Levítico 26

Levítico 26

Calvin adds that "Although Moses has been discoursing of very severe and cruel punishments (Lev 26:14-39), still he declares that even in the midst of this awful severity God is to be appeased if only the people should repent, notwithstanding that they may have stripped themselves of all hope of pardon by their long-continued sins. For he does not address sinners in general, but those who by their obstinacy and brutal impetuosity have come nearer and nearer to the vengeance of God; and even these he encourages to a good hope, if only they be converted from their hearts. (THAT THEIR HEARTS ARE "CIRCUMCISED") Let us be assured, then, that God’s mercy is offered to the worst of men, who have been plunged by their guilt in the depths of despair, as though it reached even to hell itself." R K Harrison also seems to agree with this general interpretation writing that "God does not wish the sinner to die, but rather to repent and live. If his iniquitous people confess their apostasy and treachery, showing genuine repentance and an earnest desire to make amends (Lev 26:41), God will remember that He is still bound by His everlasting covenant made with the descendants of Abraham (cf. Gen. 17:7). Christ taught how greatly God esteemed repentance by speaking of the joy in heaven over one penitent sinner (Luke 15:7, 10+)." (TOTC-Leviticus) So that they then make amends for their iniquity: The NET translation reads "they make up for their iniquity." This is a very difficult verse to translate. The NAS, ESV, NET translations would support the premise that because these persons have a transformed heart they are able to "make amends." (IN OTHER WORDS THEY HAVE THE INTERNAL "SPIRITUAL POWER" FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT). On the other hand the Septuagint has "they will be content with their iniquities." In other words, they accept their iniquities as bad but as what God used to drive them to repentance. It is difficult to be dogmatic on which sense is intended and examination of multiple commentaries provides no resolution. Calvin's comment suggests why they would "be content with their iniquities" writing "all punishments are like spurs to rouse the inert and hesitating to repentance, whilst the sorer plagues are intended to break their hard hearts." In short, they would have been thankful that the judgments on their sin aroused them to repentance and a broken heart. The question still must be posed because remember these words are spoken not of things which were taking place but which were to take place in the future so "When will this confession and humbling and God remembering His covenant occur?" Again one cannot be dogmatic, but it would be reasonable to see this apply to a remnant of believing Jews in exile (e.g., during the 70 years in Babylon), and post-exile, individuals with "uncircumcised hearts" who were smitten by their sins and the sins of Israel and stirred to cry out in confession much like Daniel did in Daniel 9:20+ (ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE HE HAD A CIRCUMCISED HEART FROM DANIEL 1 TO DANIEL 12) and like Ezra did in Ezra 10:1, and like Nehemiah and the people did in Neh 9:2-3 where for a fourth of the day they "confessed and worshiped the LORD their God." I would propose these were those who had humbled their hearts and for whom God remembered His covenant, (and "circumcised" their hearts) not because of any merit in their words and actions but because of His grace and faithfulness to His covenant promises to the patriarchs. And I think it is fair to say that any Jew from the post-exilic days to this very day who confesses their sins and humbles themselves, God would remember His covenant and would "circumcise" their uncircumcised heart. (see Circumcision of the Heart cf Ro 2:29+), And finally these truths will come to full fruition and consummation in the last days when the Jews are tested by the horrible Great Tribulation and they will confess and humble themselves even as described by the prophet Zechariah... (God says) “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. 11 “In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 “The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families that remain, every family by itself and their wives by themselves. 13:1 “IN THAT DAY a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. 2 “It will come about in that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. (Zechariah 12:10-14-note, Zechariah 13:1-2-note) IN THAT DAY the believing Jewish remnant will have their uncircumcised hearts circumcised, Paul affirming that ALL Israel will be saved (ALL THAT PUT THEIR FAITH IN MESSIAH); just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER (SECOND COMING OF MESSIAH) WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB (~HE WILL "REMOVE THE FORESKINS FROM THEIR HEART" Jer 4:4, Dt 30:6+).” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for (A CRUCIAL TERM OF EXPLANATION) the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Ro 11:26-29-note) On God's irrevocable gifts and calling one recalls the great words of Joshua... Joshua 21:45+ Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Joshua 23:14+ “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. I also was acting with hostility against them: They were walking contrary to Me (in their sins) and I was walking contrary to them (in His sending judgment on them in sending all 12 tribes into exile) John