As I shared in my first blog, I just finished a study of Leviticus. The central theme for this book in the Bible is that God is holy and requires His people to be holy. Because God requires this, Leviticus is filled with laws, ordinances, rituals, feast and sacrificial requirements, and much more. Personally, these topics aren’t my favorite study. I’d prefer studying the life of Jesus and how He came to do away with most of those things mentioned in Leviticus (guess it’s just the rebellious wanderer in me). Although Leviticus began as a more challenging study for me, my eyes were opened to a deeper understanding of God’s beautiful character! Particularly His character of holiness. You see, I’m in deep and passionate love with God. Because of this, I want to know what His heart desires! Kinda like how a boyfriend should know his girlfriend’s favorite color and what Netflix shows she likes. Kinda like that, but much deeper.
I’ve learned far to much to sum up into one singular blog so I’ll just share one of the last things I learned: GOD LOVES OBEDIENCE. The entire first half of Leviticus chapter 26 is about God’s blessings to obedience and the entire second half is about His punishments for disobedience. I’d like to use the rest of this blog post to allow the Holy Spirit to speak His wonderful blessings to you. Below is the passage I’m referring to and as you read it I encourage you to take your time to see the beautiful things God promised a young/struggling nation if they would but obey Him. The principles of these blessings are for us as well if we will but obey His Word.
“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”
[[Leviticus 26:3?-?13 ESV]]
*if all these promises aren’t enough, He reminds us that He walks with us! God, the creator of the universe walks with us. And if that doesn’t get you then maybe a more stern approach? Try reading the rest of the chapter which is titled, “Punishment for Disobedience”!
