Explanation: In Leviticus 26, the LORD gives blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience, respectively. The chapter opens with a prohibition against idolatry and a command to keep the LORD's Sabbaths and to reverence his sanctuary. "Very frequently, in this Book of the Law, the Sabbath and the sanctuary are mentioned as antidotes to idolatry" (JFB Commentary). The forms of idolatry mentioned in this chapter ('standing images' and 'images of stone') were particularly prevalent in the land of Canaan to which the Israelites were headed (1-2).
     Blessings are promised for obeying God. These include seasonal rain, good crops, productive fruit trees, and overlapping times of threshing, vintage and sowing. They would have plenty to eat and would dwell in safety. They would have peace and freedom from fear. The LORD would remove evil beasts from their land; and no one would invade. They would defeat their enemies; and a few would defeat many. The LORD would give them special favor. They would have abundance. The LORD would dwell among them and be their God; and he would keep them free as he had intended when he delivered them from Egypt (3-13).
     Judgment, however, would come for disobedience. If they despised God's laws and did not hearken to them, God would send terror, consumption, wasting disease, fever, eyes that are consumed, and hearts filled with sorrow. They would plant crops, but their enemies would eat them. Their enemies would kill them and rule over them; and they would flee when no one pursued them. Their efforts would be in vain; and their land and their fruit trees would not yield their increase (14-20). If they still walked contrary to the LORD, he would send seven times more plagues upon them, including wild beasts which would kill their children, destroy their cattle, reduce their numbers, and make their highways desolate (21-22). If they still walked contrary to him, he would again multiply their punishment sevenfold by bringing the sword upon them, together with pestilence and captivity. They would have only a tenth of their normal amount of bread and would go hungry (23-26). If they still walked contrary to God, he would again multiply their punishment sevenfold. They would eat their children. God would destroy their centers of idolatrous worship and would cast their carcasses upon the remnants of their idols; and God would abhor them. Their cities would be destroyed together with their sanctuaries; and God would not regard them. Their land would be desolate -- to the astonishment even of their enemies. They would be scattered among the heathen (27-33). Then the land would enjoy its Sabbaths. The captives would be faint and easily terrified and would flee and fall though no one pursued them. They would be powerless before their enemies, would die in exile, and would pine away (34-39).
     Restoration, however, was possible. If they would confess their iniquity and accept their punishment, then the LORD would remember his covenant (40-46).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: The two paintings above by Lorenzetti illustrate the effects of good and bad government, which is an underlying implication of the blessing and cursing passages in Leviticus 26. These effects include conquest as an effect of good government (shown by the prisoners on the right side of the first painting), and invasion as an effect of bad government, (second painting, left). ]

     ⁴⁶ These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

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