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Leviticus 26（ESV）

 

40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”

 

46 These are the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.

 

 

REFLECTION

1. Blessings and Curses
2. This chapter concludes the Holiness Code. Holiness is distinctiveness.  God is holy or set apart, different from any other.  Ancient Israel is called to be holy, to reflect that divine holiness.  In following divine instruction, Israel will demonstrate holiness or difference or distinctness as people of the holy God.  All of this instruction is part of the covenant material in the Pentateuch.  Covenant is a way of speaking of the divine-human relationship in which God initiates relationship with Israel and Israel responds.  God first says, “I will be your God” and Israel responds, “We will be your people”.  In living out that covenant relationship persons and communities find wholeness or blessing.  In rejecting that relationship they find trouble.
3. For those that have attended the “Victory in Christ” retreat, it would be helpful to dig out the old notes and go over each step for victory and cleansing from time to time.

 

PRAYER

Refer to the Chinese article next page for the prayers of the seven steps of “Victory in Christ”.  Find the most relevant prayer and pray the prayer.  Ask God for help and strength to live a life of victory and holiness.