Leviticus 26:4a ~ Then ... Rain in Due Season ~ Reciprocity: Part Three

Good Morning, fellow seekers of GOD!  During this "holiday" season, the highways are crowded and rushed.  Fret not, there is always plenty of room in the narrow way!  Here we will find peace and joy ... in all seasons!  Especially during these busy days, we relish the time that we take to stop, sit and sup with our LORD.  Oh, I like that!  Triple S ~ Stop Sit Sup.  Don't you just love how the Lord shows you stuff, while your are in His Presence??  Bless His heart!

You are welcome to taste this wonderful manna, His Living Word with us.  The LORD has such a beautiful feast prepared for those that love Him!
 
At our last meal, we shared Leviticus 26:3 click here: to review.  Basically, our Father laid the foundation for His principle of reciprocity (responding to a positive action with another positive action).  He told us, exactly, what positive actions He wants us to take.  He gave us three action words: walk, keep and do ... which led to some serious introspection!

Now, that we have had time to digest the richness of Leviticus 26:3; we are ready to sample the blessings that the LORD our God is about to spread before us.  He has set the table with His conditions.  Now, based upon our freewill choice to meet those conditions ... GOD is going to tell us, specifically, how He will respond!  God's principle of reciprocity in action!  Wow, oh wow!  What a privilege it is, to be a child of the Almighty GOD!

Please, come in, as we stop, sit and sup (Triple S) on this Morning's Measure of Manna (Triple M).  Too many acronyms ... yes?  Ahhh ... but good things do come in threes!  *smile*

IF you walk in My statutes, keep My commandments and do them (Leviticus 26:3) ...

THE FIRST OF GOD'S CONDITIONAL BLESSINGS:

LEVITICUS 26:4a ~ "Then I will give you rain in due season ... "
 

"Then I will give you rain in due season. " 

God never fails to keep His promises!  The Almighty God that we serve cannot lie!  See: Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18(b).  Thankfully, God is not like me (whew!), or you, or any other being.  We have good intentions; yet we often fail to follow through with our promises. (ugh)

When  The LORD says, "I will" ... we can count on it ... He will!  Nothing in this life, is as sure as that!  Sidenote: Apologetics Press has an in depth and reassuring expository on this subject:  here.

God, our Creator, gives to us ... not because we deserve it, nor because we earn it (we absolutely cannot) ... but, simply  because He loves us SO much!  He manifests His love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, through nature, and even through you and I.  It is so humbling to really think about how personal His love is towards us .... humbling and quite overwhelming.

Just as there are conditions from which flowers grow, so there are conditions from which God's blessings flow!  We, ourselves, cannot make either of these things happen.  We can only follow the instructions we are given, do the best we can, and trust God for the outcome.

Once the conditions are right ... woohoo ... look out for blessings!!

The LORD, in His infinite wisdom, promises to give us rain ... in His appointed time.  Only God knows that time.  We "sheep" (baaa) tend to expect that He should give us the "rain" we ask for, when we ask for it.  Sometimes, it works out that way ... but many times it does not.  We do not and can not know God's ultimate plan.  His ways are not our ways ... His thoughts are SO far above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Hallelujah! 

The LORD is our GOD!  He created us, He alone, knows what is best for us ... and how to accomplish it!  He says that He will send the rain, when His conditions are met!  That settles it.

Oh, my fellow sheep, we are in the hand of our Shepherd (Psalm 95:7)  He wants us to truly and fully trust Him ... at all times!  I believe that those times when we don't "see" the rain or the provision ... are the times when our trust is being tested.  Yikes, I am already having "test anxiety," just thinking about it.  I SO desire to trust Him completely.  I want to lean fully, with all my weight, on You, Lord; I know You will never fail me.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ...  He hath made every thing beautiful in His time ..."  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and Ecclesiastes 3:11

• season: an appointed time, appointed occasion, appropriate time
• time: after, always, certain, continually, evening, long, due season, so long as

I think of how beautiful a new life is, when it is born in due season.  Not as much, when it is not.

In Due Season

Before Due Season

Fruit and vegetables are never as beautiful, yummy and nutritious, as when they are "in season."  Fire is magnificent when it warms, cooks and cleanses ... as purposed.  Even death can be beautiful  at its appointed time.

The sun is so warm and fun, in the Summer ... the winds carry seeds of new life, in the Spring.  Dying and falling leaves are beautiful, in the Autumn ... as is snow in the Winter.

But outside of GOD;s seasons, each of these things can be not beautiful, at all ... even tragic and terrifying.  Premature births, senselessly caused death, drought, rain out of season, floods, tsunamis, blizzards, hurricanes, tidal waves, tornadoes, premature frost on blossoms, a seed unearthed before its time, fire out of control ... and the list goes on endlessly.

When those showers do come, in His appointed time, (not ours) we know it in our "knower" ... we feel it in the core of our being ... they are obviously a gift of God!  Gratitude and love for our Maker gushes out, like a fountain, as we point to the Source of our blessing and provision.  His glory is obvious over all the circumstances ... many see, take note, and look toward God.  In God's eyes it is the perfect time, place and purpose.

We need to learn to see as our Father sees ... when the rain hasn't  come ... yet.  Will I trust Him and act on my belief that His provision IS on the way???  I pray so.

Boy, I surely needed this lesson!  It is so easy to get discouraged and disgruntled, when we don't "see" our rain coming.  *Gasp,* I believe that I actually get impatient with God! 

Oh Lord, please forgive me.  Help us all to follow Your instructions for the conditions that You have laid before us.  Your time and Your way is always perfect, we do trust You.  LORD GOD of heaven and earth, shut out the voices of doubt that whisper to us.  Let us hear only Your voice.  Draw us into Your Word; equip us with the Truth, to come against the lies that we are bombarded with.  Thank You, Lord, amen. 

My dear sisters and brothers, as we part company today... and we each go about learning how to walk in GODs statutes, how to keep His commandments, and how to do them ... let us encourage one another.  We all need loving reminders, that the rain is coming ... especially during difficult times!

The rain IS coming!

The Lord's mercies are fresh every morning, but some days we just don't feel it, our the body and/or mind is weak/clouded/confused and vulnerable to doubt.  Let us recognize these signs and help each other to re-focus on God's promises.  Let us praise Him and thank Him for His grace, mercy and faithfulness ... no matter what we see or do not see!  This is the kind of faith that delights our LORD! 

This measure of manna has been the "first course" of blessings that our awesome LORD has promised to us from Leviticus 26.  Next visit, Lord willing, we will finish Verse 4.  Definitely not "fast food" ... this manna is to be savored ... bite by bite.

Until we meet again, may God bless you, Sampai kita bertemu lagi, semoga God berkati Anda (Indonesian)

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~

Leviticus 26:3 ~ IF I do...? ~ Reciprocity: Part Two

Good morning!  What a blessing it is to meet fellow seekers of the truth, on our journey through this land called earth.  Welcome to our humble tent ... please come on in, sit down and relax,  as we prepare to share the amazing manna that God has so graciously given us today.

At our last meeting, we had a sort of "appetizer" as we began Leviticus 26:1-2: click here to review.  GOD began to lay down the conditions of blessings for Israel, who were now in the Promised Land.  (1) No idolatry (2) Keep the Sabbaths (3) Reverence the sanctuary.  He reminded them of the strong and sure Foundation upon which everything good is built; "I AM the LORD your God"!

The LORD is now about to lay out 24 Conditional Blessings ~ blessings that are based on conditions being met: the principle of reciprocity (responding to a positive action with another positive action).

Today's measure of manna seems small in amount (only one verse).  However, it is very, very rich; best taken in smaller portions, so we can digest it properly.

LEVITICUS 26:3 
"If you walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; ... "

Here we have 3 more conditions, to which our GOD so graciously responds with blessings.  The first 3 were commands; the next 3 seem to imply our free choice.  Free-will choices are, sometimes, the more difficult for us, aren't they?  They are certainly the most precious to our Father!

:3(a) "IF you ... "

This is the HUGE condition, right here!!  We must choose to obey.  Will we ... or won't we?  It is a moment by moment, day by day, choice!   God has already established His absolute Authority, Ability and Power. He is now about to tell us what He will do, predicated on what we decide to do.

:3(b) ~ "walk in My statutes,"

Action: walk ~ come, go, accompany, follow, move, travel, walk around in, come and let us go (wow! I love this definition ... thank You, Jesus!)

Where: statutes ~ something prescribed, an enactment, appointed, fixed order, ordinance

*NOTE: GOD set up statutes, ordinances, commandments, laws, precepts and boundaries for our safety and blessing ... not to be rigid restrictions of our actions.  Bless His heart;  He loves us SO much!

:3(c) ~ "and keep My commandments,"

Action: keep (8104) ~ preserve, take heed, pay attention, observe, look narrowly, watch(man), protect

What: commandment (4687) ~ whether human or divine (collectively, the Law) -- (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept, order, obligation.

:3(d) ~ "and do them;" 

Action: do (6213) ~ accomplish, practice, perform, carry out, bring about
What: commandments ~ same as above ... GOD wants us, not only to keep His commandments safe and close, in our hearts and minds.  He also wants us to do them, which requires our action!

Sounds simple, yes?  Well, it is.  And ... it is not.


WALK ... KEEP ... DO:  these are all verbs ... action words!

Walk in them, keep them and do them ...

Doesn't seem so simple ... after all ... 

OK, we have plenty here to ruminate on.  Let us just relax here and chew over the conditions that we have so far, before we go on to the on the blessings that the LORD promises to us.  I am feeling full to overflowing, myself ... I need to digest what is my part in this lesson.  Wow ...

A Quick Review ~ To Do List:
GOD commanded us: 1. No idols
2. Keep His Sabbaths
3. Reverence His Sanctuary

Here, the LORD gives us the privilege (and responsibility) of choice (if we):
4. Walk in the His statutes
5. Keep His commandments
6. Do His commandments

For study purposes, we may want to keep a list handy.  We are no longer bound by the Law (thank You, Jesus).  However, according to God's principles and promises, every choice we make does have consequences.  Which makes this measure of manna, as all of God's Word, a truly a "Super-Food."

Surely, knowing that our Lord is the Great I AM is enough.  I should do as He says.  He made me.  He knows what is best for me ... but, is that enough for me?  Is that knowledge and belief really all I truly need, to obey Him?  Do I really believe Him?  How do I show it?  Do I act on His commands and instructions, or (gulp) do I sometimes walk away and forget, or ignore, Him?  I would like to want to be obedient in all these things, before even knowing what He promises will follow my obedience.

So, dear friends, I am going to make myself an action list.

How and where do I walk?  Do I always walk humbly with my God? (Micah 6:8)  How, exactly, do I depend on Him?  Have I been heeding God's statutes, or do I still rebel?

Am I always aware of God's commandments?  Where do I keep them ... on my wall or bookshelf?  Or, in my heart and forefront of my mind?  What do I do about protecting our right to display them? (oh my, this is getting a little uncomfortable)

OK, how exactly do I do His commandments?  Have I memorized them?  Have they yet become habits, that I do without thinking ... or not?  How can I improve my performance of my Father's commandments?

On these things, I must sit quietly and meditate ... or, as Nike says; JUST DO IT!!!


Until we meet again, may God bless you, Tot ons weer ontmoet, mag God jou seën (Afrikaans)

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~

Leviticus 26:1-2 ~ Conditions of Blessings ~ Reciprocity: Part One

Good Morning, fellow travelers in the narrow way!  When we last met, we shared Leviticus 25:50-55: click here to review.  We dined on God's principles of Reckoning and Redemption of the Israelite slaves in the promised land.  Thank God, Jesus has paid the price for our redemption, once and for all ... the whole enchilada!

The Lord finished up Chapter 25 with a Reminder, that He repeats already, in the very first verse of Chapter 26 ... and again in verse 2!  It is clear, that this foundational point needs to be repeated, a LOT ... to get it through our thick (sheep-like) heads, into our hearts and through to our very souls!!!

Friends, seekers of truth, weary travelers ~ come on in, sit down ~ we are pleased to share with you, refreshment from the Word of God.  The table is set for the Lord's principle of reciprocity (responding to a positive action with another positive action).  This morning, we shall serve a rather rich appetizer, to stimulate our appetite for the meal to follow.

Here in, Chapter 26, the LORD begins to lay out the Conditions of Blessings in the Promised Land: (1) No Idolatry  (2) Keep the Sabbaths  (3) Reverence the Sanctuary

LEVITICUS 26:1-2
"You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I AM the LORD your God.  You shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I AM the LORD your God."

:1 ~ "You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I AM the LORD your God." 

God never commands us to do anything, without telling us why.  I find this extremely comforting; perhaps not always in the "warm and fuzzy" sense ... but comfort, in that the LORD has a plan and a reason for everything He does.  This is sure and something we can always count on.  We don't always know the reason ... but we always know that God does ... and ... that it is for our best good.  How reassuring that is!

Here, the LORD is commanding the Israelites, in no uncertain terms, to not make idols, nor make, rear up or set up any graven or standing image, nor any image of stone for themselves to bow down to.  Pretty clear, don't you think?

But what form of images, or idols, do we create, look up to, or "worship" in our own lives?? Yikes, what a horrendous thought!  But, we humans, unfortunately, tend to hold "things" and/or other people in pretty high esteem.  We often let them take space in our lives and our hearts, that God alone should occupy.

It is time to take a good look ... what situations we have made for ourselves, what have we set up in our lives, that takes that "high place" from God???  Do we bend or "bow down" to anyone or anything, besides the LORD our God?  Our employers, spouses or peers?  Maybe money, house or vehicle?  What controls us and our time?  TV, video games, organizations .... pastors?

Obviously, the LORD speaks here of actual graven (or carved) idols or images of any person or thing ... that have been created by human hands.  Idols or graven, standing, or stone images have no life and are not to be made, lifted up, nor worshiped, period.

Hebrew translations from Biblos Lexicon:
idol ~ thing of no value, vain, insufficient, worthless
graven image ~ carved image
standing image ~ something stationed, memorial stone, sacred pillar, column
bow down ~ depress, prostrate, pay homage to royalty or God
image of stone ~ carved on stone, the wall or any object; showpiece, figure, imagination, conceit, imagery, picture, wish 

His reason: "for I AM the LORD your God."  This is not at all like what we tell our children; "Because, I'm your Mom, that's why."  Although, we want them to learn to obey the God-given authority over them... neither Mom, nor Dad, is perfect and neither are constant or sure or true as is our Almighty God!  While we desire the best good for our children; we are but creations, certainly not the Creator.  We have only limited vision and knowledge.  God, on the other hand, knew His plans for each individual, even before the foundation of the earth!  Bless His heart!

HE alone is the LORD GOD.  The GOD of Moses, Israel, Isaac, and Jacob ... AND you and I!!!  His statement here is extremely personal ... "I am the LORD your God."  He states this over and over, throughout the Bible ... "for, I am ..." ... "that, you know that I am ..." and many many more.

NOTE:  This is a wonderful side-study to do.  Look up, in a concordance, all the instances of "I am the LORD your God," find them and mark them in your Bible.  The GOD of all creation, reveals Himself to us, in His Word, in such awesome and very personal ways.  This exercise is a great faith-builder!!  He loves us SO much!!  Hint: dig deeper into the surrounding Scriptures ... for really amazing treasure!

Jon Courson, points out, correctly, that: "... in reality, no image, no idol, no false god can ever stand."  For a link to Pastor Jon's wonderful (free) online Verse-by-Verse Audio Study of Leviticus 24-27 and much more: click here.  I highly recommend his in-depth, Topical Study of Leviticus 26:1 ~ Overcoming Idolatry.  Jon's Application Commentary is a must-have-handy on my Bible Study book shelf: click here to learn more.

This subject is as deep and relevant today, as it was these thousands of years ago ... and just as vital to overcome!  Still today, God speaks to us through His Living Word.

:2 ~ "You shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I AM the LORD."
keep ~ watch, preserve, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
sabbaths ~ intermission, i.e (specifically) the Sabbath -- (+ every) sabbath.
reverence ~ to fear; morally, to revere, to honor
sanctuary ~ consecrated place, asylum, hallowed part, holy place

OK, the LORD has already reestablished His Absolute Authority!  He is already Reminding us, again, of the "Why!"  I believe this is also a Warning.

He commands the Israelites, while they are in the Land, to keep, guard, protect and preserve His sabbaths, as hedging them about with thorns.  Thorns would keep others things and people from intruding into or interrupting His ordained rest.  Wow!  I just now saw that!  It is obvious that GOD seriously wants that time!!!

"Noon Rest from Work "(after Millet) Vincent VanGogh 1890

We are not told to rest, if we can, or if we have the time, or if it is convenient for us.  The LORD scheduled specific periods of rest for the best good of the people, their lands, their jobs and many aspects of their lives.  Our Maker commands His people, not suggests to them, to keep His time of rest!

We are unfathomably important to our Creator, therefore His rest is vital to our well being.  The same principles that were true yesterday; are true today and will still be true tomorrow!!!  I believe God's principles and laws are historical, applicable, scientific and prophetic ... like all of His Word.

The LORD also commands us to reverence His sanctuary, His holy place, His consecrated (anointed and set apart) place.  Back then, His tabernacle and holy place were consecrated with the blood of lambs.  But now, His sanctuary has been consecrated by the very Blood of His Son Jesus our Christ!  Wow, oh wow.  We should never take lightly, entering in to that consecrated place, where GOD abides.  We are not to disregard nor disrespect that place which He has set aside, cleansed with His Son's Blood, as a holy place for Him to dwell.

Zion National Park, Utah

Reverence requires regard, with deep respect and honor ... with fear and awe of the power, holiness and sanctity of God.  On this earth, right now, the LORD has chosen to abide in us (of all places!), through His Holy Spirit!  Therefore, this command IS very personal!  I am left speechless ...

GOD says what He means and means what He says.  We tend to minimize, rationalize, "interpret" or otherwise reason away and/or bend the Words of Almighty God.  We may say, "Well, that was the Old Testament ... Jesus fulfilled the Law ... so that does not apply to me."

In Galations 3:23-26, Paul writes, "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."  Are we not to have learned from our schoolmaster??  Even if we are no longer directly under his/her authority?  According to  2 Timothy 3:16-17:  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Aert de Gelder Schoolmaster with his pupils~not dated

We may "reason" that God intended these commands only for the Israelites.  We may "interpret" His Word, to suit ourselves, in any number of ways ... or we may even deny that the Bible contains the actual Words of God.  Our flesh will do anything to escape being responsible and accountable for the Truth, that we see and hear from God.  The enemy and the world will tell us, that the Bible was written and translated by men, therefore full of "mistakes."  Many argue the authority or authenticity of one version of the Bible over another.

Well, folks, no matter what we may think, construe, imagine or argue ... I do not believe that the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, wastes His time nor His breath.  I believe that we need to listen to every Word, that He deemed important enough to preserve for over 2000 years, virtually unchanged.  In Mark 4:4, Jesus said:  "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

Surely, He does not want us stuck in legalism, like the Pharisees .. nor in our own dogma, like the Sadducees.  But I do believe that God instituted spiritual Laws as surely as physical laws.  We are about to find out how He says these laws work.  I think we should listen up ... don't you?


Until we meet again,  Док не меет агаин (Serbian) 

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~