FEAR NOT for January 13, 2016

Leviticus 26:6 "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."

BACKGROUND AND COMMENTARY from the Isidro Annotated Old Testament: This chapter emphasizes the extreme importance of obedience to the laws of God as the condition for abundant blessings. But, if they disobey, they will be punished for their sins and they will be exiled from the land which the Lord will give to them. Yet, even in their land of captivity, God will not completely reject them. On the basis of their repentance, He will bring them back to the land of their forefathers.
Lev 26:1-13 This section contains the conditions and promised blessings on an obedient nation. First, the conditions: 1. They should avoid any practice of idolatry (v. 1); 2. They should keep the Sabbaths of the Lord (v. 2a); 3. They should reverence God’s sanctuary (v. 2b); 4. They should obey all the statutes and commandments (v. 3). Second, the blessings (vs. 4-13): 1. There will be economic prosperity (vs. 4-5, 10); 2. There will be safety and victory (vs. 6-8); 3. Growth in population (v. 9); 4. God will dwell among them (vs. 11-13).

PERSONAL APPLICATION: God's blessings will also come with conditions. Looking at verses 1 to 13, it sure doesn't look like the conditions are too strict, so, why is it so hard for us to follow them? Maybe it's because, as human beings, we don't want to be told what to do? Maybe it's because we don't like to have conditions placed on things that we feel we deserve, in other words, we feel entitled to have whatever it is we think we want without having to do anything to deserve it. But, God gives us conditions because He wants us to learn the unqualified joy that will be ours when we DO obey Him, especially when we see the boundless mercies and blessings He gives to those who obey and trust Him, despite not knowing that the outcome will be! He wants us to realize that His plans for us are always greater and contain more joy and fulfillment simply because they come from Him. That should be more than enough to make us willing to follow His conditions and rules -- knowing that He gives those to us because He loves us and wants only the best for us whom He loves.