Today’s reading: Leviticus 26:1-27:34
My selection:
Leviticus 26:18-19 18 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, 19 and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.
My reflections: Here, in chapter 26, is a detailed list of the promised blessings for obedience to God’s law focused particularly on worship and commandments 2,3, and 4. This is followed by an even longer list of punishments for disobedience. Both lists are comprehensive and cover physical and mental health and economic well-being.
I was struck by the phrase in verse 19: “and I will break the pride of your power…”. There is pride in power which is why those who are powerful in this world must be careful to fear God and worship Him. God’s people are held to a standard of holiness and reverence that they may not allow to be obscured by the power they acquire in this world through His blessing. There would be warnings to the people (e.g. Deut. 8) not to allow the blessings of God to turn into sources of pride and thus bring down the curses of God.
My prayer: Lord, everything I have is yours beginning with my very breath. Let me not grow proud in what I am, what I have done or what I have obtained. All is yours. May I use it for your service today maintaining the humility of a steward.
Tomorrow’s reading: Numbers 1:1-2:34
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