God promises His people that He will remove the causes of fear so they can rest securely under His watchful care.
In Leviticus 26:6, the LORD gives a promise to His covenant people, declaring, “I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.” (v.6). This declaration comes within a broader context of blessings for obedience to God’s statutes and commandments. The phrase “grant peace in the land” points to a divine tranquility that would settle upon the Israelites in the physical territory promised to them. God’s desire was for them to rest without fear, assuring them they would “lie down” untroubled by threats from invaders or wild animals.
The reference to “eliminate harmful beasts” underscores God’s detailed care over the land itself. During the time of Moses (estimated around the late 15th century to early 13th century BC), the wilderness and surrounding regions could be fraught with danger from predators and hostile forces. By removing such threats, the LORD synchronized His supernatural protection with the natural life of His people. In doing this, the covenant promise extended beyond mere physical safety—there was a sense of shalom (a Hebrew word meaning complete peace and well-being) that would permeate society, in harmony with the spirit of loving one’s neighbor found elsewhere in the law (Leviticus 19:18).
This promise of peace foreshadows the ultimate peace offered in Christ, later revealed in the New Testament. Jesus, described as the “Prince of Peace,” also promised a rest that is not dependent solely on external circumstances (John 14:27). In this sense, God’s pledge in Leviticus of a land emptied of terror finds its fullest expression in the believer’s spiritual rest of salvation and the peace that transcends all earthly anxieties (Philippians 4:7).
Leviticus 26:6 meaning
In Leviticus 26:6, the LORD gives a promise to His covenant people, declaring, “I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.” (v.6). This declaration comes within a broader context of blessings for obedience to God’s statutes and commandments. The phrase “grant peace in the land” points to a divine tranquility that would settle upon the Israelites in the physical territory promised to them. God’s desire was for them to rest without fear, assuring them they would “lie down” untroubled by threats from invaders or wild animals.
The reference to “eliminate harmful beasts” underscores God’s detailed care over the land itself. During the time of Moses (estimated around the late 15th century to early 13th century BC), the wilderness and surrounding regions could be fraught with danger from predators and hostile forces. By removing such threats, the LORD synchronized His supernatural protection with the natural life of His people. In doing this, the covenant promise extended beyond mere physical safety—there was a sense of shalom (a Hebrew word meaning complete peace and well-being) that would permeate society, in harmony with the spirit of loving one’s neighbor found elsewhere in the law (Leviticus 19:18).
This promise of peace foreshadows the ultimate peace offered in Christ, later revealed in the New Testament. Jesus, described as the “Prince of Peace,” also promised a rest that is not dependent solely on external circumstances (John 14:27). In this sense, God’s pledge in Leviticus of a land emptied of terror finds its fullest expression in the believer’s spiritual rest of salvation and the peace that transcends all earthly anxieties (Philippians 4:7).