Leviticus 26:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He declared: ‘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 recognize the profound care and blessings He offers to the sincere, the diligent, and those who honor His laws? He promises timely rains, unending productivity, abundant provisions, and peace. For the vigilant observer of the law and the devoted follower of God’s will, the opportunity to partake in the richness of divine blessings is justly bestowed. This spiritual and heavenly comfort, falling upon the soul of the righteous like nourishing rain on fertile soil, brings profound joy, empowering them to yield endless and diverse fruits of devotion to God; and peace envelops them, ensuring lasting prosperity. As Paul states, ‘and the peace of God, which is above all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts’ (Phil. 4:7). Hence, one who receives such generous gifts from God will experience a life marked by tranquility, as adversaries will retreat; all threats will diminish, the devil's assaults will be futile, and fears will vanish easily. We find a similar decree in Deuteronomy, where, with slight changes in phrasing, the Lawgiver expressed: ‘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’ (Deut. 11:13-15). The guidance of the law will cultivate within our hearts the discipline and organization necessary to fulfill God’s desires, while the pursuit of these promised rewards will make the effort towards virtue more bearable.

In the verses being examined, as well as in the subsequent verses 5 and 6, prosperity in economic matters is emphasized. The obedience to the Lord, which is a prerequisite for the promised rewards, involves adherence to His commandments: if you follow My commandments, you shall observe and carry them out. This does not refer to a selective adherence to commandments, despite the focus on prohibitions against idolatry, keeping the Sabbath, and honoring the sanctuary; rather, it encompasses all of God's directives communicated at Sinai.

The distinction between commands and commandments can be complex; the former is often interpreted as specific statutes of church and civil life, whereas the latter refers to moral precepts and other rules. Regardless, both terms collectively represent the entirety of the Lord’s legislative instructions pertaining to moral, church, civic, and family life. To walk in His commands indicates living according to His guidance, demonstrating adherence and loyalty to the Lord.

Among the rewards promised for such fidelity, the people are assured of agricultural abundance: I will provide you with rain in its season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall bear their fruit. The fertility of the land is contingent upon the Lord's provision of timely rain. This timely rain, often referred to as the early and late rains (Deuteronomy 11:14), begins in Palestine after the autumn equinox, coinciding with the wheat and barley planting season. It continues almost uninterrupted through much of October until late December, becoming less frequent thereafter. The late rains occur in March, just before the winter harvest and during the sowing of summer crops, lasting only a few days.

During the summer months, Palestine typically experiences no rainfall, instead benefiting from abundant dew at night. The fulfillment of God's promise concerning the irrigation of the land through rain will occur correctly and consistently only if the Hebrews maintain a proper relationship with God and His law. Thus, they can expect the fruitful yields of their agricultural efforts; the land shall produce as anticipated, and wild trees growing untended in the fields will also bear fruit readily.