By Ken Blue
# 3 and 4.
In Leviticus 26 we find the five successions of judgment promised on Israel and their land if they refused to obey God and walk in His Law. Their history is one sad failure after another. In verse 21 and 22 we see that the judgments increase in severity. This is a promise of judgment upon the land, and attacks on the people by wild beast.
“And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.” (Lev. 26:21-22).
This judgment comes under the prophetic ministry of Elisha. It is in 2 Kings 1-10:31. Not only did Elisha call for a drought on the land, God sent wild beast to afflict Israel. Early in his ministry we see this judgment. “And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.” 2 Kings 2:24. The lack of rain and the parched earth brought death to many in Israel. The apostasy of Israel and their continued rebellion against the Word of the Lord brought to fulfillment Leviticus 26:21-22.
The forth judgment resulted in greater oppression by Israel’s enemies, and the occupation of their land with lengthy and persistent sieges. (Lev. 26:23-26), “ And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.”
This judgment covers the period of 2 Kings 10:32-16:20. Session four continues up to the Assyrian and Babylon captivities. “ And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.” Leviticus 26:23-26.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.