Be Holy Series

Theme: You Shall Be Holy

Text: Leviticus 19:1-18

THE LORD IS GOOD and HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.

Introduction:

Leviticus is not a narrative book. It is a book of rituals and law codes. Holiness is a great concern of Leviticus. Leviticus chapters 17-26 are called the Holiness Code. Leviticus 19 opens with a call to holiness. Moses was commanded to tell the entire assembly to be holy (19:1-2).

Leviticus 19:2: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.’ This instruction was not to do something, but to be something. Not an act but life. The sentence "I am the Lord" is repeated fifteen times in this chapter. God calls our attention to the truth that he is the LORD, the ultimate lawmaker, we have to give an account for our lives. There are 10 commandments and 603 laws in the OT. Here, the Six out of the Ten Commandments are directly addressed.

Through Holiness we do not earn personal salvation but identify with the attribute of God. It presents a holistic vision of a community. It bridges the faith, morality, and community life under God's holy mandate. It inspires us to cultivate such values in our own lives and communities. Holiness increases through specific actions.

Today, we will meditate on how we can demonstrate holiness: through our relationships, through our communications, and through our occupations. We can even put it in this way: Holiness at Home, holiness at office, and holiness at public.

Let me begin.

1. Holiness at Home (Leviticus 19:3-8)

In the context of community living, the Scripture emphasises the profound importance of interpersonal relationships woven within God's law. The directives given reflect a moral framework where love, respect, and justice are paramount.

Holiness is not a moral improvement or behavioural modifications but its sharing God's communicable attributes. Holiness is primarily Godward. Israel is called to be holy through obeying God’s precepts (Leviticus 11:44–45; 20:7–8, 24–26; Numbers 15:40–41, Deuteronomy 14:2, 21; 26:19; and Exodus 19:6). The Decalogue laws on revering parents keeping Sabbaths and not making or worshiping idols are repeated and reemphasised.

His holiness was expressed through the tabernacle in the wilderness. It was like an electrical power plant, have to handle it carefully and fearfully, mishandling will hurt and burn you (2 Samuel 6:1-10). If we approach a high voltage power line carelessly, without the necessary preparations, we will be hurt, and burnt.

Holiness is demanded from us in our associations, relationship and in our bonds of Life. There is no distinction between “religious” and “secular” concerns. Everything in human life matters to God — what we eat, how we do business, who we sleep with, how we care for the land, our relationships with family, neighbours, and strangers. (Kathryn M. Schifferdecker, OT Professor).

Leviticus 19:3 “Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father…” Please note that there is a huge difference in this command compared to Exodus 20:12, and Deuteronomy 5:16. The order is reversed as Mother and Father instead of Father and Mother.  ‘The mother is put first to give her due respect because most commonly neglected’ (Poole). Honor for parents is an essential building block for the stability and health of all society. If the younger generations are constantly at war with older generations, the foundations of society will be destroyed. Holiness starts at home with mother. In Ephesians 6:1, Paul says that this the commandment with a promise.

2. Holiness at office (Leviticus 19:9-10,15)

Everything is matter of Holiness. Every kind of workplace, say it, the business, government, academia, medicine, agriculture, and all the rest—have a distinctive role to play. Yet all of them demand holiness.

The Israelites maintain the poor in part by letting them gather unharvested portions of fields and vineyards. This teaches us about God’s heart for the marginalised and the importance of generosity.

We are employed in different firms, sectors, institutions and organisations. We meet with people who come to our office of different levels, status and needs. We have higher authorities, subordinates and colleagues. We have office assistants, sweepers and those who do menial jobs. Some are good at knowing the rules, regulations, privileges and offers available in the employments. Many may be ignorant of many things and lost all the benefits.

A holy life of a believer demands social justice and to become a voice for the voiceless. Social bias is a heavy matter (Leviticus 19:6). Biased stand, and testimony are wrong and a biased stand is more dangerous. Standing idle in times of troubles of a neighbour and not volunteering to help is a crime.  It is true of our social relationships at work, and civic life.

When you play the role of arbiter, how do you execute the justice in favour of the rich and mighty or in favour of the poor and weak or JUSTICE as IMPARTIAL and balanced act?