The four seasons of God
Leviticus 26:1-13
There are four seasons a year, which is a result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and because of this, it causes the change of weather, ecology and hours of the day. Yet it is the Lord Jesus Christ who created the Heaven, the earth and the four seasons; for all things were made by him and for him, according to Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3.
Since everything was made by Jesus Christ, this is an indication that HE allows all things to happen and change according to HIS desire. Since Jesus can do whatever he desire, HE allows four weather seasons which are, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and each seasons has its own purposes. There are also four spiritual seasons of God for HIS saints. These four seasons of God are set for those who positioned themselves in the righteousness of God and keep his commandments. Once we remain righteous before the Lord we can expect to see the four seasons of God in our lives. To understand the four seasons of God we will look at the book of Leviticus chapter 26:1-13. But before we look at the four seasons of God, let’s understand the text.
The name of the book Leviticus is derived from the name of the tribe of Levi, and the Levi are the tribe that supplied the priests for Israel. It was written by Moses after he received revelation from God to speak to God’s people. The purpose of the book of Leviticus summarized in the command on how to “consecrate oneself and be holy, because God is holy” in Leviticus 11:45-46. The major theme of Leviticus is holiness. God's demand for holiness in His people is based on His own holy nature. Holiness must be maintained before God, and holiness can only be attained through a proper atonement, in Leviticus 26:1-13.
Understanding the text
We will find that has chapter 26 begun that the Lord instructed Moses what the children of Israel must do in verse 1-3. Then in verse 4-12 Moses showed them what God will do. This chapter is a solemn conclusion of the main body of the Levitical law. Now this chapter contains a general enforcement of all those laws by promises of reward in case of obedience on the one hand, and threatening of punishment for disobedience on the other hand.
We find in the text that God made promises to all who walk in his status. The Hebrew word Walk is ‘haw-lak’ and means,accompany, act, to go, behave self, be conversant. And the word Statues there is shaw-mar’ and means, preserve, beware, being careful or guard. The children of Israel had to keep the Lord’s commandments. The Hebrew word COMMANDMENTS is ‘mits-vaw’ and means,Obligation, Terms, Law, Precept and Tradition. Therefore, as the children walk and keep God’s statues and commandments, then God was going to release several promises and these promises are the four seasons of God. The first season is;
1. The season of INCREASE (verse 4-5)
The former and latter rain, in the two seasons of the year in which rain usually fell, and when the land of Israel, which required rain, not being watered for years God had to first grant increase. Notice God said Former and latter rains, which are normally in March through March. The text says, ‘I will give you in due season.” Hebrew word ‘Give’ is ‘naw-than’ and means, Put, Added, Allow, Appointed, Assigned, Certainly give, Dedicated, Ascribe, Assign and Bestow.
Not only will God give increase to the children of Israel but he will give it to them in “due season”, which means in the appointed time. The former and latter rain accords in March-May. And it is during this time that God was going to release the blessing to Israel and to us. God will release his increase in THREE AREAS;
A. Abundant supply of food, including rain. ‘The rain’, Rain season is January-
March. The second area was;
B. The grain harvest was finished by early to mid-June. ‘The land’, Grain
harvest is in the month of February. And the third area was;
C. The grape harvest which begins two months later. ‘The trees’, Grape harvest
is in May. The second season of God is,
2. A season of PEACE (verse 6-8)
During this season God is going to grant us peace. Our enemies will fall before us by the sword. The Hebrew wordPEACE in verse 6 is ‘shaw-lome’ and means, Completeness, Soundness, Welfare, Favorable, Ease, Good health, Perfect, Happy and Prosper. Here is where no animals or human adversaries would be successful against Israel or us. And any enemy that would try to attack Israel would be sword by one hundred to one. There will be such great peace for us. Even when you are in a situation that seems burdensome it will not bring you down or have you fall into distress.
Let’s pay attention to verse 8 clearly, as it speaks of a Divine blessing. These remarkable promises clearly have a supernatural element. Because the principle behind that particular blessing is remarkable, look at the ratio of five to one hundred (so that’s one person to twenty) and the ratio of one hundred to ten thousand means, (one person to one hundred). This can be done because; Gideon's 300 defeated 135,000 Midianites, in Joshua 7:7 or the entire chapter also Jonathan and his armor bearer alone defeated a Philistine army in 1-Samuel 13 & 14. God will fight the battle for us every when there seems to be more against us, God will release strong peace and protection. The third season of God is;
3. A season of God RELEASE (verse 9-10)
During this season of release Israel would be eating their old harvest and the new one is coming in. For us during this season God will give us abundant blessings and increase in all things. God will bring forth the old because of the new. So all the old things that was lost or taken away, will come back and added to the new things we have.
At the same time God will have respect for his people and will do two things: Made them or us fruitful the Hebrew word fruitful is ‘paw-raw’ and means, (To bear fruit. Bring forth. Cause to be). Second, God will Multiply us, the Hebrew word multiply there is ‘raw-baw’, and means (To grow, be great, make much or many, to increase). Third, the Lord will, Establish HIS covenant, the Hebrew word establish is ‘ber-eeth’ and means (Confederate, Divine constitution given to Israel with promises on condition of obedience and penalties for disobedience.Promises to multiply their seed, give them the land of Canaan, and make them a blessing to the nations).
The children of Israel received this release because they had positioned themselves at the right place and they had allowed God to do HIS work after they followed HIS obedience. We too can receive this release once we positioned ourselves in righteousness, commitment to God and follow HIS commandments. Once this is done God will certainly grant us his abundant release. The four and last season of God is;
4. A season of God’s GLORY (verse 11-13)
A season of God’s glory is required in everyone’s live. Once we experience the glory of god once we will always have a desire to feel his glory. The glory of God was a promise to the children of Israel which they have received and it’s a promise that John wrote about in John 1:14 the Word was made flesh, and Made His Tabernacle among us.
We will find that a season of God’s glory is also the presence, manifestation, and indwelling of God in human nature. The text says, ‘I will set my tabernacle’ and ‘I will walk among you’. I will WALKthe Hebrew there is ‘haw-lak’ and means, Come, Go, Accompany, Proceeded and Live.
To the end God saved the promise for last and said that Israel would enjoy a special relationship with HIM. When Israel walked after the Lord, these blessings were real; one example of this is when the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon and saw a nation so blessed, she knew it had to be of God (1 Kings 10:1-13). God now promised Israel through his covenant that His presence will be in the midst of Israel and HE would set his tabernacle among them and walk among them and or us. After walking with us HE will be our God and we will be his people.
In every church and or ministry we know when God is with us, or when HIS glory is manifested among us, because the people are revived, there will be healing, and joy. But most importantly there will be God's INCREASE, PEACE, RELEASE AND HIS GLORY. Understand that God wants us to experience all the four seasons, but in order for us to have an experience we must keep HIS commandments and HIS status. Do you want to experience these four seasons or which seasons of God do you want to experience? Seek HIM earnestly and wait for him to release it in your life. Not only is my desire for you to experience one of these four season in your life, but for you experience all four of Gods season, His season of Increase, Peace, Release and His Glory.
Leviticus 26:1-13
There are four seasons a year, which is a result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and because of this, it causes the change of weather, ecology and hours of the day. Yet it is the Lord Jesus Christ who created the Heaven, the earth and the four seasons; for all things were made by him and for him, according to Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3.
Since everything was made by Jesus Christ, this is an indication that HE allows all things to happen and change according to HIS desire. Since Jesus can do whatever he desire, HE allows four weather seasons which are, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and each seasons has its own purposes. There are also four spiritual seasons of God for HIS saints. These four seasons of God are set for those who positioned themselves in the righteousness of God and keep his commandments. Once we remain righteous before the Lord we can expect to see the four seasons of God in our lives. To understand the four seasons of God we will look at the book of Leviticus chapter 26:1-13. But before we look at the four seasons of God, let’s understand the text.
The name of the book Leviticus is derived from the name of the tribe of Levi, and the Levi are the tribe that supplied the priests for Israel. It was written by Moses after he received revelation from God to speak to God’s people. The purpose of the book of Leviticus summarized in the command on how to “consecrate oneself and be holy, because God is holy” in Leviticus 11:45-46. The major theme of Leviticus is holiness. God's demand for holiness in His people is based on His own holy nature. Holiness must be maintained before God, and holiness can only be attained through a proper atonement, in Leviticus 26:1-13.
Understanding the text
We will find that has chapter 26 begun that the Lord instructed Moses what the children of Israel must do in verse 1-3. Then in verse 4-12 Moses showed them what God will do. This chapter is a solemn conclusion of the main body of the Levitical law. Now this chapter contains a general enforcement of all those laws by promises of reward in case of obedience on the one hand, and threatening of punishment for disobedience on the other hand.
We find in the text that God made promises to all who walk in his status. The Hebrew word Walk is ‘haw-lak’ and means,accompany, act, to go, behave self, be conversant. And the word Statues there is shaw-mar’ and means, preserve, beware, being careful or guard. The children of Israel had to keep the Lord’s commandments. The Hebrew word COMMANDMENTS is ‘mits-vaw’ and means,Obligation, Terms, Law, Precept and Tradition. Therefore, as the children walk and keep God’s statues and commandments, then God was going to release several promises and these promises are the four seasons of God. The first season is;
1. The season of INCREASE (verse 4-5)
The former and latter rain, in the two seasons of the year in which rain usually fell, and when the land of Israel, which required rain, not being watered for years God had to first grant increase. Notice God said Former and latter rains, which are normally in March through March. The text says, ‘I will give you in due season.” Hebrew word ‘Give’ is ‘naw-than’ and means, Put, Added, Allow, Appointed, Assigned, Certainly give, Dedicated, Ascribe, Assign and Bestow.
Not only will God give increase to the children of Israel but he will give it to them in “due season”, which means in the appointed time. The former and latter rain accords in March-May. And it is during this time that God was going to release the blessing to Israel and to us. God will release his increase in THREE AREAS;
A. Abundant supply of food, including rain. ‘The rain’, Rain season is January-
March. The second area was;
B. The grain harvest was finished by early to mid-June. ‘The land’, Grain
harvest is in the month of February. And the third area was;
C. The grape harvest which begins two months later. ‘The trees’, Grape harvest
is in May. The second season of God is,
2. A season of PEACE (verse 6-8)
During this season God is going to grant us peace. Our enemies will fall before us by the sword. The Hebrew wordPEACE in verse 6 is ‘shaw-lome’ and means, Completeness, Soundness, Welfare, Favorable, Ease, Good health, Perfect, Happy and Prosper. Here is where no animals or human adversaries would be successful against Israel or us. And any enemy that would try to attack Israel would be sword by one hundred to one. There will be such great peace for us. Even when you are in a situation that seems burdensome it will not bring you down or have you fall into distress.
Let’s pay attention to verse 8 clearly, as it speaks of a Divine blessing. These remarkable promises clearly have a supernatural element. Because the principle behind that particular blessing is remarkable, look at the ratio of five to one hundred (so that’s one person to twenty) and the ratio of one hundred to ten thousand means, (one person to one hundred). This can be done because; Gideon's 300 defeated 135,000 Midianites, in Joshua 7:7 or the entire chapter also Jonathan and his armor bearer alone defeated a Philistine army in 1-Samuel 13 & 14. God will fight the battle for us every when there seems to be more against us, God will release strong peace and protection. The third season of God is;
3. A season of God RELEASE (verse 9-10)
During this season of release Israel would be eating their old harvest and the new one is coming in. For us during this season God will give us abundant blessings and increase in all things. God will bring forth the old because of the new. So all the old things that was lost or taken away, will come back and added to the new things we have.
At the same time God will have respect for his people and will do two things: Made them or us fruitful the Hebrew word fruitful is ‘paw-raw’ and means, (To bear fruit. Bring forth. Cause to be). Second, God will Multiply us, the Hebrew word multiply there is ‘raw-baw’, and means (To grow, be great, make much or many, to increase). Third, the Lord will, Establish HIS covenant, the Hebrew word establish is ‘ber-eeth’ and means (Confederate, Divine constitution given to Israel with promises on condition of obedience and penalties for disobedience.Promises to multiply their seed, give them the land of Canaan, and make them a blessing to the nations).
The children of Israel received this release because they had positioned themselves at the right place and they had allowed God to do HIS work after they followed HIS obedience. We too can receive this release once we positioned ourselves in righteousness, commitment to God and follow HIS commandments. Once this is done God will certainly grant us his abundant release. The four and last season of God is;
4. A season of God’s GLORY (verse 11-13)
A season of God’s glory is required in everyone’s live. Once we experience the glory of god once we will always have a desire to feel his glory. The glory of God was a promise to the children of Israel which they have received and it’s a promise that John wrote about in John 1:14 the Word was made flesh, and Made His Tabernacle among us.
We will find that a season of God’s glory is also the presence, manifestation, and indwelling of God in human nature. The text says, ‘I will set my tabernacle’ and ‘I will walk among you’. I will WALKthe Hebrew there is ‘haw-lak’ and means, Come, Go, Accompany, Proceeded and Live.
To the end God saved the promise for last and said that Israel would enjoy a special relationship with HIM. When Israel walked after the Lord, these blessings were real; one example of this is when the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon and saw a nation so blessed, she knew it had to be of God (1 Kings 10:1-13). God now promised Israel through his covenant that His presence will be in the midst of Israel and HE would set his tabernacle among them and walk among them and or us. After walking with us HE will be our God and we will be his people.
In every church and or ministry we know when God is with us, or when HIS glory is manifested among us, because the people are revived, there will be healing, and joy. But most importantly there will be God's INCREASE, PEACE, RELEASE AND HIS GLORY. Understand that God wants us to experience all the four seasons, but in order for us to have an experience we must keep HIS commandments and HIS status. Do you want to experience these four seasons or which seasons of God do you want to experience? Seek HIM earnestly and wait for him to release it in your life. Not only is my desire for you to experience one of these four season in your life, but for you experience all four of Gods season, His season of Increase, Peace, Release and His Glory.
STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD