As we near the end of our study of the book of Leviticus in our Sunday morning class, I found myself wondering what more is there to say concerning this book. As I studied the penultimate chapter, I read this. “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; and if ye shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhor mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant;” (Leviticus 26:14-15). This is a warning that immediately follows the conditional blessings of keeping the Law, and proceeds the conditional curses of not keeping the Law. After these two verses, the Lord lays down the explanation of what terrors will follow Israel if they will not keep the law. God would not allow for them to go unwarned because He wanted to bless them. Let's explore the initial warnings given and make an application for our life under the law of Christ.
You Will Not Hearken
Jehovah’s first warning was to avoid not listening to Him. There are many in this world who simply will not even give the Word of God a chance. There are some who sit in pews that do not even hear a single word from the Bible. They do not even hearken to the word of God. The prayers, songs, and sermons all fall on deaf ears. They will face the judgment. Don’t say they were not warned, they choose not to listen.
Will Not Do All These Commandments
The second thing the Lord said was that those who will not hearken will not do all these commandments that He had given. This is pretty obvious, if you will not listen you will not do. However, we must not forget that those who will not do all these commandments are just as guilty and lost as those who will not even listen. There are folks that sit in pews and they engage in the five acts of worship on the Lord’s Day, yet live as those who will not listen the other six days of the week. They will face the judgment. Don’t say they were not warned, they chose to keep only some of the commandments.
Ye Reject My Statues
The third warning is to not reject the statutes of God. There are some who will sit even in pews and they will say, “That's just the elders’ interpretation. That is just the preacher’s interpretation. I can believe whatever I want to believe concerning salvation, church attendance, divorce, marriage, remarriage, homosexuality, gambling, stealing, or lying.” Well, I suppose they could believe what they wanted to believe, but if it is contrary to the law of Christ you are not rejecting the preacher’s or elders’ statutes. They have no authority to speak statutes. You would be rejecting God’s statutes. Don’t say they were not warned, they chose to reject the statutes of Jehovah.
Your Soul Abhors My Ordinances
The fourth warning God gives is to not abhor His ordinances. Simply put, when we will not hear and heed the ordinances of God and instead proceed to reject them, the logical end is hatred of God’s Word. The Spirit described those who rejected God’s law as ones as follows:
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:22-25
He further says that these individuals are hateful to God (cf. Romans 1:30). Don’t say they were not warned, they chose to abhor the ordinances of Jehovah.
You Break My Covenant
The fifth warning in this verse is to not break His covenant. When we will not hear, nor do all the commands, reject His statutes, and abhor His ordinances, then we break His covenant. It is a covenant that is between God and man. A covenant always has two parties and is contingent on those two parties upholding their end of the covenant. Jehovah will not go back on His end, but He is not obligated by any means if you fail to keep the terms. Don’t say they were not warned, they chose to break the covenant.
Today we are under a new covenant (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6-7; Hebrew 8:7-8;13; 9:15;12:24). The blessings are abundant. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:3). However, we must be faithful to what God has called us to do. If not, our condition becomes worse than if we had never obeyed the Gospel and entered into a covenant relationship with Christ (cf. 2 Peter 2:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-6). God wants you to be saved and remain saved, however, salvation is conditional on faithfulness. God has not made it impossible, He makes it all possible because He wants you to go to Heaven eternally. Don’t say you were not warned. Choose Christ every day–the blessings are limitless.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
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