Leviticus 26:34-46

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Consequences of Rebellion and Results of Repentance

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Israel would be removed from the land if they rebelled

  2. Israel would be restored to the Lord if they repented.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Be consistent with the Covenants!

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the topic of the first part of Leviticus 26?

  2. What is the good news to keep in mind when reading the cursings that have fallen on the Jewish people?

  3. What was one of the main reasons Israel would be removed from their land and scattered amongst the nations?

  4. How is God’s grace shown in the last section of Leviticus 26?

  5. What covenant is referred to in verses 42-44?

  6. What is a good rule of thumb when applying covenants from the Old Testament to believers today?

ANSWERS

  1. A list of the blessings and cursings of the Mosaic Covenant – blessings if the people would follow the Lord and keep the Mosaic Covenant, and cursings or punishment if the people turned away from the Lord and broke Covenant.

  2. 1. This is evidence of the inspiration and reliability of the Bible, because it has all come true already – aside from the prophetic implications. 2. The punishments included the defeat and scattering of Israel, but not the complete destruction of the Jewish people. That the Jewish people still exist today around the world is a miracle! 3. There will be a restoration of Israel in the future as we see at the end of Leviticus 26.

  3. Because they did not observe the Sabbath year as instructed in the Mosaic Law (verse 34). See the fulfillment in 2 Chronicles 36:20-21

  4. In spite of the fact that Israel turned away from the Lord and rebelled and broke the Mosaic covenant, God in His grace promised that He would restore them if they would repent and turn back to Him.

  5. The Mosaic Covenant was conditional and ended with the coming of Christ (Romans 10:4). The covenant referred to in verses 42-44 is the Abrahamic Covenant which was unconditional.

  6. We should only claim and apply promises in these covenants if the promises are also repeated or expanded in the New Testament for the Church under the Law of Christ.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Consider what you know of the history of the Jewish people from the captivity in Babylon until recent times. This has all been in fulfillment of the verses in Leviticus 26.

  2. It is critical to remember that God still has a plan for the Jewish people. Discuss Romans 11, which assures us that not only will Israel be restored if they return to the Lord, but as a nation they will return to Him in the future. Consider that Israel is only temporarily set aside right now while the Church is being built.

CHALLENGE

  1. Some Christians pick and choose from the biblical covenants and apply the blessings to themselves, but not the cursings! Remember when considering Old Testament covenants, when the covenant was made, with whom it was made, and for how long the covenant was made.

KEY VERSES

  • “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt— then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.” Leviticus 26:40-42

Ron ReidLEVITICUS 26:34-46