain, for their enemies eat it. God sets His face against them, so they are defeated and slain before their enemies, are ruled by those who hate them, and flee when none pursues.
If disobedience continues there is sevenfold further punishment. The pride of power is broken, heaven is made as iron and earth as brass, strength is spent in vain, and land and trees yield no increase or fruit. In that continued resistance God walks contrary to the disobedient.
The suffering of the Jews under foreign rule fulfilled this warning, because they had departed from God through disobedience and iniquity. In the days of John they were experiencing the fulfillment of this threatened curse, ruled over by a people that hated them. Their afflictions were the covenant curses for turning from God.
Enlightenment, past faithfulness, and special promises do not keep a people safe while they persist in sin, even if once loved by God. He does not excuse their disobedience. Yet the Jews claimed the blessings promised only to the obedient and faithful without repenting of their disobedience, without humbling themselves, and without recognizing the cause of their suffering.
The time of this prophecy is nearly accomplished, and soon He whose right it is to reign will come to receive the kingdom and sit upon the throne of His Father.
Its warning applies both to ancient Israel and to people now. Those given greater light are accountable for it, and disobedience can lead to God withdrawing prosperity and to punishment. It makes every difference to a people whether they are obedient or disobedient to the law of Jehovah, and bearing witness to His goodness and managing His work require obedience to His commandments.
The chapter should be read carefully, with an open heart willing to receive instruction, since hardness of heart and refusal to be enlightened are contrary to obedience. The warning is applied to those who selfishly withhold means entrusted for God's work, whose wealth God may scatter through losses, though the absence of such losses does not prove faithfulness. Its lesson is also applied to the duty to show brotherly love by helping a fellow believer become able to support himself.