do, keep, and dwell

Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.

Leviticus 25:18

Two active commitments are described in this verse for Israel to accomplish under the Law. There is a promise for them if these commitments are made and followed.

1. “Do my statutes.” The word “do” means “to bring to accomplishment.” It is a completion, not just a performance of a task. God expected Israel to commit to a complete obedience to His Law. The word “statutes” is specific to the Leviticus Law referenced in the context of this promise. These written ordinances were expected to be performed exactly as described in their entirety.

2. “Keep my rules.” The idea of “keeping” involves “guarding” or “treasuring” what God commands. It gets to motivation. God expects not mere rote performance, but respect, reverence, and personal investment in protecting the covenant commitments with and from His people. What they kept (the rules) were all the specifics… they could not just pick and choose. All of God’s Law needed to be precious as Israel performed what God asked.

There was a promise to this short restatement of the covenantal commitment. The promise was that Israel would “dwell securely”. This meant that they could live in peace. It meant that God would give them a true home in the Promised Land. When Israel first heard this promise, they were wandering in the Sinai desert under punishment for sin. But keeping covenant with God (something they always were expected to do and eventually failed at every attempt, by the way) would see a reward of stability and security.

How does this apply to Christians? We aren’t Israel. We aren’t stuck in a desert waiting for a better home. We find all of this covenant fulfilled in Jesus. He “did” what God demanded. He accomplished perfect obedience (Romans 5:19). Jesus fulfilled the Law completely (Romans 8:3-4) so that we might be seen as those who did what God demanded and who kept all of God’s rules. And in our Savior we now dwell securely as His Holy Spirit lives in us (Colossians 3:17-19). This culminates in ultimate security: God dwelling among us and with us (Revelation 21:3).