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Leviticus 26（ESV）
40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”
46 These are the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.
REFLECTION
- Blessings and Curses
- This chapter concludes the Holiness Code. Holiness is distinctiveness. God is holy or set apart, different from any other. Ancient Israel is called to be holy, to reflect that divine holiness. In following divine instruction, Israel will demonstrate holiness or difference or distinctness as people of the holy God. All of this instruction is part of the covenant material in the Pentateuch. Covenant is a way of speaking of the divine-human relationship in which God initiates relationship with Israel and Israel responds. God first says, “I will be your God” and Israel responds, “We will be your people”. In living out that covenant relationship persons and communities find wholeness or blessing. In rejecting that relationship they find trouble.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are the God of Abraham, You are the God of Isaac, You are the God of Jacob! Thank you that You made a covenant with the Israelites to bring them from slavery Egypt to the good land of Canaan, which flows with milk and honey, and thank You that You love not only Your chosen Israelites, but all people in the world. You even gave Your only begotten Son Jesus to us to wash away the sins of our world with the blood of His sacrifice on the cross. Lord Jesus, thank You for the great work of redemption You have accomplished for us. You are my savior and the Lord of my life. I am Your disciple. I am willing to imitate Your self-denial, take up Your cross and follow You every day. Every move, every word and deed has the style of Your humility and meekness. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me every day and help me live a holy, victorious life. Amen!
HYMN:
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me – youtu.be/dHJPwI1Qioo
