Leviticus 26:25

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant." Lev 26:25

It may be reverently said that God does not deal carelessly with his own covenants. He does not throw them away, and take no further heed of their operation. In the sense of looking after his word and observing its issues he may be described in Old Testament language as a "jealous" God. This great principle operates in nature as well as in grace. We see it in agriculture as certainly as we see it in what may be termed spiritual human conduct. We are not only punished because we do not pray, we are just as much punished because we do not plough. If a man will not sow in the seedtime he shall not reap in the harvest, and not having anything to reap, or any fruits to garner, he will know the meaning of the mystic words, "I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant." If a man will not gather water in the time when the river is full he shall surely die of thirst in the season of drought. Who quarrels with this law of nature? Who says this is partial or unjust? We feel that the operation of such a law in nature is one of the guarantees of society. The covenant is here represented as a living thing having a quarrel against those who trifle with its spirit and claim. The covenant does not seem to avenge itself, but a sword from heaven is let down to smite those who have dealt unkindly and unjustly with the angel of God. This is a very solemn but a very grand and ennobling view of life. We know how true it is that the spirit of love cannot be outraged without the whole life suffering evil consequences. We also know that the spirit of honesty cannot be offended without a great fear and shaking passing through the whole constitution and framework of human relations. It is by such aids as these that we raise ourselves into a conception of spiritual realities and issues. Peace can only come by righteousness. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Discard theology, deny every proposition which theologians have ever asserted, and turn away from all prescribed religious forms, yet still there remains the indisputable fact that evil-doing is followed by tumult and pain, or if not so followed, a state of heart is revealed which is simply past feeling, and under whose judgments and actions human society is no longer safe. Whenever a sword smites us we should inquire how we have been dealing with God's covenant. Whenever the grave opens at our feet we should put solemn questions to ourselves regarding our treatment of the covenant of life. Whatever helps to deeper religious consideration is a true agent in the education of mankind.