Leviticus 26:4b ~ Yield ~ Let Go!

Bedouin Tent in the Desert~Painted circa 1884

Welcome, sojourners in the way.  Come in, out of the wind and cold, rest your weary feet, warm yourselves at our fire and sup with us, as we partake of this morning's measure of manna.  I have been working on a sign, to put outside of our tent.  GOD gave the inspiration during our last visit, "Triple S" ... representing Stop, Sit and Sup.  Do you like it?


We last shared Leviticus 26:4a. Click here: to review.  GOD promises to reciprocate, based on our choice (Leviticus 26:3-4): "If you walk in My statutes, keep My commandments and do them, then I will give you rain in due season ..."  He set the table for us, presented us with the first course of of His blessings ... and now, the second course is about to be served:


THE SECOND OF GOD'S CONDITIONAL BLESSINGS:


Leviticus 26:4b ~  "and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."

Oh, how I love this promise!  The land and the trees hold on to their fruit and increase and, when it is due season, they let go of it.  This yielding is greatly due to the seasonable showers of rain that God alone can give; He waters and softens the land.  The same holds true for you and me!  If we abide in the Vine, we also will grow fruit and experience increase.  The LORD will send His rain, in season, moisten our ground ... and ... when the HE says it is time, we are to yield.

In order to yield, one must first relax and become less rigid; as does the earth when it gives under our feet.  The land, the trees and we must become soft and giving.


The land holds tight to her roots; the plants and trees hold tight to their fruit ... until ... GOD sends His blessing and commands them to let go.  Isn't it wild, that even nature has to be prepared, in order to let go??

Watercolor from: Andrew Sinclair Gallery

land 776:  the earth (at large, or partitively a land) -- common, country, earth, field, ground, land, nations, way, + wilderness, world.


Double wow:  This promise not only applies to nature literally, to us figuratively; but also to the nations of the world!  THAT, my friends, is a whole study in itself!


If only we would recognize and obey the laws of God. *sigh*  Sadly, it has become increasingly obvious that the world will not yield, until Jesus comes back to rule and reign!  Then every knee will bow and every nation shall yield!  I pray that you and I do not wait so long to yield the will of the Almighty God.

yield 5414: give forth, give over, give up, deliver, hand over, move, to recede.


In order to yield, we must recede, back off, hand over the increase ... wow!  Again, the work of our Loving Father!  He blesses us, He moves us, it is NOT a work of our own.  We cannot do it ... it requires the hand of God ... whether we recognize or credit Him, or not.  There was no river in Israel, as in Egypt; it was obvious that God was irrigating the land.

Wheat Field in Rain ~ Vincent Van Gogh 1889

Wesley's Notes:  "Rain - Therefore God placed them not in a land where there were such rivers as the Nile, to water it and make it fruitful, but in a land which depended wholly upon the rain of heaven, the key whereof God kept in His own hand, that so He might the more effectually oblige them to obedience, in which their happiness consisted."


Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: "The dependence which the fruitfulness of the earth beneath has upon the influences of heaven above is a sensible intimation to us that every good and perfect gift must be expected from above, from the Father of lights."


We serve such an awesome GOD!  He ALWAYS has a plan for our best good!!  He is SO faithful and loves us SO much!

increase 2981: produce of the soil, a crop or (figuratively) wealth -- fruit. To yield or furnish appropriate offspring, crops, effects, consequences, or results: Webster's dictionary.


fruit 6529:  literal or figurative: bough, first-fruit, reward. Seed vessel(s): Webster's dictionary.


So, in conclusion: when we depend fully on God and obey His laws, He will shower us with His blessings.  His Living Water softens/moistens the soil of our hearts, so that we may give up/let go of (yield) the fruit that He has produced in and through us.  Our yielding results in the bringing forth of much increase and more fruit (which bears more seed) for His Kingdom!  WOW!


What a delicious promise this is ... a gift that literally keeps on giving.  The yielding process is key, the LORD waters and softens, but we must still back up, let go of, yield everything He has grown in us in order for the increase to come.  We must recognize and make this choice.  When we feel the Master's pull ... we must let go!  This gives new perspective to the saying, "Let go.  Let God."

However, there are several factors that can make yielding difficult.  One is unwillingness to step back, recede, release our hold ... and let God do what He needs to do.  It is uncomfortable to give up our "natural" tendency to hold onto and/or control a situation or thing ... fear of the unknown/unfamiliar can actually make us tighten our grip.


Immaturity/self-centeredness, such as witnessed during a kindergarten playtime, can keep us from handing over our fruit.  We all still have a bit of a "Mine!" tendency.  Are we really trusting God???  Gaccckkk!  I am sure there are many more things that tighten our fists  ... including the obvious sin, rebellion, the blatant refusal to submit.  Surely, we have all experienced someone's unwillingness to yield, at a four way stop ... hopefully not our own!  ;D

It is possible for us to allow our hearts to get so hard, that GOD's blessings run right off and cannot sink in.  When this happens, our "soil" becomes like cement and will have a death grip on whatever was planted there.  Not only can it not nourish us (or anyone else), it will be almost impossible to let go of (or pull up) anything and release it from that hard barren ground.  This also includes the weeds that have taken root there.  The plant dies, no longer produces fruit, and in turn, no longer nourishes the soil.  Lose lose lose situation.

For barren land to be made productive again, it must be broken and dug into, by hoe, disc, plow or tractor.  The soil must be furrowed into, turned over, amended with fertilizers; that hurts ... and ... it stinks!  Then, the cycle begins again ... we must open up to receive God's rains, even into our deep broken places ... or ... we remain a hard, dry and barren wilderness. *shudder*  God forbid.


So, we are back to where we started, the LORD our GOD's conditions for blessings ... walk, keep, and do!  And back to this morning's manna: yield!  Whew!  Simple ... yet ... rich!

Our Father God sent His Son, Jesus to us, as the perfect example for us to follow.  Jesus explains very clearly in John 10:10-11 ~ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  Jesus obediently and willingly yielded to the Father's will, and did everything He was sent here to do, without question ... up to, and including, enduring the Cross.  Then, ultimately: "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost." ~ Matthew 27:50  See below:

αφηκεν  verb - aorist active indicative - third person singular 
aphiemi  af-ee'-ay-mee:  an intensive form of eimi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow) -- cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.


Oh, my friends, this is just the "tip of the iceberg," the very beginning of the blessings that the LORD has in store for us, if we just do what He says!


I pray that our fellowship with God's Word has been sweet for you.  I am always blessed to overflowing when we meet here.  I am sure that our Lord has given each one of you, a treasure to add to our "meal" ... please, leave a comment and share with us.  I sincerely welcome your feedback.


*NEW*: I have added a GoogleTranslator gadget, to the upper right of my posts OR you can Click Here.


Until we meet again, may God bless you, 우리가 다시 만날 때까지, 신의 가호가 있기를 수 있습니다. (Korean)

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~