mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 26.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xxvii" n="xxvii" next="Lev.xxviii" prev="Lev.xxvi" progress="62.52%" title="Chapter XXVI">
<h2 id="Lev.xxvii-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xxvii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xxvii-p1">This chapter is a solemn conclusion of the main
body of the levitical law. The precepts that follow in this and the
following book either relate to some particular matters or are
repetitions and explications of the foregoing institutions. Now
this chapter contains a general enforcement of all those laws by
promises of reward in case of obedience on the one hand, and
threatenings of punishment for disobedience on the other hand, the
former to work upon hope, the latter on fear, those two handles of
the soul, by which it is taken hold of and managed. Here is, I. A
repetition of two or three of the principal of the commandments,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.1-Lev.26.2" parsed="|Lev|26|1|26|2" passage="Le 26:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. An inviting
promise of all good things, if they would but keep God's
commandments, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.3-Lev.26.13" parsed="|Lev|26|3|26|13" passage="Le 26:3-13">ver. 3-13</scripRef>.
III. A terrible threatening of ruining judgments which would be
brought upon them if they were refractory and disobedient,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.14-Lev.26.39" parsed="|Lev|26|14|26|39" passage="Le 26:14-39">ver. 14-39</scripRef>. IV. A
gracious promise of the return of mercy to those of them that would
repent and reform, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.40-Lev.26.46" parsed="|Lev|26|40|26|46" passage="Le 26:40-46">ver.
40</scripRef>, &amp;c. <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.1-Deut.28.20" parsed="|Deut|28|1|28|20" passage="De 28:1-20">Deut.
xxviii</scripRef> is parallel to this.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26" parsed="|Lev|26|0|0|0" passage="Le 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.1-Lev.26.13" parsed="|Lev|26|1|26|13" passage="Le 26:1-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.26.1-Lev.26.13">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvii-p1.8">Promises. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvii-p2">1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image,
neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up
<i>any</i> image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I
<i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p2.1">Lord</span> your God.  
2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I
<i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p2.2">Lord</span>.   3 If ye
walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;  
4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield
her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
  5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the
vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your
bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.   6 And I
will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall
make <i>you</i> afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land,
neither shall the sword go through your land.   7 And ye shall
chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
  8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of
you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall
before you by the sword.   9 For I will have respect unto you,
and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant
with you.   10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the
old because of the new.   11 And I will set my tabernacle
among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.   12 And I will
walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
  13 I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p2.3">Lord</span> your
God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye
should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your
yoke, and made you go upright.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p3">Here is, I. The inculcating of those
precepts of the law which were of the greatest consequence, and by
which were of the greatest consequence, and by which especially
their obedience would be tried, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.1-Lev.26.2" parsed="|Lev|26|1|26|2" passage="Le 26:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>. They are the abstract of the
second and fourth commandments, which, as they are by much the
largest in the decalogue, so they are most frequently insisted on
in other parts of the law. As, when a master has given many things
in charge to his servant, he concludes with the repetition of those
things which were of the greatest importance, and which the servant
was most in danger of neglecting, bidding him, whatever he did, be
sure to remember those, so here God by Moses, after many precepts,
closes all with a special charge to observe these two great
commandments. 1. "Be sure you never worship images, nor ever make
any sort of images or pictures for a religious use," <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.1" parsed="|Lev|26|1|0|0" passage="Le 26:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. No sin was more provoking
to God than this, and yet there was none that they were more
addicted to, and which afterwards proved of more pernicious
consequence to them. Next to God's being, unity, and universal
influence, it is necessary that we know and believe that he is an
infinite Spirit; and therefore to represent him by an image in the
making of it, to confine him to an image in the consecrating of it,
and to worship him by an image in bowing down to it, <i>changes his
truth into a lie</i> and <i>his glory into shame,</i> as much as
any thing. 2. "Be sure you keep up a great veneration for sabbaths
and religious assemblies," <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.2" parsed="|Lev|26|2|0|0" passage="Le 26:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. As nothing tends more to corrupt religion than the
use of images in devotion, so nothing contributes more to the
support of it than <i>keeping the sabbaths</i> and <i>reverencing
the sanctuary.</i> These make up very much of the instrumental part
of religion, by which the essentials of it are kept up. Therefore
we find in the prophets that, next to the sin of idolatry, there is
no sin for which the Jews are more frequently reproved and
threatened than the profanation of the sabbath day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p4">II. Great encouragements given them to live
in constant obedience to all God's commandments, largely and
strongly assuring them that if they did so they should be a happy
people, and should be blessed with all the good things they could
desire. Human governments enforce their laws with penalties to be
inflicted for the breach of them; but God will be known as <i>the
rewarder of those that seek and serve him.</i> Let us take a view
of these great and precious promises, which, though they relate
chiefly to the life which now is, and to the public national
concerns of that people, were typical of the spiritual blessings
entailed by the covenant of grace upon all believers through
Christ. 1. Plenty and abundance of the fruits of the earth. They
should have seasonable rain, neither too little nor too much, but
what was requisite for their land, which was watered with the dew
of heaven (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.11.10-Deut.11.11" parsed="|Deut|11|10|11|11" passage="De 11:10,11">Deut. xi. 10,
11</scripRef>), that it might <i>yield its increase,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.4" parsed="|Lev|26|4|0|0" passage="Le 26:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. 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 <i>from above,</i> from the <i>Father of
lights.</i> It is promised that the earth should produce its fruits
in such great abundance that they would be kept in full employment,
during both the harvest and the vintage, to gather it in, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.5" parsed="|Lev|26|5|0|0" passage="Le 26:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Before they had reaped
their corn and threshed it, the vintage would be ready; and, before
they had finished their vintage, it would be high time to begin
their sowing. Long harvests are often with us the consequences of
bad weather, but with them they should be the effects of a great
increase. This signified the abundance of grace which should be
poured out in gospel times, when the <i>ploughman should overtake
the reaper</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Amos.9.13" parsed="|Amos|9|13|0|0" passage="Am 9:13">Amos ix.
13</scripRef>), and a great harvest of souls should be gathered in
to Christ. The plenty should be so great that they should <i>bring
forth the old</i> to be given away to the poor <i>because of the
new,</i> to make room for it in their barns, which yet they would
not <i>pull down to build greater,</i> as that rich fool (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.12.18" parsed="|Luke|12|18|0|0" passage="Lu 12:18">Luke xii. 18</scripRef>), for God gave them this
abundance to be laid out, not be hoarded up from one year to
another. <i>He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse
him,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Prov.11.26" parsed="|Prov|11|26|0|0" passage="Pr 11:26">Prov. xi. 26</scripRef>. That
promise (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Mal.3.10" parsed="|Mal|3|10|0|0" passage="Mal 3:10">Mal. iii. 10</scripRef>),
<i>I will pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it,</i> explains this, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.10" parsed="|Lev|26|10|0|0" passage="Le 26:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. And that which crowns this
blessing of plenty is (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.5" parsed="|Lev|26|5|0|0" passage="Le 26:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), You shall <i>eat your bread to the full,</i> which
intimates that they should have, not only abundance, but content
and satisfaction in it. They should have enough, and should know
when they had enough. Thus <i>the meek shall eat and be
satisfied,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.26" parsed="|Ps|22|26|0|0" passage="Ps 22:26">Ps. xxii.
26</scripRef>. 2. Peace under the divine protection; "<i>You shall
dwell in your land safely</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.11" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.5" parsed="|Lev|26|5|0|0" passage="Le 26:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); both really save, and safe in
your own apprehensions; you shall lie down to rest in the power and
promise of God, and not only none shall hurt you, but none shall so
much as <i>make you afraid,</i>" <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.6" parsed="|Lev|26|6|0|0" passage="Le 26:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. See <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.4.8" parsed="|Ps|4|8|0|0" passage="Ps 4:8">Ps. iv. 8</scripRef>. They should not be infested with
wild beasts, these should be <i>rid out of the land,</i> or, as it
is promised (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.14" osisRef="Bible:Job.5.23" parsed="|Job|5|23|0|0" passage="Job 5:23">Job v. 23</scripRef>),
should <i>be at peace with them.</i> Nor should they be terrified
with the alarms of war: <i>Neither shall the sword go through your
land.</i> This holy security is promised to all the faithful,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.15" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1-Ps.91.16" parsed="|Ps|91|1|91|16" passage="Ps 91:1-16">Ps. xci. 1</scripRef>, &amp;c. Those
must needs dwell in safety that <i>dwell in God,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.16" osisRef="Bible:Job.9.18-Job.9.19" parsed="|Job|9|18|9|19" passage="Job 9:18,19">Job ix. 18, 19</scripRef>. 3. Victory and
success in their wars abroad, while they had peace and tranquility
at home, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.17" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.7-Lev.26.8" parsed="|Lev|26|7|26|8" passage="Le 26:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>.
They are assured that the hand of God should so signally appear
with them in their conquests that no disproportion of numbers
should make against them: <i>Five of you</i> shall have courage to
attack, and strength to <i>chase</i> and defeat, <i>a hundred,</i>
as Jonathan did (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.18" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.12" parsed="|1Sam|14|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:12">1 Sam. xiv.
12</scripRef>), experiencing the truth of his own maxim (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.19" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.6" parsed="|Lev|26|6|0|0" passage="Le 26:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), that it is all one with
the Lord to <i>save by many or by few.</i> 4. The increase of their
people: <i>I will make you fruitful and multiply you,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.20" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.9" parsed="|Lev|26|9|0|0" passage="Le 26:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Thus the promise made to
Abraham must be fulfilled, that his seed should be <i>as the dust
of the earth;</i> and much more numerous they would have been if
they had by their sin cut themselves short. It is promised to the
gospel church that it shall be fruitful, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.21" osisRef="Bible:John.15.16" parsed="|John|15|16|0|0" passage="Joh 15:16">John xv. 16</scripRef>. 5. The favour of God, which is
the fountain of all good: <i>I will have respect unto you,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.22" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.9" parsed="|Lev|26|9|0|0" passage="Le 26:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. If the eye of
our faith be unto God, the eye of his favour will be unto us. More
is implied than is expressed in that promise, <i>My soul shall not
abhor you</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.23" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.11" parsed="|Lev|26|11|0|0" passage="Le 26:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), as there is in that threatening, <i>My soul shall
have no pleasure in him,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.24" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.38" parsed="|Heb|10|38|0|0" passage="Heb 10:38">Heb. x.
38</scripRef>. Though there was that among them which might justly
have alienated him from them, yet, if they would closely adhere to
his institutions, he would not abhor them. 6. Tokens of his
presence in and by his ordinances: <i>I will set my tabernacle
among you,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.25" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.11" parsed="|Lev|26|11|0|0" passage="Le 26:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. It was their honour and advantage that God's
tabernacle was lately erected among them; but here he lets them
know that the continuance and establishment of it depended upon
their good behaviour. The tabernacle that was now set should be
settled if they would be obedient, else not. Note, The way to have
God's ordinances fixed among us, as a nail in a sure place, is to
cleave closely to the institution of them. It is added (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.26" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.12" parsed="|Lev|26|12|0|0" passage="Le 26:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), "<i>I will walk among
you,</i> with delight and satisfaction, as a man in his garden; I
will keep up communion with you as a man walking with his friend."
This seems to be alluded to, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.27" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.1" parsed="|Rev|2|1|0|0" passage="Re 2:1">Rev. ii.
1</scripRef>, where Christ is said to <i>walk in the midst of the
golden candlesticks.</i> 7. The grace of the covenant, as the
fountain and foundation, the sweetness and security, of all these
blessings: <i>I will establish my covenant with you,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.28" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.9" parsed="|Lev|26|9|0|0" passage="Le 26:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Let them perform their
part of the covenant, and God would not fail to perform his. All
covenant-blessings are summed up in the covenant-relation
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.29" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.12" parsed="|Lev|26|12|0|0" passage="Le 26:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>I will
be your God, and you shall be my people;</i> and they are all
grounded upon their redemption: <i>I am your God,</i> because <i>I
brought you forth out of the land of Egypt,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.30" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.13" parsed="|Lev|26|13|0|0" passage="Le 26:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Having purchased them, he would
own them, and never cast them off till they cast him off. He
<i>broke their yoke,</i> and <i>made them go upright,</i> that is,
their deliverance out of Egypt put them in a state both of ease and
honour, that, being delivered out of the hands of their enemies,
they might <i>serve God without fear,</i> each walking <i>in his
uprightness.</i> When Israel rejected Christ, and was therefore
rejected by him, their back is said to be <i>bowed down</i> always
under the burden of their guilt, which was heavier than that of
their bondage in Egypt, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p4.31" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.10" parsed="|Rom|11|10|0|0" passage="Ro 11:10">Rom. xi.
10</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxvii-p4.32" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26" parsed="|Lev|26|0|0|0" passage="Le 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxvii-p4.33" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.14-Lev.26.39" parsed="|Lev|26|14|26|39" passage="Le 26:14-39" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.26.14-Lev.26.39">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvii-p4.34">Threatenings. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p4.35">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvii-p5">14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will
not do all these commandments;   15 And if ye shall despise my
statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not
do all my commandments, <i>but</i> that ye break my covenant:
  16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over
you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume
the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in
vain, for your enemies shall eat it.   17 And I will set my
face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they
that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none
pursueth you.   18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken
unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
  19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make
your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:   20 And your
strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her
increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
  21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken
unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according
to your sins.   22 I will also send wild beasts among you,
which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and
make you few in number; and your <i>high</i> ways shall be
desolate.   23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these
things, but will walk contrary unto me;   24 Then will I also
walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for
your sins.   25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall
avenge the quarrel of <i>my</i> covenant: and when ye are gathered
together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you;
and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.   26
<i>And</i> when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women
shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver
<i>you</i> your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be
satisfied.   27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto
me, but walk contrary unto me;   28 Then I will walk contrary
unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times
for your sins.   29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons,
and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.   30 And I will
destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your
carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor
you.   31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your
sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of
your sweet odours.   32 And I will bring the land into
desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be
astonished at it.   33 And I will scatter you among the
heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall
be desolate, and your cities waste.   34 Then shall the land
enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye <i>be</i>
in your enemies' land; <i>even</i> then shall the land rest, and
enjoy her sabbaths.   35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall
rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon
it.   36 And upon them that are left <i>alive</i> of you I
will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their
enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they
shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none
pursueth.   37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it
were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power
to stand before your enemies.   38 And ye shall perish among
the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.  
39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity
in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers
shall they pine away with them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p6">After God had set the blessing before them
(the life and good which would make them a happy people if they
would be obedient), he here sets the curse before them, the death
and evil which would make them as miserable if they were
disobedient. Let them not think themselves so deeply rooted as that
God's power could not ruin them, nor so highly favoured as that his
justice would not ruin them if they revolted from him and rebelled
against him; no <i>You only have I known, therefore I will punish
you</i> soonest and sorest. <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Amos.3.2" parsed="|Amos|3|2|0|0" passage="Am 3:2">Amos iii.
2</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p7">I. How their sin is described, which would
bring all this misery upon them. Not sins of ignorance and
infirmity; God had provided sacrifices for those. Not the sins they
repented of and forsook; but the sins that were presumptuously
committed, and obstinately persisted in. Two things would certainly
bring this ruin upon them:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p8">1. A contempt of God's commandments
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.14" parsed="|Lev|26|14|0|0" passage="Le 26:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): "<i>If you
will not hearken to me</i> speaking to you by the law, nor <i>do
all these commandments,</i> that is, desire and endeavour to do
them, and, wherein you miss it, make use of the prescribed
remedies." Thus their sin is supposed to begin in mere
carelessness, and neglect, and omission. These are bad enough, but
they make way for worse; for the people are brought in (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.15" parsed="|Lev|26|15|0|0" passage="Le 26:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>) as, (1.) <i>Despising
God's statutes,</i> both the duties enjoined and the authority
enjoining them, thinking meanly of the law and the Law-maker. Note,
Those are hastening apace to their own ruin who begin to think it
below them to be religious. (2.) <i>Abhorring his judgments,</i>
their very souls abhorring them. Note, Those that begin to despise
religion will come by degrees to loathe it; and mean thoughts of it
will ripen into ill thoughts of it; those that turn from it will
turn against it, and their hearts will rise at it. (3.) <i>Breaking
his covenant.</i> Though every breach of the commandment does not
amount to a breach of the covenant (we were undone if it did), yet,
when men have come to such a pitch of impiety as to despise and
abhor the commandment, the next step will be to disown God, and all
relation to him. Those that reject the precept will come at last to
renounce the covenant. Observe, It is God's covenant which they
break: he made it, but they break it. Note, If a covenant be made
and kept between God and man, God must have all the honour; but, if
ever it be broken, man must bear all the blame: on him shall this
breach be.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p9">2. A contempt of his corrections. Even
their disobedience would not have been their destruction if they
had not been obstinate and impenitent in it, notwithstanding the
methods God took to reclaim them. Their contempt of God's word
would not have brought them to ruin, if they had not added to that
a contempt of his rod, which should have brought them to
repentance. Three ways this is expressed:—(1.) "<i>If you will
not for all this hearken to me,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.18 Bible:Lev.26.21 Bible:Lev.26.27" parsed="|Lev|26|18|0|0;|Lev|26|21|0|0;|Lev|26|27|0|0" passage="Le 26:18,21,27"><i>v.</i> 18, 21, 27</scripRef>. If you will not
learn obedience by the things which you suffer, but be as deaf to
the loud alarms of God's judgments as you have been to the close
reasonings of his word and the secret whispers of your own
consciences, you are obstinate indeed." (2.) "<i>If you walk
contrary to me,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.21 Bible:Lev.26.23 Bible:Lev.26.27" parsed="|Lev|26|21|0|0;|Lev|26|23|0|0;|Lev|26|27|0|0" passage="Le 26:21,23,27"><i>v.</i>
21, 23, 27</scripRef>. All sinners walk contrary to God, to his
truths, laws, and counsels; but those especially that are
incorrigible under his judgments. The design of the rod is to
humble them, and soften them, and bring them to repentance; but,
instead of this, their hearts are more hardened and exasperated
against God, and <i>in their distress</i> they <i>trespass yet more
against him,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.22" parsed="|2Chr|28|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:22">2 Chron. xxviii.
22</scripRef>. This is walking contrary to God. Some read it, "If
you walk at all adventures with me, carelessly and presumptuously,
as if you heeded not either what you do, whether it be right or
wrong, or what God does with you, whether it be for you or against
you, blundering on in wilful ignorance." (3.) <i>If you will not be
reformed by these things.</i> God's design in punishing is to
reform, by giving men sensible convictions of the evil of sin, and
obliging them to seek unto him for relief: this is the primary
intention; but those that will not be reformed by the judgments of
God must expect to be ruined by them. Those have a great deal to
answer for that have been long and often under God's correcting
hand, and yet go on frowardly in a sinful way; sick and in pain,
and yet not reformed; crossed and impoverished, and yet not
reformed; broken with breach upon breach, yet <i>not returning to
the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Amos.4.6" parsed="|Amos|4|6|0|0" passage="Am 4:6">Amos iv. 6</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p10">II. How the misery is described which their
sin would bring upon them, under two heads:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p11">1. God himself would be against them; and
this is the root and cause of all their misery. (1.) <i>I will set
my face against you</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.17" parsed="|Lev|26|17|0|0" passage="Le 26:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>), that is, "I will set myself against you, set myself
to ruin you." These proud sinners God will resist, and face those
down that confront his authority. Or the face is put for the anger:
"I will show myself highly displeased at you." (2.) <i>I will walk
contrary to you</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.24 Bible:Lev.26.28" parsed="|Lev|26|24|0|0;|Lev|26|28|0|0" passage="Le 26:24,28"><i>v.</i> 24,
28</scripRef>); <i>with the forward he will wrestle,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.28.26" parsed="|Ps|28|26|0|0" passage="Ps 28:26">Ps. xxviii. 26</scripRef> [margin]. When God in
his providence thwarts the designs of a people, which they thought
well laid, crosses their purposes, breaks their measures, blasts
their endeavours, and disappoints their expectations, then he walks
contrary to them. Note, There is nothing got by striving with God
Almighty, for he will break either the heart or the neck of those
that contend with him, will bring them either to repentance or
ruin. "I will walk at all adventures with you," so some read; "all
covenant loving-kindness shall be forgotten, and I will leave you
to common providence." Note, Those that cast off God deserve that
he should cast them off. (3.) As they continued obstinate, the
judgments should increase yet more upon them. If the first sensible
tokens of God's displeasures do not attain their end, to humble and
reform them, then (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.18" parsed="|Lev|26|18|0|0" passage="Le 26:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>), <i>I will punish you seven times more,</i> and
again (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.21" parsed="|Lev|26|21|0|0" passage="Le 26:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), <i>I
will bring seven times more plagues,</i> and (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.24" parsed="|Lev|26|24|0|0" passage="Le 26:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), <i>I will punish you yet seven
times,</i> and (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.28" parsed="|Lev|26|28|0|0" passage="Le 26:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>), <i>I, even I, will chastise you seven times for
your sins.</i> Note, If less judgments do not do their work, God
will send greater; for, when he <i>judges, he will overcome.</i> If
true repentance do not stay process, it will go on till execution
be taken out. Those that are obstinate and incorrigible, when they
have weathered one storm must expect another more violent; and, how
severely soever they are punished, till they are in hell they must
still say, "There is worse behind," unless they repent. If the
<i>founder have</i> hitherto <i>melted in vain</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.29" parsed="|Jer|6|29|0|0" passage="Jer 6:29">Jer. vi. 29</scripRef>), the furnace will be
heated <i>seven times hotter</i> (a proverbial expression, used
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:Dan.3.19" parsed="|Dan|3|19|0|0" passage="Da 3:19">Dan. iii. 19</scripRef>), and again and
again <i>seven times hotter;</i> and who among us can dwell with
such devouring fire? God does not begin with the sorest judgments,
to show that he is patient, and delights not in the death of
sinners; but, if they repent not, he will proceed to the sorest, to
show that he is righteous, and that he will not be mocked or set at
defiance. (4.) Their misery is completed in that threatening: <i>My
soul shall abhor you,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.30" parsed="|Lev|26|30|0|0" passage="Le 26:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. That man is as miserable as he can be whom God
abhors; for his resentments are just and effective. Thus <i>if any
man draw back,</i> as these are supposed to do, <i>God's soul shall
have no pleasure in him</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.11" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.38" parsed="|Heb|10|38|0|0" passage="Heb 10:38">Heb. x.
38</scripRef>), and he will <i>spue them out of his mouth,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.12" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.16" parsed="|Rev|3|16|0|0" passage="Re 3:16">Rev. iii. 16</scripRef>. It is spoken
of as strange, and yet too true, <i>Hath thy soul loathed Zion?</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p11.13" osisRef="Bible:Jer.14.19" parsed="|Jer|14|19|0|0" passage="Jer 14:19">Jer. xiv. 19</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p12">2. The whole creation would be at war with
them. All God's sore judgments would be sent against them; for he
hath many arrows in his quiver. The threatenings here are very
particular, because really they were prophecies, and he that
foresaw all their rebellions knew they would prove so; see
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.31.16 Bible:Deut.31.29" parsed="|Deut|31|16|0|0;|Deut|31|29|0|0" passage="De 31:16,29">Deut. xxxi. 16, 29</scripRef>. This
long roll of threatening shows that evil pursues sinners. We have
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p13">(1.) Temporal judgments threatened. [1.]
Diseases of body, which should be epidemical: <i>I will appoint
over you,</i> as task-masters, to rule you with rigour, <i>terror,
consumption, and the burning ague,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.16" parsed="|Lev|26|16|0|0" passage="Le 26:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. What we translate
<i>terror,</i> some think, signifies a particular disease, probably
(says the learned bishop Patrick) the <i>falling sickness,</i>
which is terror indeed: all chronical diseases are included in the
consumption, and all acute diseases in the burning ague or fever.
These consume the eyes, and cause sorrow both to those that are
visited with them and to their friends and relations. Note, All
diseases are God's servants; they do what he appoints them, and are
often used as scourges wherewith he chastises a provoking people.
The pestilence is threatened (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.25" parsed="|Lev|26|25|0|0" passage="Le 26:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>) to meet them, when they are
gathered together in their cities for fear of the sword. The
greater the concourse of people is, the greater desolation does the
pestilence make; and, when it gets among the soldiers that should
defend a place, it is of most fatal consequence. [2.] Famine and
scarcity of bread, which should be brought upon them several ways;
as, <i>First,</i> By plunder (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.16" parsed="|Lev|26|16|0|0" passage="Le 26:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): <i>Your enemies shall eat
it</i> up, and carry it off as the Midianites did, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.6.5-Judg.6.6" parsed="|Judg|6|5|6|6" passage="Jdg 6:5,6">Judg. vi. 5, 6</scripRef>. <i>Secondly,</i> By
unseasonable weather, especially the want of rain (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.19" parsed="|Lev|26|19|0|0" passage="Le 26:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <i>I will make your
heaven as iron,</i> letting fall no rain, but reflecting heat, and
then the earth would of course be as dry and hard <i>as brass,</i>
and their labour in ploughing and sowing would <i>be in vain</i>
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.20" parsed="|Lev|26|20|0|0" passage="Le 26:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>); for the
increase of the earth depends upon God's good providence more than
upon man's good husbandry. This should be the breaking of the
<i>staff of bread</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.26" parsed="|Lev|26|26|0|0" passage="Le 26:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>), which life leans upon, and is supported by, on
which perhaps they had leaned more than upon God's blessing. There
should be so great a dearth of corn that, whereas every family used
to fill an oven of their own with household bread, now ten families
should have to fill but one over, which would bring themselves and
their children and servants to short allowance, so that they should
<i>eat and not be satisfied.</i> The less they had the more craving
should their appetites be. <i>Thirdly,</i> By the besieging of
their cities, which would reduce them to such an extremity that
they should <i>eat the flesh of their sons and daughters,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.29" parsed="|Lev|26|29|0|0" passage="Le 26:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. [3.] War, and
the prevailing of their enemies over them: "<i>You shall be slain
before your enemies,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.17" parsed="|Lev|26|17|0|0" passage="Le 26:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. Your choice men shall die in battle, and <i>those
that hate you shall reign over you,</i> and justly, since you are
not willing that the God that loved you should reign over you;"
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.10" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.12.8" parsed="|2Chr|12|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 12:8">2 Chron. xii. 8</scripRef>. Miserable
is that people whose enemies are their rulers and have got dominion
over them, or whose rulers have become their enemies and under-hand
seek the ruin of their interests. Thus God would <i>break the pride
of their power,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.11" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.19" parsed="|Lev|26|19|0|0" passage="Le 26:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. God had given them power over the nations; but when
they, instead of being thankful for that power, and improving it
for the service of God's kingdom, grew proud of it, and perverted
the intentions of it, it was just with God to break it. Thus God
would <i>bring a sword upon them to avenge the quarrel of his
covenant,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.25" parsed="|Lev|26|25|0|0" passage="Le 26:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>.
Note, God has a just quarrel with those that break covenant with
him, for he will not be mocked by the treachery of perfidious men;
and one way or other he will avenge this quarrel upon those that
play at fast and loose with him. [4.] Wild beasts, lions, bears,
and wolves, which should increase upon them, and tear in pieces all
that come in their way (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.13" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.22" parsed="|Lev|26|22|0|0" passage="Le 26:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>), as we read of two bears that in an instant killed
forty-two children, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.14" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.2.24" parsed="|2Kgs|2|24|0|0" passage="2Ki 2:24">2 Kings ii.
24</scripRef>. This is one of the four sore judgments threatened
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.15" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.14.21" parsed="|Ezek|14|21|0|0" passage="Eze 14:21">Ezek. xiv. 21</scripRef>, which
plainly refers to this chapter. Man was made to have dominion over
the creatures, and, though many of them are stronger than he, yet
none of them could have hurt him, nay, all of them would have
served him, if he had not first shaken off God's dominion, and so
lost his own; and now the creatures are in rebellion against him
that is in rebellion against his Maker, and, when the Lord of those
hosts pleases, they are the executioners of his wrath and the
ministers of his justice. [5.] Captivity, or dispersion: <i>I will
scatter you among the heathen</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.16" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.33" parsed="|Lev|26|33|0|0" passage="Le 26:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), <i>in your enemies' land,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.17" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.34" parsed="|Lev|26|34|0|0" passage="Le 26:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. Never were
any people so incorporated and united among themselves as they
were; but for their sin God would scatter them, so that they should
be lost among the heathen, from whom God had graciously
distinguished them, but with whom they had wickedly mingled
themselves. Yet, when they were scattered, divine justice had not
done with them, but would draw out a sword after them, which would
find them out, and follow them wherever they were. God's judgments,
as they cannot be outfaced, so they cannot be outrun. [6.] The
utter ruin and desolation of their land, which should be so
remarkable that their very enemies themselves, who had helped it
forward, should in the review be astonished at it, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.18" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.32" parsed="|Lev|26|32|0|0" passage="Le 26:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. <i>First,</i> Their
cities should be waste, forsaken, uninhabited, and all the
buildings destroyed; those that escaped the desolations of war
should fall to decay of themselves. <i>Secondly,</i> Their
sanctuaries should be a desolation, that is, their synagogues where
they met for religious worship every sabbath, as well as their
tabernacle where they met thrice a year. <i>Thirdly,</i> The
country itself should be desolate, not tilled or husbanded
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.19" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.34-Lev.26.35" parsed="|Lev|26|34|26|35" passage="Le 26:34,35"><i>v.</i> 34, 35</scripRef>); then
the land should enjoy its sabbaths, because they had not
religiously observed the sabbatical years which God appointed them.
They tilled their ground when God would have them let it rest;
justly therefore were they driven out of it; and the expression
intimates that the ground itself was pleased and easy when it was
rid of the burden of such sinners, under which it had groaned,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.20" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.20" parsed="|Rom|8|20|0|0" passage="Ro 8:20">Rom. viii. 20</scripRef>, &amp;c. The
captivity in Babylon lasted seventy years, and so long the land
<i>enjoyed her sabbaths,</i> as is said (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.21" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.36.21" parsed="|2Chr|36|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 36:21">2 Chron. xxxvi. 21</scripRef>) with reference to this.
[7.] The destruction of their idols, though rather a mercy than a
judgment, yet, being a necessary piece of justice, is here
mentioned, to show what would be the sin that would bring all these
miseries upon them: <i>I will destroy your high places,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p13.22" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.30" parsed="|Lev|26|30|0|0" passage="Le 26:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. Those that
will not be parted from their sins by the commands of God shall be
parted from them by his judgments; since they would not destroy
their high places, God would. And, to upbraid them with the
unreasonable fondness they had shown for their idols, it is
foretold that their <i>carcases should be cast upon the carcases of
their idols.</i> Those that are wedded to their lusts will sooner
or later have enough of them. Their idols would not be able to help
either themselves or their worshippers; but, those that made them
being like them, they should both perish alike, and fall together
as blind into the ditch.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p14">(2.) Spiritual judgments are here
threatened. These should seize the mind; for he that made the mind
can, when he pleases, make his sword approach to it. It is here
threatened, [1.] That they should find no acceptance with God: <i>I
will not smell the savour of your sweet odours,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.31" parsed="|Lev|26|31|0|0" passage="Le 26:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. Though the judgments of
God upon them did not separate them and their sins, yet they
extorted incense from them; but in vain—even their incense was an
abomination, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.1.13" parsed="|Isa|1|13|0|0" passage="Isa 1:13">Isa. i. 13</scripRef>.
[2.] That they should have no courage in their wars, but should be
quite dispirited and disheartened. They should not only fear and
flee (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.17" parsed="|Lev|26|17|0|0" passage="Le 26:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), but
fear and <i>fall, when none pursued,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.36" parsed="|Lev|26|36|0|0" passage="Le 26:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>. A guilty conscience would be
their continual terror, so that not only the sound of a trumpet,
but the very <i>sound of a leaf, should chase them.</i> Note, Those
that cast off the fear of God expose themselves to the fear of
every thing else, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.28.1" parsed="|Prov|28|1|0|0" passage="Pr 28:1">Prov. xxviii.
1</scripRef>. Their very fears should dash them <i>one against
another,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.37-Lev.26.38" parsed="|Lev|26|37|26|38" passage="Le 26:37,38"><i>v.</i> 37,
38</scripRef>. And those that had increased one another's guilt
would now increase one another's fears. [3.] That they should have
no hope of the forgiveness of their sins (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.39" parsed="|Lev|26|39|0|0" passage="Le 26:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>): <i>They shall pine away in
their iniquity,</i> and <i>how should they then live?</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.33.10" parsed="|Ezek|33|10|0|0" passage="Eze 33:10">Ezek. xxxiii. 10</scripRef>. Note, It is a
righteous thing with God to leave those to despair of pardon that
have presumed to sin; and it is owing to free grace if we are not
abandoned to pine away in the iniquity we were born in and have
lived in.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxvii-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.40-Lev.26.46" parsed="|Lev|26|40|26|46" passage="Le 26:40-46" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.26.40-Lev.26.46">
<h4 id="Lev.xxvii-p14.10">Threatenings and Promises. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p14.11">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxvii-p15">40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the
iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they
trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto
me;   41 And <i>that</i> I also have walked contrary unto
them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then
their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the
punishment of their iniquity:   42 Then will I remember my
covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my
covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the
land.   43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall
enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they
shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even
because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred
my statutes.   44 And yet for all that, when they be in the
land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I
abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with
them: for I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p15.1">Lord</span> their
God.   45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of
their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in
the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I <i>am</i>
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p15.2">Lord</span>.   46 These <i>are</i>
the statutes and judgments and laws, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxvii-p15.3">Lord</span> made between him and the children of Israel
in Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p16">Here the chapter concludes with gracious
promises of the return of God's favour to them upon their
repentance, that they might not (unless it were their own fault)
<i>pine away in their iniquity.</i> Behold, with wonder, the riches
of God's mercy to a people that had obstinately stood it out
against the judgments of God, and would never think of surrendering
till they were reduced to the last extremity. Yet <i>turn to
strong-hold, you prisoners of hope,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.9.12" parsed="|Zech|9|12|0|0" passage="Zec 9:12">Zech. ix. 12</scripRef>. As bad as things are, they may
be mended. <i>Yet there is hope in Israel.</i> Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p17">I. How the repentance which would qualify
them for this mercy is described, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.40-Lev.26.41" parsed="|Lev|26|40|26|41" passage="Le 26:40,41"><i>v.</i> 40, 41</scripRef>. The instances of it are
three:—1. Confession, by which they must give glory to God, and
take shame to themselves. There must be a confession of sin, their
own and their fathers', which they must lament the guilt of because
they feel the smart of it; that thus they may cut off the entail of
wrath. They must in their confession put sin under its worst
character, as <i>walking contrary to God;</i> this is the
sinfulness of sin, the worst thing in it, and which in our
repentance we should especially bewail. There must also be a
confession of wrath; they must overlook the instruments of their
trouble and the second causes, and confess that God has <i>walked
contrary to them,</i> and so <i>dealt with them according to their
sins.</i> Such a confession as this we find made by Daniel just
before the dawning of the day of their deliverance (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.1-Dan.9.27" parsed="|Dan|9|1|9|27" passage="Da 9:1-27"><i>ch.</i> ix.</scripRef>), and the like,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.9.1-Ezra.9.15 Bible:Neh.9.2" parsed="|Ezra|9|1|9|15;|Neh|9|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 9:1-15,Ne 9:2">Ezra ix. and Neh. ix.
2</scripRef>. Remorse and godly sorrow for sin: <i>If their
uncircumcised heart be humbled.</i> An impenitent, unbelieving,
unhumbled heart, is called an <i>uncircumcised</i> heart, the heart
of a Gentile that is a stranger to God, rather than the heart of an
Israelite in covenant with him. True circumcision is <i>of the
heart</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.2.29" parsed="|Rom|2|29|0|0" passage="Ro 2:29">Rom. ii. 29</scripRef>),
without which the circumcision of the flesh avails nothing,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.9.26" parsed="|Jer|9|26|0|0" passage="Jer 9:26">Jer. ix. 26</scripRef>. Now in
repentance this uncircumcised heart was humbled, that is, it was
truly broken and contrite for sin. Note, A humble heart under
humbling providences prepares for deliverance and true comfort. 3.
Submission to the justice of God in all his dealings; if they then
<i>accept of the punishment of their iniquity</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.41" parsed="|Lev|26|41|0|0" passage="Le 26:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef> and again <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.43" parsed="|Lev|26|43|0|0" passage="Le 26:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>), that is, if they
justify God and condemn themselves, patiently bear the punishment
as that which they have well deserved, and carefully answer the
ends of it as that which God has well designed, accept it as a
kindness, take it as physic, and improve it, then they are
penitents indeed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p18">II. How the mercy which they should obtain
upon their repentance is described. 1. They should not be
abandoned: <i>Though they have despised my judgments, yet, for all
that, I will not cast them away,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.43-Lev.26.44" parsed="|Lev|26|43|26|44" passage="Le 26:43,44"><i>v.</i> 43, 44</scripRef>. He speaks as a tender
Father that cannot find in his heart to disinherit a son that has
been very provoking. <i>How shall I do it?</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.11.8-Hos.11.9" parsed="|Hos|11|8|11|9" passage="Ho 11:8,9">Hos. xi. 8, 9</scripRef>. Till he had laid the
foundations of a church for himself in the Gentile world, the
Jewish church was not quite forsaken, nor cast away. 2. They should
be remembered: <i>I will remember the land</i> with favour, which
is grounded upon the promise before, <i>I will remember my
covenant</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.42" parsed="|Lev|26|42|0|0" passage="Le 26:42"><i>v.</i>
42</scripRef>), which is repeated, <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.45" parsed="|Lev|26|45|0|0" passage="Le 26:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>. God is said <i>to remember the
covenant</i> when he performs the promises of it, purely for his
faithfulness' sake; not because there is any thing in us to
recommend us to his favour, but because he will be as good as his
word. This is the church's plea. <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.20" parsed="|Ps|74|20|0|0" passage="Ps 74:20">Ps.
lxxiv. 20</scripRef>, <i>Have respect unto the covenant.</i> He
will remember the constitution of the covenant, which is such as
leaves room for repentance, and promises pardon upon repentance;
and the Mediator of the covenant, who was promised to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and was sent, when the fulness of time came, in
remembrance of that holy covenant. The word covenant is thrice
repeated, to intimate that God is ever mindful of it and would have
us to be so. The persons also with whom the covenant was made are
mentioned in an unusual manner, <i>per modum ascensus—in the
ascending line,</i> beginning with Jacob, to lead them gradually to
the most ancient promise, which was made to the father of the
faithful: thus (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Mic.7.20" parsed="|Mic|7|20|0|0" passage="Mic 7:20">Mic. vii.
20</scripRef>) he is said to perform the <i>truth to Jacob,</i> and
the <i>mercy to Abraham.</i> He will for their sakes (<scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.45" parsed="|Lev|26|45|0|0" passage="Le 26:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>), not their merit's
sake, but their benefit's sake, remember the covenant of their
ancestors, and upon that score show kindness to them, though most
unworthy; they are therefore said to be, <i>as touching the
election, beloved for the fathers' sake,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.28" parsed="|Rom|11|28|0|0" passage="Ro 11:28">Rom. xi. 28</scripRef>. Note, When those that have
walked contrary to God in a way of sin return to him by sincere
repentance, though he has walked contrary to them in a way of
judgment he will return to them in a way of special mercy, pursuant
to the covenant of redemption and grace. None are so ready to
repent as God is to forgive upon repentance, through Christ, who is
given for a covenant.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxvii-p19"><i>Lastly,</i> These are said to be <i>the
laws which the Lord made between him and the children of
Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxvii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.46" parsed="|Lev|26|46|0|0" passage="Le 26:46"><i>v.</i> 46</scripRef>.
His communion with his church is kept up by his law. He manifests
not only his dominion over them, but his favour to them, by giving
them his law; and they manifest not only their holy fear, but their
holy love, by the observance of it; and thus it is made between
them, rather as a covenant than a law; for he draws with the cords
of a man.</p>
</div></div2>