As we examine the current spiritual climate of our country, I’ve often wondered if there was history which we as God’s people could revisit when considering our current times. Here in Lev. 26, God offers a promise which contains both positive and negative connotations for our contemplation.
1. If God’s people choose to walk in His ways...
V3-12 “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.”
2. If God’s people choose NOT to walk in His ways...
V14-20 “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 (pandemic disease), 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.”
LESSON - So...what are God’s expectations of His people. If the blessings of our land rest upon the obedience of His people, what does He want us to do or NOT do:
1. Flee ANY form of idolatry or materialism.
V1-2 “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.”
2. Maintain private and corporate worship.
“Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.”
-You may look at this and ask why God did not include more mandates for us to follow. The answer is simple! If we will do these two things with all of our hearts, all other aspects of our lives will fall in line. Consider your current walk with the Lord, then help take responsibility for the spiritual condition of our country.
~Mike
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