Leviticus 26:2 - The Blessings of Obedience

Audio Bible

Context

The Blessings of Obedience
1“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God. 2 You must keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD. 3If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments,…

Cross References

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ...Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. / Six days you shall labor and do all your work, / but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. ...Isaiah 56:2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”Ezekiel 20:12
I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.Ezekiel 20:20
Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’Matthew 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. / Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”Luke 6:5
Then Jesus declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.Exodus 31:13
“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.Exodus 31:16-17
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. / It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”Nehemiah 9:14
You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.Isaiah 58:13-14
If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, / then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.Jeremiah 17:21-22
This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. / You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers.Jeremiah 17:24-25
If, however, you listen carefully to Me, says the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and keep the Sabbath day holy, and do no work on it, / then kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses with their officials, along with the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.

Leviticus 19:30
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

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Leviticus 26

You must keep My Sabbaths
The command to keep the Sabbaths is rooted in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13). It is a day set apart for rest and worship, symbolizing trust in God's provision. The Sabbath also foreshadows the ultimate rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). In the historical context, observing the Sabbath distinguished Israel from surrounding nations, emphasizing their unique relationship with God.

and have reverence for My sanctuary.
Reverence for the sanctuary underscores the holiness of the place where God's presence dwells. The sanctuary, initially the Tabernacle and later the Temple, was central to Israel's worship and sacrificial system (Exodus 25:8-9). It was a physical representation of God's dwelling among His people. This reverence is a call to approach God with awe and respect, recognizing His holiness. The sanctuary also points to Jesus Christ, who is the true temple (John 2:19-21), and through whom believers have access to God (Hebrews 10:19-22).

I am the LORD.
This declaration asserts God's authority and identity as the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It is a reminder of His sovereignty and faithfulness. The phrase "I am the LORD" is a recurring affirmation throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing God's unchanging nature and His role as the ultimate lawgiver. It calls the Israelites to obedience and trust, rooted in their relationship with Yahweh. This statement also connects to the revelation of God's name to Moses in Exodus 3:14, where He declares, "I AM WHO I AM," highlighting His eternal existence and self-sufficiency.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to observe His laws and statutes.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the laws and commandments, including the observance of the Sabbath and reverence for the sanctuary, are given.

3. Sabbath
A day of rest on the seventh day, instituted by God as a sign of the covenant and a reminder of His creation and deliverance.

4. Sanctuary
The holy place where God's presence dwells among His people, initially the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem.

5. Moses
The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the laws and commandments to the Israelites.

Teaching Points

Sabbath Observance as Worship
Observing the Sabbath is an act of worship and obedience, acknowledging God's sovereignty and provision. It is a time set apart for rest and reflection on God's goodness.

Reverence for God's Presence
Reverence for the sanctuary reflects a heart attitude of respect and honor towards God. Today, this reverence extends to our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and our corporate worship gatherings.

Covenant Relationship
The commands to observe the Sabbath and reverence the sanctuary are rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people. They serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and our commitment to Him.

Spiritual Rest in Christ
While the physical observance of the Sabbath is important, it points to the deeper spiritual rest found in Jesus Christ. Believers are called to enter this rest through faith and trust in His finished work.

Holiness and Community
Observing God's commands fosters a sense of holiness and community among believers. It encourages accountability and mutual encouragement in living out our faith.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 26What defines a sanctuary room?What is the meaning of Biblical numerology?Does the failure of priests to differentiate between the holy and profane in Ezekiel 22:26 conflict with other passages that claim Israel kept strict religious laws?Who was King Uzziah in the Bible?

(2) Ye shall keep my sabbaths . . . --This is exactly the same precept laid down in chap 19:30, and is here repeated because of the danger of desecrating the Sabbath to which the Israelite is exposed who sells himself to a heathen. The Israelite will effectually guard against idol-worship, by keeping the Sabbath holy, and reverencing God's sanctuary.

Verse 2. - Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. These words are repeated textually from chapter Leviticus 19:30. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

You must keep
תִּשְׁמֹ֔רוּ (tiš·mō·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

My Sabbaths
שַׁבְּתֹתַ֣י (šab·bə·ṯō·ṯay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

and show reverence for
תִּירָ֑אוּ (tî·rā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

My sanctuary.
וּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י (ū·miq·dā·šî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

I
אֲנִ֖י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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Leviticus 26:2 Catholic BibleOT Law: Leviticus 26:2 You shall keep my Sabbaths and have (Le Lv Lev.)