Leviticus 26:40-46

Leviticus 26:40-46

[40] If they shall confess  their iniquity,  of their fathers,  with their trespass  against me, and that also they have walked  contrary  unto me; [41] 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;  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,  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 am the LORD  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 am the LORD.  [46] These are the statutes  and judgments  and laws,  which the LORD  made  between him and the children  of Israel  in mount  Sinai  by the hand  of Moses. 

What does Leviticus 26:40-46 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Confession springing from humility would restrain God"s hand of discipline on Israel ( Leviticus 26:40-41). Apostasy and consequent judgment would not invalidate God"s promises to Abraham ( Leviticus 26:42-45). Discipline would be a stage in God"s dealings with Abraham"s seed, but He would not reject His people or cut them off as a nation. These verses are a strong witness to the unconditional nature of the Abrahamic Covenant.
"When Israel was in Egypt and was humbled under the hand of Pharaoh, God remembered his covenant with Abraham and delivered them ( Exodus 2:24). Similarly, in the future when Israel would humble themselves, God would remember his covenant and deliver his people." [1]
"The New Testament shows that the blessings and curses are still applicable to Israel. Because the people rebelled against the LORD and his Messiah, judgment would fall once again on the holy city of Jerusalem; many of the threatened curses recorded in the law would again fall on the nation ( Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21). The wars, famines, and scattering of the people announced by Jesus all harmonize with the curses of Leviticus 26. Scholars who take a "replacement" view of the covenant promises made to Israel are satisfied that such curses applied to the nation after the death of Jesus, but they do not also see any fulfillment of the blessings for believing Jews at any time in the future, apart from sharing in the spiritual blessings of the church. There is more to it than that. Biblical scholars must also consider that if only the judgments of God-and not the blessings-are poured out on Israel, then the purpose of the judgments would be lost, and God would be unjust. Romans 11:29 makes it clear that the covenant was not invalidated by Israel"s unbelief. They suffered the severest of punishments, but those who turn to the LORD will find salvation ( Leviticus 11:26). God can bring nations to repentance and may very well do so with surviving Israel before the end of the age as part of the new creation. The message of the apostles to Israelites (at first) was to repent so that the seasons of refreshing might come ( Acts 3:19)." [2]
Leviticus 26:46 concludes all the legislation of the Mosaic Covenant that began in Exodus 25 , though more specifically it summarizes the material in Leviticus. What follows in chapter27 is supplementary.
"In order to prevent sin and bring about salvation, God warns people that he will bring judgment upon them for unbelief and disobedience, both in this life and in the life to come." [3]