Leviticus 18-19

If you’re using Mark Robert’s “Five Day Bible Reading Program,” you find yourself in the book of Leviticus this week.

Since there is very little narrative in the book and it’s filled with so many statutes, rules, and regulations for Old Testament Israel, it’s easy to get bogged down in the text and just skim through it or skip it altogether.

Although New Testament Christians don’t live under its laws, skipping Leviticus would deprive us of some wonderful lessons and Bible principles applicable for all ages.

Of course, the great theme of the book is “You Shall Be Holy.” Jehovah often repeated variations of this command–”And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy” (Lev. 20:26).

The apostle Peter quotes this passage exhorting New Testament Christians to “be holy in all your conduct,” because we serve a Holy God (I Pet 1:15-16).

However, there is something else striking about Leviticus and especially these two chapters. When I opened my Bible this morning, I noticed a phrase I had underlined from previous study. “I am the Lord.”

When I typed “I am the Lord” in my Bible program I learned that it is used 21 times in these two chapters. 45 times in the book of Leviticus. And 165 times in Old Testament Scriptures.

The Hebrew word rendered “LORD” is “Yahweh,” and is often translated as “Jehovah,” God’s memorial name (Ex. 3:15). His name is holy. Authoritative. And to be honored, respected, and obeyed.

Our age today is much like the pagan cultures of the Old Testament as well as the hedonistic Greco-Roman world of the New Testament. Ethics, morals, personal responsibility, and holy living is dismissed for everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (Jud.21:25). Situation ethics, secularism, and the “no absolutes” mantra has replaced Biblical morality.

These two chapters detail God’s instructions, commandments and prohibitions. They convey His Word in these areas:

• Sexual purity
• Modesty
• Homosexuality
• Bestiality
• Idolatry
• Worship
• Sacrifices
• Benevolence
• Honesty
• Swearing
• Profaning God’s name
• Justice
• Love
• Holiness
• Witchcraft

This section closes with Jehovah saying, “Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:37).

Leviticus, as well as all of the Old Testament was revealed and preserved for us today for a purpose. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15:4).

“I AM the Lord,” not only speaks to God’s identity, but His authority. Israel was to behave differently from the pagan nations because they belonged to the Lord. And because the Lord said so.

When you consider the corruption of our culture today with all of its perversion, ungodliness, and bizarre lifestyles, we are also challenged to be different. Set apart. And holy. Because we belong to the Lord.

God’s very nature, character, and identity is epitomized in His holiness. Like God’s people, Israel, we should be identified as holy people because He is holy. We are called with a holy calling (2 Tim. 1:9). Commanded to be a “holy nation” (1 Pet. 2:5). And challenged to produce the fruit of holiness in our conduct (Rom. 6:22).

Understanding this statement, “I AM the Lord” compels us to submit to His will. To trust Him. Respect Him. And to obey Him because of who He is. And because He said so.

This attitude will find its application of Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1-2.

“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity” (J.B. Phillips’ translation).

When you face a difficult command in the Bible, allow Jehovah’s words to ring in your ears–”I AM the Lord.”

When the world tries to squeeze you into its own mold remember you belong to Him who said “I AM the Lord .”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman