The Bible reading program I’m on has now reached the book of Numbers. As I begin another new book, I find myself kind of jarred and overwhelmed, a sense of “we’re leaving?? But I just got used to being here!” I recognize that the book of Leviticus is not the most popular book in the Bible, and in past years, even I myself found myself preferring to avoid reading it as much as possible. That’s not the case this time. I’ve been finding myself hungry and wanting to linger longer over each chapter. From time to time I’ve been having impressed on me the importance of God’s law, of reading it, knowing it, and following it. Reading and knowing God’s law is akin to getting to know more of God’s character and getting more intimate with Him. Following His law is akin to walking this out – like walking in the Spirit, a truth from the New Testament.
I’m facilitating a Bible study twice monthly – really, it’s
two distinct Bible study groups but each meets once a month – and I’ve been
using the Bible reading program to steer the focus of that particular meeting’s
Biblical focus. The way the reading shaped up in January, it was kind of easy
to steer the focus, considering that two of the most important passages in all
of Scripture focus on the creation of the universe (Genesis 1) and the fall of
humankind to sin (Genesis 3). Not that there aren’t a plethora of interesting
histories throughout the rest of the book (or the book of Job, its reading which
was also placed in January within the reading program), but, outside of the
time when King David was king of Israel, and when Jesus walked this earth (and
died and rose again), I don’t anticipate there being times where it’s obvious
what passage(s) of Scripture are going to stand out more than the rest. February, particularly the last couple weeks, was certainly the case.
Specifically, this week I’ve been finding myself drawn to
Leviticus 19. Below is the following passage, from verses 1 through 18 (NKJV):
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
3 ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.
5 ‘And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. 7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.
9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
I like it because it is a restatement of sorts of the Ten
Commandments. As many know, the Ten Commandments is another one of those top,
super-important sections in the Bible to remember, along with the creation
story and the fall of humankind to sin. One difference that stands out here in
Leviticus compared with the original statement of the Ten Commandments is that
there is a context, multiple chapters of God talking to His people and giving
them the boundaries of conduct that is acceptable to Him. Because, at this time, the Hebrews were (and still are) God’s people, and He was (and still is) their God, there was a relationship between them. This time reading
through Leviticus, I’m seeing more and more of what it needs to look like to do
relationship with God well.
Typically, I also like to analyze and expound on whatever Biblical
passage I’m posting about, but sometimes it’s just best to let God speak for
Himself and get out of the way. Today is one of those times. I’m also invoking
a passage I expect to come across sometime in the next month:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8, NKJV