Leviticus 19:1-37
Q.1. How did God describe Himself? In what way was Israel to acknowledge God’s holiness? How was He profaned? – (Lev.19:1-8)
Before all else, God is to be revered as holy – You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev.19:2). The way Israel was to express this in their lives, was to respect their parents and to celebrate the Sabbath – Every one of you shall reverence his mother and father, and you shall keep My sabbath’s; I am the Lord your God (Lev.19:3). Our respect for God will flow on to respect for our parents, and for all others in authority. They were also to shun idols (Lev.19:4). Since they were sinners, there was a need for sacrificial offerings. These were to be made by the Priesthood in the prescribed way because God is holy (Lev.19:5-8). Israel belonged to God. They were to be distinctly different.
Q.2. What guiding principle did God give so that the Israelites would live in harmony with one another? – (Lev.19:9-18)
Since God had created and chosen the Israelites, He was the Lord their God (Lev.19:4, 10, 12, 14, 16). Their uniqueness was to be seen in the way that they related to one another in interpersonal relationships. This included the way they treated the needy, the foreigner, and defenceless (Lev.19:9-18). The guiding principle for all Israelites was – you shall love your neighbour as yourself; I am the Lord (Lev.19:18). They should be different, not just out of fear of punishment, but because He was their Lord. This conduct was also required by all believers in the New Testament because it sums up all the other commandments (c.f. Rom.13:9; Gal.5:14 also Mt.19:19; Mk.12:31; Lk.10:27). It was known as the Royal Law (Jms.2:8).
Q.3. How were God’s people to be distinct from those of the surrounding nations? Does this still apply? – (Lev.19:26-37)
The surrounding nations placed few limits on satisfying their own desires (Lev.19:20-21; 29). However, Israel’s Lord was holy, so any breach of His commands required them to offer – … a ram for a guilt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him … before the Lord for his sin he has committed, and the sin which he has committed will be forgiven him (Lev.19:21-22). The other nations did not have the wise precepts of the Scriptures to give instructions regarding their agricultural pursuits, or honesty in business practices (Lev.19:19, 23-25, 35-37). They did all kinds of hideous things to their bodies. These were denounced by God. – You shall not make cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord (Lev.19:28). The people of Israel were to refrain from consulting anyone but the Lord for guidance (Lev.19:26, 31). Their society was to show respect for the aged (Lev.19:32). Foreigners were to be treated with dignity – You shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt … (Lev.19:34). Paul urged Timothy to – be diligent to present yourself approved by God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (2 Tim.2:15). Jesus warned about the Last Days, that – many will fall away … and – because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold (Mt.24:10 & 12). In keeping these laws, Israel was to reflect the holiness of God. The more ignorant that people are of the teaching of the whole Bible, the less they will be distinct from the ungodly of the world.