EXPLORE THE TEXT

Faithfulness (Leviticus 26:1-2)

Application Point:

God desires wholehearted devotion.

1 “Do not make worthless idols for yourselves,
set up a carved image or sacred pillar for yourselves,
or place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it,
for I am the Lord your God.
2 Keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary;
I am the Lord.”

Key Background

Curses and Blessings

Covenant passages in the Pentateuch that describe the relationship between God and Israel share many features
with international treaties discovered in the ancient Near East.
One common feature is a section of “blessings and curses,”
describing actions the “gods” would perform for or against the vassal nation
in its covenant with a sovereign or “suzerain.”

Examples of biblical blessings and curses may be found
in Exodus 23:20-33; Leviticus 26:3-39; and Deuteronomy 28:1-68.
God created us with the purpose and capacity to enjoy life in relationship with Him.
Only when we are trusting Him and following His instructions can we experience the joy and satisfaction in life-
the blessings-He intended when He created us.

Examine:

God’s words were a warning against idols,
along with a challenge to keep the Sabbath and honor the tabernacle.

identify one word that summarizes all God was sharing.
emphasize the word “worship.”

Ask:

• Before laying out the blessings and possible discipline that God had for His people (vv. 3-46),
  He first focused His people’s attention on worship. Why?
• How does the way we worship God affect other areas of our relationship with Him? (PSG, p. 121)

Transition:

Newton’s third law of motion states that
for every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.
For the Israelites, faithfully obeying God’s law would bring about a corresponding and favorable spiritual reaction.