One of the fun things for me is when I encounter a text in Spanish and recognize it is a verse I know–like love your neighbor as yourself. In today’s reading, I noticed for the first time, “Yo seré su Dios, y ustedes serán mi pueblo.” Lev. 26:12. I will be your God and you will be my people. It is contained in the bright and hopeful opening.
This gives way quickly to some dark Revelation style work. Revelation style because it is recount a travesty that has already happened. After a brief reminder of what will happen if the people keep the covenant, this goes into detail about what will happen if they do not keep the covenant. Specifically, exile. And those who are left will be weak and cowardly and those who are taken will suffer. Kind of like exactly what is happening when the author is writing.
But, the promised land itself will be okay. “Entonces la tierra disfrutará de sus años sabáticos todo el tiempo que permanezca desolada, mientras ustedes vivan en el país de sus enemigos.” “Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies.” Lev. 26:34.
Chapter 26, like Revelation, then ends with hope. If you return to obedience, I will return you to your land.
Then Chapter 27 is a weird list of prices for dedicating a person or piece of property to the Lord, and then how to redeem said dedicated people or property. It’s still Leviticus, right?
And that’s it for Leviticus. Not so bad. Well . . .