Leviticus 26:5Meaning & 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 see the care and kindness that He offers to those who are faithful and diligent, guided by reverence for His laws? He assures them of timely rains, unending harvests, and plentiful sustenance, along with divine peace. For the true guardian of the law and the devoted seeker of what delights God is rewarded with the richness of heavenly blessings. The spiritual and celestial comfort rains down upon the soul of the righteous, much like a bountiful harvest, bringing joy and enabling a fruitful life of piety before God; this peace adorns them, ensuring continuous well-being. As Paul expressed, "and the peace of God, which is above all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts" (Phil. 4:7). Thus, one who has received such generous gifts from God will live a life undisturbed by conflict, as adversaries will give way—every opposition will crumble, the attacks of the adversary will be rendered powerless, and all fears will dissipate easily. A similar promise is echoed in Deuteronomy, where the Lawgiver 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" (Deut. 11:13-15). Therefore, a sincere commitment to the law cultivates in our souls the ability and discipline to fulfill God's desires, while the pursuit of His promises renders the journey towards virtue a joyful endeavor.

If taken at face value, this could seem misleading, for indeed, the souls of the wicked consume their provisions voraciously and seek fulfillment, while the righteous may sometimes even go without. Paul exemplifies this, declaring, “Even to this day we endure hunger and thirst, and nakedness and beatings” (1 Cor. 4:11), and he also mentions, “In hunger and thirst, often in fasting” (1 Cor. 11:27)—how then does Solomon assert that a righteous person, through eating, satisfies the hunger of his soul? Just as we gained insight regarding the rain, we should similarly interpret the reference to bread in this context, for it is the bread from heaven, the Word of God, Who declared, ‘I am the living bread’ (John 6:51); it is consumed solely by the righteous, to whom it is said, “Taste, and see how good the Lord is!” (Ps. 33:9). What hope do sinners, burdened by numerous transgressions, have of partaking in such goodness?

The person devoid of righteousness is never truly at ease, perpetually anxious and troubled, swayed by every fleeting notion and the deceptions of humanity. Truly righteous is the one who observes God’s law, dwelling securely in their homeland, ruling with reverence for God and submitting their own desires to His service; their assurance is evident as they implore God, ‘Establish me, O Lord, in Thy words’ (cf. Ps. 118:133). One who is grounded, secure, and steadfast in their foundation possesses a solid faith, for their structure is not built on sand, but is founded on solid rock (cf. Matt. 7:24-27).