But if in spite of all this you do not obey Me, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, Sermons
I. IN LARGE MEASURE, GOD'S TREATMENT OF US IS QUITE IRRESPECTIVE OF OUR CONDUCT TOWARD HIM. He has done much for us from the promptings of his own generous and beneficent nature. As the sun gives light because it is light, regardless of the objects on which it shines, so our God, who is a Sun (Psalm 84:11), is sending forth beams of truth, love, beauty, happiness, because in him is all fullness, and from that abundance there must flow blessing and bounty on every hand (see Psalm 103:10, 11; Matthew 5:45). II. IN LARGE MEASURE, GOD'S TREATMENT OF US DEPENDS ON OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD HIM. 1. Right feeling on our part is reciprocated with kind feeling on his. If we love him, he will love us and come to us (John 14:23). 2. Rebellious conduct on our part brings down adverse action on his part. If we" will walk contrary to him, he will walk contrary to us, and punish us for our sins." The greater part of this chapter (verses 14-39) is a terrible admonition that, if we provoke God by our willful disobedience, we must expect to find his hand against us in all the paths of life, our growing iniquity meeting with his multiplying wrath and darkening retribution. 3. Repentant action on our part is met by returning favour on his (Jeremiah 3:22; Joel 2:12-14; Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 55:7). Let the prodigal son arise to return, and, "while yet a great way off," the heavenly Father will run to meet and to welcome him (Luke 15). III. GOD'S GOODNESS TO US WILL SEEM TO US TO VARY ACCORDING TO THE RECTITUDE OF OUR SOULS TOWARD HIM. As men seem to us to be just or unjust, kind or unkind, according to the position we occupy toward them, so also does the Father of spirits. "All the paths of the Lord are" (and are seen to be) "mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies" (Psalm 25:10). But the ways of the Lord will seem "contrary" to the rebellious. With the merciful man God shows himself merciful; with the froward he shows himself froward (Psalm 18:26). The guilty will exclaim against the inequality of God's dealings (Ezekiel 33:17). He will seem unjust because they are unholy, because their spirit is false and wrong (Matthew 20:15). Those who fear God and love his Son their Saviour, join in the psalm of the Church on earth, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways,... his tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145); they anticipate the strain of the Church in heaven, "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Revelation 15:3). - C.
Then I will walk contrary unto you. I. As AFFECTING SUPPOSITION STATED. "If ye will not," &c. The Lord here supposes that His people may commit three grievous sins:1. The sin of disobedience. "If ye will not hearken unto Me." Hence observe —(1) That the Lord in His Word speaks to us (Hebrews 8:12).(2) That whatever the Lord says in His Word it is our bounden duty to hear (Hebrews 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:20; James 1:19).(3) That we are too apt to turn a deaf ear to Him (Exodus 5:2; Psalm 12:4). 2. The sin of incorrigibleness. "If for all this ye will not hearken." Note here —(1) That afflictions sometimes have the nature of punishments (Jeremiah 13:21).(2) That punishment is the natural and necessary consequence of transgression.(3) That in the punishment which God inflicts He seeks our reformation (2 Chronicles 18:22).(4) That our depravity in too many cases frustrates His designs (Zephaniah 3:2). 3. The sin of perverseness. "If ye walk contrary to Me." Observe again —(1) That the Lord's pleasure is, we should walk with Him (Micah 6:8).(2) That we walk with the Lord when we walk in His way (2 Kings 20:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13).(3) That walking otherwise than He has commanded is to show a perverse and untoward heart. II. AN AWFUL CONSEQUENCE DECLARED. "I will walk contrary also to you in fury." Thus we see that — 1. Conformable to our character will be our end. If God should deal thus with us(1) We shall lose the blessing which He imparts to> His obedient followers (vers. 4-12).(2) Our expectations will issue in disappointment and vexation (Hosea 8:7); and(3) Like chaff before the wind we shall speedily be carried to destruction (Psalm 1:4, 5). 2. Enforcement of these considerations: we see —(1) That a religion consisting of mere notions will never saw a man.(2) That men are not at liberty, as some suppose, to live as they please.(3) That God takes notice of the ways of all.(4) That if He displays His anger we should be anxious to find out the cause; and(5) That if any one perish he will have no one to blame for it but himself (Isaiah 3:11). (Wm. Sleigh.) 1. None are so secure in grace and privilege that they can disregard the possibility of a fall. 2. None are so rich in sacred favours as to be beyond danger of their total loss. 3. None are so honoured by God's selecting and distinguishing grace but they may lapse into alienation and desolation. II. HOW AMAZING THE DISASTERS WHICH MAY DEVASTATE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. Canaan was a wealthy land, a scene of loveliness, abundance, and delight. Yet on it came the disasters of depopulation (ver. 31), sterility (ver. 32), desertion (ver. 35) — even enemies abandoning it. 1. National plenty and prosperity are conditional upon national righteousness and piety. 2. National greatness and glory have been withered by the anger of an insulted God. 3. National strength and safety are only guaranteed as religion is fostered by the laws of a country, and in the habits and lives of its people. III. HOW PITEOUS THE PROFANATION WHICH MAY DESPOIL A NATION'S SANCTITIES! Canaan was the scene of Jehovah's sanctuary: the Temple rose on Zion; and the land sent up her tribes to the celebration of sacred feasts and to the holy worship of God. Yet all her "sanctuaries" were brought "unto desolation" (ver. 31), all the fragrance of her sacrifices became loathsome to Jehovah (ver. 31), and her desecrated Sabbaths were avenged in the bleak silence and loneliness which fell on hallowed scenes (ver. 34). 1. Religious favours, if abused, may be utterly withdrawn from us. 2. God loathes the offerings once delightful to Him, when the offerer's love is estranged. 3. Holy scenes and holy days become a barren mockery if a trifling spirit alienate the sacred Presence: "Ichabod!" (W. H. Jellie.) People Egyptians, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, MosesPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Act, Continue, Contrary, Ear, Hearken, Hostile, Hostility, Listen, Obey, Opposition, Spite, Walk, Walked, Won't, YetOutline 1. Of idolatry2. Reverence 3. A blessing to those who keep the commandments 14. A curse to those who break them 40. God promises to remember those who repent Dictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 26:14-39 5827 curse 5764 attitudes, negative to God Library Emancipated SlavesI am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.'--LEV. xxvi. 13. The history of Israel is a parable and a prophecy as well as a history. The great central word of the New Testament has been drawn from it, viz. 'redemption,' i.e. a buying out of bondage. The Hebrew slaves in Egypt were 'delivered.' The deliverance made them a nation. God acquired them for Himself, and … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Lii. Trust in God. A Reformer's Schooling a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet Repentance The Second Commandment Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant. Solomon's Temple Spiritualized Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings The Mercy of God Leviticus Links Leviticus 26:27 NIVLeviticus 26:27 NLT Leviticus 26:27 ESV Leviticus 26:27 NASB Leviticus 26:27 KJV Leviticus 26:27 Bible Apps Leviticus 26:27 Parallel Leviticus 26:27 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 26:27 Chinese Bible Leviticus 26:27 French Bible Leviticus 26:27 German Bible Leviticus 26:27 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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