Blessings On Obedience To The Lord My God
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Leviticus 26 and Psalm 94 (NIV)
(Sarah Khoo, PTM for Children’s Ministry)
READ:
These verses caught my attention as I read Leviticus 26
v1, 2, 13: I am the Lord your God
v3: … if you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands …
v11: I will put my dwelling place among you and I will nor abhor you.
v12: I will walk among you and be your God and you will be my people.
OBSERVE:
God has chosen Israel to be His people, to be a separate and distinct nation from the other nations around them. Here Leviticus 26 spells out the two pathways given to Israel: the pathway of obedience and the pathway of disobedience. As a result of their obedience, they will receive blessings and many rewards from the Lord God. And the consequences of their disobedience is punishment from Him.
Reflecting on Leviticus 26:1, I believe the reason God gave these choices to Israel is because He wants a total life of worship to Him, their one True God. This can be seen in verses 1, 2 and 13, where God repeatedly said to Moses “I am the Lord your God” and in v1 where he instructs “Do not make idols….” He desires total devotion through the keeping the Sabbath as a day of rest and reverence to Him alone. Living their life in this way, God would bless Israel with a fruitful and peaceful life in the land that they would go and possess. The greatest blessing they would enjoy is that the Lord God would live and walk among them and be their God (v12, 13) .
Another path that Israel could take is that of disobedience, which would result in punishment. Disobedience could take place through their refusal to listen to Him or their disobeying His commands. God will punish them if they continue to be hostile towards Him. Their hostility towards God could in turn make God hostile towards them (v 27-28). God would destroy their land and He would not walk with them. They would not enjoy God’s presence if they choose to disobey Him.
In Leviticus 26:40-45, God makes a way for Israel to come back to Him. They are to confess and repent of their sin. When the people do that, God will remember His covenant with them and restore them as His people. This is the covenant assuring God’s people who choose to obey Him that they would receive great blessings and rewards from Him.
APPLY:
Leviticus 26 caused me to reflect on my own journey with God: which path have I chosen thus far? Have I been living on the path of obedience or disobedience?
Do I need to do a checklist to God in order to get the rewards? And here is the check-list:
( ) no idol worship
( ) no set of image
( ) no sacred stone for myself
( ) observe the Sabbath
( ) follow God’s 10 commandments
( ) read the Bible daily
( ) set aside time to listen to God
( ) confess my sin daily
( ) any others list in order to get reward from the Lord …. (the list could go on as I read the book of Leviticus.)
I can say that these are the list that I tried to keep up but I was unsure whether I could faithfully keep it. I do want to receive God’s rewards!
“I am the Lord you God” was repeated 3 times, as I reflected the reason God wants my obedience is his desire for my total devotion for Him alone. He desires a life of worship which is reflected in my daily walk choosing to obey Him.
God provides the way for me to come back and keep track whenever I fail to keep up the list. I just need to repent and confess my sins and be humble before the Lord (Leviticus 26:40 – 43). It is God’s grace through Jesus that I can walk in the path of obedience to the Lord God.
DO:
Establish a rhythm of life that ensures that I follow the path of obedience. I will continue to engage in spiritual disciplines that strengthen my devotional life with God :
– A solid practice of prayer like the prayer of Examen that allows God to examine my heart.
– Putting aside time for a discipline of solitude and rest. This creates a sacred space for me to develop an intimate relationship with God.
– Getting involved in the life of the church which strengthens our journey as we serve God together.
PRAY:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I am thankful and grateful for my walk with you. Through your grace, you made it possible for me to choose the path of obedience. Examine my heart so that I may not disobey you. Direct me when I lost my way. Forgive me when I fall away. Cleanse me whenever I have walked away from your holy path.
In Jesus’ name. Amen
