Leviticus 26:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He professes: 'If ye do according to my statutes, and keep and do my commandments, I will give you rains in due season, and the earth shall yield its plants, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit; And the threshing of the bread shall reach unto you the gathering of the grapes, the picking of the grapes shall reach the sowing, and you shall eat your bread to the full, and you shall dwell safely in your land; I will send peace upon your land, you shall lie down, and no man shall trouble you, I will drive the fierce beasts out of your land, and the sword shall not pass through your land’ (Lev. 26:3-6). Can you comprehend the care and grace He provides to those who are sincere, diligent, and hold a reverence for the law? He promises to shower them with timely and abundant rains, continuous fruitfulness, an ample supply of bread, and above all, peace. For the genuine observer of the law, and the devoted lover of what pleases God, the enjoyment of heavenly blessings is rightly bestowed. The spiritual and divine comfort that descends like rain upon the soul of the righteous enriches them, transforming their spirit into fertile ground capable of yielding abundant and varied fruits of piety before God, while peace reigns supreme, ensuring continual prosperity. Thus, Paul notes, ‘and the peace of God, which is above all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts’ (Phlp. 4:7). Therefore, one who receives such divine gifts from God will live a life of tranquility and peace since all adversities will diminish—the enemy will relent, all opposition will collapse, the devil’s attempts will falter, and every fear will dissipate. This same promise is echoed in Deuteronomy, where the Lawgiver, with slightly altered words, states: ‘If you will hearken to my commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give your land rain in due season, early and late; and you shall gather your bread, and your wine, and your oil; and I will give grass in your field for your cattle, and you shall eat and be filled’ (Deuteronomy 11:13-15). Therefore, a devoted adherence to the law will instill within us the skill and discipline to fulfill God's desires, and the quest for the promised rewards will render the pursuit of virtue more tolerable.

The inherent desire to fulfill God's other commandments is evident, and in His grace, the Lord pledges to provide the Hebrews with blessings in their economic, civic, and familial lives as a result of their obedience to Him. The verses in question, along with verses 5 and 6 that follow them, allude to the prosperity of their undertakings. Obedience to the Lord, which is a prerequisite for the promised rewards, entails adhering to His positive laws, as expressed in the command: if you walk in My commandments and diligently observe My decrees. This is not limited to a few commandments, as some might infer from the preceding directives against idol worship and a call to honor the Sabbath and His sanctuary but includes all of God's commandments imparted at Sinai.

Distinguishing between commands and commandments may present challenges; the former may refer to regulations of ecclesiastical and civil life, while the latter encompasses moral precepts and more. Nevertheless, both terms collectively signify the entirety of divine legislation concerning moral, spiritual, communal, and familial conduct. To walk in the commands implies acting in accordance with them, allowing them to guide one's life. Adhering to the Lord's commands and observing His decrees serves as testament to one's loyalty and fidelity to Him. Among the blessings promised for such faithfulness, the primary assurance given to the people is the fertility of the land: I will send you rain in its season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall bear their fruit. The productivity of the land, as promised by the Lord, hinges on the timely provision of rain. This well-timed rain consists of the early and late rains (Deuteronomy 11:14). The early rains commence in Palestine post-autumn equinox, coinciding with the wheat and barley sowing period, continuing steadily from mid-October through late December, then gradually diminishing following extended dry spells. Late rains occur in March, prior to the winter harvest and during the planting of summer crops that are ready by October, lasting only a few days. During the summer months, rainfall is absent in Palestine but is compensated for by abundant dew at night. However, the divine promise of irrigation through rain will only be effectively and uniformly fulfilled if the Hebrews maintain a righteous relationship with God and His commandments, and thus they can only hold hope for fruitful endeavors in agriculture and cultivation under these conditions. Only then will the land yield its produce, producing the expected harvest, and the native trees in the fields, which require no human care, will bring forth their fruit abundantly.