Blessing or Cursing? It's Your Choice!

TEXT: Leviticus 26:1-45

TOPIC: BLESSING OR CURSING? IT’S YOUR CHOICE!

BIBLE SURVIVOR SERIES, Message 12

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Icard, November 25, 2001

SLIDE 1

Leviticus 26 is an amazing chapter that draws to a close God’s redemptive plan for the people of Israel. It is really a prophetic history regarding Israel’s presence in the land. The chapter itself is neatly divided into two distinct halves. In the first half, verses 1-13, God promises to bless His people should they chose to obey His commands and keep His covenant. In the latter half of chapter 26, God warns His people of the dire consequences they would incur should they choose instead to disobey. In verses 14-46, God spells out the punishments for disobedience. [1]

This is an “iffy” chapter. “If” occurs nine times and it has to do with the conditions on which they occupy the land. God says “I will” twenty-four times. God will act and react according to their responses to the “if”. God gave them the land, but their occupancy of it is determined by their answer to the “if”. Obedience is key to blessing. [2]

The Bible says you and I are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. However there are some “ifs” connected to that also. J Vernon McGee says, “God loves you and wants to shower you with His blessings. But you can put up an umbrella of indifference, you can put up an umbrella of sin, you can put up an umbrella of stepping out of the will of God. When you do that, the sunshine of His love won’t get through to you. You must put down your umbrella to experience His spiritual blessings.” [3]

SLIDE 2

LEVITICUS 26:1-2

These two verses sum up the first part of the Ten Commandments, man’s relationship with God. These are essential for Israel to maintain residence in the land. They are to meet these injunctions if they are to occupy that land. The land is given to them, but their enjoyment of it, their occupation of it, depends upon their obedience to God.

(1) They are to make no idols.

The Hebrew word for an idol (elilim) means a “nothing.” They shall make no nothings. It’s pretty hard to make a nothing,friends, and yet there are a great many folk who make a nothing of their relationship to God. Anything that takes the place of God is a nothing.[4]

(2) Keep the Sabbaths.

(3) Reverence the Sanctuary.

The Sabbath, the Sanctuary, and this matter of worshiping God, all come in one package. The character of Jehovah is the basis for obeying these injunctions. “I am the Lord.”[5]

SLIDE 3

1. GOD’S CONDITIONS FOR BLESSINGS

‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,’Leviticus 26:3, NKJV

You notice verse 3 begins with an “if”. Why don’t you draw a box around each occurrence of the little word, “if.” Whenever the word “if” is used, it always denotes a conditional agreement or relationship. If they walk in the prescribed manner, then God promises certain things. Their condition of blessing is contingent upon their obedience to God’s revealed will to them. God recognizes their free will. If you will obey, then God will bless.[6]

SLIDE 4

‘then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.’ Leviticus 26:4, NKJV

In the same way, notice that verse 4 begins with the words, “And I will..” That’s God speaking, and He says He will bless again and again those who respond in obedience to Him, 24 times in all in this one chapter of God’s word. Go ahead and draw a circle around the words, “And I will..”

SLIDE 5

26:3–13. There are three divisions of blessings (vv. 4, 6, 11) and each is prefaced with I will give.

They include: 1) Material Prosperity (vv. 3–5),

2) Victory over Enemies (vv. 6–9),

3) Assurance of God’s Presence (vv. 11, 12), and

4) The dignity of Personal Freedom (v. 13) [7]

Victory over their enemies would be a part of their blessing. Many times this was literally fulfilled, as you know. When they would return to God, God would raise up a Samuel, a David, a Deborah, a Gideon, or an Elijah. All these were raised up because God was making good His promise. They would be victorious over their enemies as part of their blessing.

SLIDE 6

“One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you” (Josh. 23:10).[8]

If. Genesis 4:7. ye walk. Leviticus 18:4, 5. Deuteronomy 11:13-15. 28:1-14. Joshua 23:14, 15. Judges 2:1, 2. Ps 81:12-16. Isaiah 1:19. 48:18, 19. Matthew 7:24, 25. Romans 2:7-10. Revelation 22:14.

Then I. Deuteronomy 28:12. 1 Kings 17:1. Job 5:10. 37:11-13. 38:25-28. Psalms 65:9-13. 68:9. 104:13. Isaiah 5:6. 30:23. Jeremiah 14:22. Ezekiel 34:26, 27. Joell 2:23, 24. Amos 4:7, 8. Matthew 5:45. Acts 14:17. James 5:7, 17, 18. Revelation 11:6.[9]

SLIDES 7-9

So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way,

living according to their own desires.

13 But oh, that my people would listen to me!

Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

14 How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!

How soon my hands would be upon their foes!

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him;

their desolation would last forever.

16 But I would feed you with the best of foods.

I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”[10]

Psalm 81:12-16, NLT

SLIDES 10-11

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves. 19 Then you would have become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count! There would have been no need for your destruction.”

Isaiah 48:18-19, NLT

SLIDE 12

2. GOD’S CURSINGS FOR DISOBEDIENCE

‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you:’ Leviticus 26:14–15, NKJV

Please notice that in this later half of the chapter, God threatens to punish His people with disease, defeat, and disaster if they failed to live up to their side of the covenant (Lev. 26:14–17) [11]

There are actually five degrees of cursings or punishment that God brings upon His disobedient children in verses 16 – 33.

Terror, or fear, deadly disease, sorrow of heart, and crop failure. 16-17, God will judge them seven times, which indicates a complete and absolute judgment. Their pride would be broken. There would be no rain; there would be continual crop failure. 18-20, Plagues and wild beasts will decimate the population. 21-22, Notice the repetition of the number seven, which indicates completeness. The enemy will breach their defenses, and the pestilence will strike the people. Captivity would be the end result. 23-26,

5. Most extreme curse yet. It was the result of warfare in the siege of the cities. This was fulfilled in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:28–29), and again in the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (Lam. 2:20; 4:10). In verses 33–39, the exile of the people is predicted. In 722 b.c. the 10 northern tribes went into captivity to be followed by Judah in 587 b.c. Verse 33 is a picture of the land as it stood for 1900 years. God does what He says He will do.[12]

26:40–46. The promise of punishment is given as “discipline” and its goal is restoration. Judgment does not prove that God has rejected His people. Rather He punishes them because they are His own (Amos 3:2)[13]

SLIDE 13

[1]W.A. Criswell, Believer’s study Bible [computer file], electronic ed. , Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1991 by the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. [2]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [3]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [4]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [5]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [6]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [7]Thomas Nelson, Inc., King James Version Study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1988 by Liberty University. [8]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [9]Jerome H. Smith, editor, The new treasury of scripture knowledge [computer file], electronic edition of the revised edition of The treasury of scripture knowledge, Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1992 by Jerome H. Smith. [10]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996. [11]Thomas Nelson, Inc., Word in Life study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996. [12]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee. [13]Thomas Nelson, Inc., King James Version Study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1988 by Liberty University.

FBI Sermon Notes

TEXT: Leviticus 26:1-45

TOPIC: BLESSING OR CURSING? IT’S YOUR CHOICE!

BIBLE SURVIVOR SERIES, Message 12

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Icard, November 25, 2001

LEVITICUS 26:1-2

(1) They are to make no idols.

(2) Keep the Sabbaths.

(3) Reverence the Sanctuary.

1. GOD’S CONDITIONS FOR BLESSINGS “if”

‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,’Leviticus 26:3, NKJV

‘then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.’ Leviticus 26:4, NKJV

26:3–13. Three Divisions of Blessings (vv. 4, 6, 11) each is prefaced with I will give.

They include: 1) Material Prosperity (vv. 3–5),

2) Victory over Enemies (vv. 6–9),

3) Assurance of God’s Presence (vv. 11, 12), and

4) The dignity of Personal Freedom (v. 13)

“One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you” (Joshua 23:10)

If. Genesis 4:7. ye walk. Leviticus 18:4, 5. Deuteronomy 11:13-15. 28:1-14. Joshua 23:14, 15. Judges 2:1, 2. Ps 81:12-16. Isaiah 1:19. 48:18, 19. Matthew 7:24, 25. Romans 2:7-10. Revelation 22:14.

Then I. Deuteronomy 28:12. 1 Kings 17:1. Job 5:10. 37:11-13. 38:25-28. Psalms 65:9-13. 68:9. 104:13. Isaiah 5:6. 30:23. Jeremiah 14:22. Ezekiel 34:26, 27. Joell 2:23, 24. Amos 4:7, 8. Matthew 5:45. Acts 14:17. James 5:7, 17, 18. Revelation 11:6.

So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way,

living according to their own desires.

13 But oh, that my people would listen to me!

Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

14 How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!

How soon my hands would be upon their foes!

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him;

their desolation would last forever.

16 But I would feed you with the best of foods.

I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”[1]

Psalm 81:12-16, NLT

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling like waves. 19 Then you would have become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count! There would have been no need for your destruction.”

Isaiah 48:18-19, NLT

2. GOD’S CURSINGS FOR DISOBEDIENCE

‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16I also will do this to you:’ Leviticus 26:14–15, NKJV

Five Degrees or Cursings God brings upon His disobedient children, 16 – 33.

Terror, or fear, deadly disease, sorrow of heart, and crop failure. 16-17, God will judge them seven times, which indicates a complete and absolute judgment. Their pride would be broken. There would be no rain; there would be continual crop failure. 18-20, Plagues and wild beasts will decimate the population. 21-22, Notice the repetition of the number seven, which indicates completeness. The enemy will breach their defenses, and the pestilence will strike the people. Captivity would be the end result. 23-26,

5. Extreme judgments resulting from warfare and the siege of the cities. This was fulfilled in 722 B.C. in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:28–29), and again in the siege of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (Lam. 2:20; 4:10).

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[1]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.