“And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.”
My Notes
What Does Leviticus 26:31 Mean?
This is deep into the covenant curses of Leviticus 26 — the consequences for persistent national rebellion. God says He will devastate their cities, desolate their sanctuaries, and refuse to accept their worship ("not smell the savour of your sweet odours").
The devastation of sanctuaries is the most theologically significant threat here. The places where God's presence dwelt — the tabernacle, eventually the temple — would become desolate. Not just the secular cities, but the sacred spaces. God would withdraw His presence from the very places designed to house it.
"I will not smell" is a rejection of their offerings. Even if they continue to offer sacrifices, God won't receive them. The external forms of worship continue, but God has checked out. This is the worst possible scenario for a covenant people: the rituals keep happening, but God isn't there.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever gone through the motions of worship and felt that God wasn't 'receiving' it? What was behind that?
- 2.What's the difference between worship that God inhabits and worship He refuses to 'smell'?
- 3.How do you ensure that your spiritual life isn't just ritual performance but genuine encounter?
- 4.Does this verse frighten you or motivate you — and what does your response reveal?
Devotional
The most terrifying thing in this verse isn't the ruined cities. It's the rejected worship. "I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours" — you can keep burning incense, keep offering sacrifices, keep going through every motion of religion, and God says: I'm not receiving it.
Imagine going to church, singing the songs, saying the prayers, performing the rituals — and God is absent from all of it. Not because He doesn't exist, but because He's chosen not to inhabit what's become empty form. The building is intact. The routine is intact. God is gone.
This is what spiritual desolation looks like from God's side. It's not that He gets bored with worship. It's that worship without obedience isn't worship — it's performance. And God would rather let the sanctuary stand empty than pretend the performance is authentic.
Is your worship being received? Not: is it happening? Not: are you showing up? But: is God there? Because according to this verse, there's a version of religious life that goes through every motion while God refuses to accept it. And the reason is always the same: the life behind the worship doesn't match the words of the worship.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And I will bring the land into desolation,.... The whole country of Judea, cities, towns, villages, fields, vineyards,…
As “the book of the covenant” Exo. 20:22–23:33 concludes with promises and warnings Exo 23:20-33, so does this…
After God had set the blessing before them (the life and good which would make them a happy people if they would be…
I will not smell, etc.] Cp. Isa 1:11 ff.; Amo 5:21 f.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture