Leviticus 26:17, commentary and pictures

Leviticus 26:3-28 lays out the covenant terms of blessing for obedience and curse for disobedience, and this verse belongs to the warning that God would turn Himself against Israel when they disregarded His requirements, bringing the reverse of the promised protection and blessing. If Israel would not hearken to God and do all His commandments, but despised His statutes, abhorred His judgments, and broke His covenant, He would set His face against them, they would be slain before their enemies, those who hated them would reign over them, and they would flee when none pursued them. Disobedience and transgression thus bring defeat, oppression, and fear-driven flight even without a pursuer. The curses are set directly against the blessings promised upon obedience, for the blessings and the abiding presence of God as God to His people were always upon condition of obedience.

God in no wise excuses sin in a people who have been enlightened, even when He has loved them and given them especial promises, and past faithfulness and special promises did not shield a disobedient people from this threatened punishment. The verse was fulfilled in the Jews in the days of John the Baptist, when for departure from God, iniquity, and persistent sin they were defeated, subjected to foreign rule, and ruled over by a people that hated them. Their subjection to hostile rulers was the curse in operation because they had broken the covenant and disobeyed its commands.

Even while suffering under that curse because of disobedience, they still claimed the blessings promised only to the obedient and faithful, but merely claiming the promised blessings while disobeying did not make them theirs. They suffered without laying it to heart and afflicting their souls before God. John's call for fruit accompanied with good works warned them that without such fruit they would be hewn down.

The chapter stands as an admonition for people living at the end of the world to read God's Word carefully and heed its instruction, to review past failures without self-justification, and to repent of hardness and stubbornness, for God may bring people over the same ground when they refuse to do their duty. It makes every difference to a people whether they are obedient or disobedient to the law of Jehovah. Those who obey God's law are blessed, while Israel's refusal to heed God's warnings brought condemnation and the loss of His prosperity, those who depart from Him face punishment, and persistent disobedience can leave them under Satan's control.