Leviticus 26:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He states: ‘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 generosity and grace He extends to those who are honest, diligent, and respectful of the law? He assures them of timely rain and continual harvests, an abundance of food, and above all, peace. For those who faithfully uphold the law and fervently seek to please God are rightfully blessed with a wealth of divine favors. The spiritual and heavenly comfort that rains down upon the righteous soul enriches it as fertile soil, fostering joy by enabling the production of boundless and varied fruits of faith before God; peace enriches this state, ensuring lasting prosperity. As Paul notes, ‘and the peace of God, which is above all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts’ (Phil. 4:7). Therefore, those who are graced with such divine gifts from God will lead lives untroubled by conflict and filled with tranquility, as their adversaries retreat—every threat vanishes, the devil's assaults become futile, and all fear dissipates effortlessly. This same promise is reiterated in Deuteronomy, where the Lawgiver states, with slight variations in wording, ‘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). Thus, a dedication to the law instills in our souls the understanding and discipline to fulfill God’s will, while the pursuit of these promised rewards makes our virtuous efforts joyful and fruitful.

You will lie down in safety, and no one will disturb you. In Proverbs, Solomon remarks, When you lie down, you will be free from fear, and when you sleep, it will be a time of joy, without dread of sudden terror or the assaults of the wicked (Proverbs 3:24-25 (LXX, cf. CSB)). Solomon spoke of a righteous and wise man, and it is also stated in the blessing, You will lie down, and none will trouble you. If you are righteous, no one can disturb you, and you will have no fear if you revere God, for a righteous person is as steadfast as a lion. It is written about David, I will not fear the terrors of the night (Psalms 90:5), and he adds: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; whom shall I dread? (Ps. 26:1). Furthermore, if an army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid (Ps. 26:3). Do you see the resolve and courage of a soul that upholds the divine ordinances?

Following this, He proclaims, I will remove the fleshly beasts from your territory. These carnal entities are neither purely evil nor wholly good; they occupy a middle ground, as the animals are voiceless yet spiritually corrupt: they are described by the apostle as the evil spirits of the air (see Eph. 6:12). This is the wicked creature that Scripture identifies: The serpent was more cunning than all the beasts of the field (Gen. 3:1). It is this malicious beast that God vows to expel from our land if we adhere to His commandments. Would you like to know of another foul creature? Consider the words of the apostle Peter: Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him with unwavering faith (1 Pet. 5:8-9). The prophet Isaiah speaks about beasts thus: lionesses and lions, adders and flying serpents; they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, which will be of no benefit to them (Isaiah 30:6). Might those who hold to a literal interpretation think he speaks of actual animals? How could lionesses and lions, or adders and flying serpents, bear treasures upon the backs of donkeys and camels? Yet the prophet, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, enumerates the hostile forces of lesser demons—those who place their deceptive riches upon the coarse souls, hinting at those who seek only bodily pleasures, which he figuratively likens to camels and donkeys. To those beasts is not granted the soul that fears God, which prays to the Lord, saying, Give not unto the beasts the soul that confesseth unto Thee (Psalm 73:19 (LXX, cf. CSB)).

He declares, I will drive away the ferocious beasts from your land, and swords will not pass through your territory. Many conflicts invade our land when we neglect to follow God’s law and fail to carry out His commands. Let everyone reflect upon their own heart or conscience, examining their own thoughts: as our earthy nature is tested by the spirit of corruption, or overrun by wrath and frenzy, or attacked by venomous serpents, or pierced by envy’s blades, or entangled in pride, so too do fierce battles rage within us. The flesh wars against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh (cf. Galatians 5:17). Thus, the gravest conflicts occur internally. However, whoever observes divine mandates and subjects their flesh to the service of the Holy Spirit, maintaining and fulfilling God's commandments, will either be less impacted by these conflicts or emerge victorious. For God will cast them out from His domain and will not permit them to intrude upon the soul of the righteous.