Leviticus 26:40-46

4. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS COVENANT 26:40-45
SUMMARY STATEMENT 26:46
TEXT 26:40-46

40

And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary unto me,

41

I also walked contrary unto them, and brought them into the land of their enemies: if then their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity;

42

then will I remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

43

The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes.

44

And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Jehovah their God;

45

but I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am Jehovah.

46

These are the statutes and ordinances and laws, which Jehovah made between him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by Moses.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 26:40-46

660.

Why confess their father's sins as well as their own?

661.

Is trespass and walking contrary a distinct or different violation of God's will?

662.

God definitely attributes to Himself the responsibility of bringing Israel into bondage. Discuss how this is true.

663.

What is meant by the expression uncircumcised heart be humbled?

664.

If God did remember His covenant with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham what would happen?

665.

What is meant in the promise toward the land in Leviticus 26:42?

666.

Can we say from the description of the punishment in Leviticus 26:43 that the punishment fits the crime? Discuss.

667.

Jehovah promised not to forsake or abhor His people utterly. What is meant?

668.

Leviticus 26:46 sounds like the end of the book of Leviticus, but it is not. Why not?

PARAPHRASE 26:40-46

But at last they shall confess their sins and their fathers-' sins of treachery against Me. (Because they were against Me, I was against them, and brought them into the land of their enemies.) When at last their evil hearts are humbled and they accept the punishment I send them for their sins, then I will remember again My promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will remember the land (and its desolation). For the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as it lies desolate. But then at last they shall accept their punishment for rejecting My laws and for despising My rule. But despite all they have done, I will not utterly destroy them and My covenant with them, for I am Jehovah their God. For their sakes I will remember My promises to their ancestors, to be their God. For I brought their forefathers out of Egypt as all the nations watched in wonder. I am Jehovah. These were the laws, ordinances, and instructions that Jehovah gave to the people of Israel, through Moses, on Mount Sinai.

COMMENT 26:40-46

Leviticus 26:40-42 The chastisements of God, like the gospel of Jesus Christ, are either a savour of life unto life or of death unto death; they either make or mar; they may sanctify and save or they may leave the soul more bound in the bonds of sin than ever. It is only godly sorrowsorrow regarded in a true light and treated the way God intendedthat works repentance unto salvation; otherwise it works death (2 Corinthians 7:10). (C) God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. A free acknowledgement of sin is the first step to recovery. In this state of pining away under the enemies, they would confess themselves to their own and their fathers-' sins, i.e. would make the discovery that their sufferings were a punishment from God for their sins, and acknowledge that they were suffering what they deserved, through their unfaithfulness to their God and rebellion against Him, for which He had been obliged to set Himself in hostility to them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; or rather their uncircumcised hearts would then humble themselves, and they would look with satisfaction upon this fruit of their sin. (Keil)

If and when God did remember and fulfill His covenant with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham, what would take place? Exodus 32:13 plainly states that God would multiply the posterity of Jacob as the stars of the heaven and would give them the land of Canaan. The Chaldee Versions render the verse: And I will remember in mercy the covenant which I covenanted with Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 35:9-15), and also the covenant which I covenanted with Isaac at Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:1-24), and the covenant which I covenanted with Abraham between the divided pieces of the sacrifice (Genesis 15:18-21). (Ibid) We believe the conditions were never met and the promise was left unfulfilled.

Leviticus 26:43-45 Leviticus 26:43 is repetitious of Leviticus 26:33-34. It is evidently repeated here to show the seriousness of their sin. The land will have its sabbath rest whether you give it or not; the land will rest even at the expense of your punishment. God has a wonderful capacity for a concurrent fulfillment of His will in man, i.e. the punishment of the Amorites became the deliverance of His people Israel. Even in the desolation of the land a sabbath rest is provided.

Even in a far away land in bondage and loss God will not forget them. While they were afar off He saw them and was moved with compassion toward them. But they must come to themselves and recognize whose they are and what they have done. A full confession of sin and a willing refusal of the pigpen of idolatry must happen before they are restored to the Father and the land. God's covenant only awaits Israel's response to His law of love.

Leviticus 26:46 concludes the book of Leviticus: These are the statues and ordinances and laws, which Jehovah made between him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by Moses. There yet remains an appendix.

FACT QUESTIONS 26:40-46

663.

How are the chastisements of God like the Gospel of our Lord?

664.

Godly sorrow is not enough. What else is needed?

665.

There is a good use for affliction. What is it?

666.

Did God actually expect Israel to take some satisfaction in their own punishment? Discuss.

667.

Why the repetition in Leviticus 26:43?

668.

How can Israel be compared to the prodigal son?