Central
to the teaching of Leviticus is its emphasis on the holiness of God
and His purpose of making His people holy: “Consecrate yourselves and
be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep My decrees and follow
them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy … You are to be holy to Me
because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations
to be My own” (Leviticus 20:7-8, 26).
We are commanded to “be holy.” We have the Lord’s promise that He will
make us holy – holy to the Lord, different from those who live
according to worldly standards. Jesus was perfectly holy, yet He did
not defend Himself when He was falsely accused by evil men (Mark 14:55-61).
He “confessed our sin”, took our place, bearing the punishment for our
sins. We must not be ashamed to confess Him – “Yes, I am with Jesus.
Yes, I am His disciple” (contrast Peter’s denial in Mark 14:66-72). there is judgment for those who destroy themselves by going the world’s way rather than the Lord’s way (Proverbs 6:32-33).
What God did for His people, Israel, was very great. There is a striking contrast between their slavery in Egypt and their abundance in the promised land. God had multiplied His blessing upon them, just as Jesus did when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). If the blessing is to be maintained and increased, we must honour the Lord. We must cry to Him for blessing: "Hear my prayer, O God, listen to the words of my mouth." We must call upon Him with faith: "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me" (Psalm 54:2,4).
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