Year 7, Day 108: Leviticus 19

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Leviticus 19 feels like a random chapter with a bunch of random catch-all laws.  There are even some repeat laws, such as eating flesh with blood in it.  While I think it is true that this is a reasonably random chapter in effect, I think there is actually a binding thought in purpose.  We need to go back to the thoughts around the word holy.

I’ve discussed often in Leviticus that the word holy means separate or different.  Leviticus 19:2 gives us the binding thought for this chapter.  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  This chapter is a reminder that the laws here are meant to demonstrate that God’s people are different than the world around them.

What I love about this chapter is that there is a such a focus on righteous behavior.  It’s almost like a slap in the face to the rest of humanity.  How is it that we know that God’s people are different than the rest of the world?  We know because they are fair and treat each other with respect!  If you think about that for a little while, you’ll see what I’m saying.  Human beings are naturally self-centered and seeking the desires of their own hearts.  Fairness is often the furthest thing from our mind unless we are the ones feeling the unjustness.  To be holy, all we need to do is live a live that thinks about other people!  That really is a scathing remark about the human race.

Look at some of the examples that we read about in this passage. 

• We are to use fair scales in the market.  In other words, human beings like to cheat when it comes to economics.
• We are to look upon the sojourner with love.  In other words, human beings tend to be cliquish and treat our own kind with preference. 
• We are to honor our parents and elders.  In other words, young people typically don’t value those in power above them until they become old themselves.
• We are not to turn to mediums or false gods; we are to worship God alone.  In other words, human beings are superstitious people who will follow just about anything that promises to work in the moment.
• We are to be concerned about the sexuality of others, especially those in positions of less power than ourselves.  In other words, we often use our positions of power to get what we want from a sexual perspective.

Do you see what I’m saying?  When reading down that list, any normal person would say that this is a rather sane list and the world would be a better place if we followed these rules and rules like them.  These rules just make sense from the perspective of society.

The question, then, is why do we need them printed?  If they make sense, why does God need to tell us these rules?  The answer is short.  While these rules make sense philosophically, we don’t instinctually practice them.  In most of our lives, if we live off of our instinct we are always looking out for ourselves.  The only time that we follow these rules and rules like them is when we make a concerted effort to do so.

That says something about us as human beings.  It is why the laws for any country are thick and numerous.  Human beings need governance.  We need laws to affect our natural behavior.  We need laws and rules to tame the self-centered person within and make us capable of living in society.  The point of this chapter is that God wants to take it one step further.  God doesn’t just want us living in society, He wants us living in a righteous society.  That’s the point of this chapter.

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