This study deals with the rest of Lev 19, and at first glance, these look like a series of disparate commands. In order to understand these verses and not get sidetracked or distracted by other observations, it's important to remember the big idea of Lev 19 -- God is holy and His people are to live in a way that reflects His holiness. We saw this in the previous studies, and this same principle is important here too. A useful question to bear in mind while reading these verses is, "what does this command show us about the people of God, and God Himself?".
(A) Holy Commands: Distinguishing Daily Living (Lev 19:19-25)
Lev 19:19 contains 3 commands with something in common. They were commanded not to mix their cattle, seeds in the fields, and the cloths that they wear. What is the significance? This command, when obeyed, would be something very obvious in their fields and their livestock, and certainly a reminder when they chose their clothes. This is how God intended for His people to live. The idea of the purity and holiness of God also extends to the way they rear their livestock, plant their crops and what they wear. How then, can we apply this verse today, considering how we don't keep cattle or have fields today? Remember that these laws are different from the prescriptive ones given to the priests in the first few chapters. These form the civil laws that govern the nation of Israel, and is meant to affect the way they look to outsiders. We may not practice these in the same way today, but the idea and essence is the same. The way we live is meant to be a reflection of our beliefs. The people would be reminded of God's characteristics as they went about their daily chores. The nations around Israel would also see them living lives that were distinct!
The next 3 verses (Lev 19:20-22) gives a set of specific instructions to a particular instance of sexual sin. Let us take a look at these verses carefully:
| How is the woman described? (Lev 19:20) | What happens if no distinction is made? (Lev 20:10) | What should be done instead? (Lev 19:21-22) |
|---|---|---|
| This was a set of commands pertaining to the: What's the significance of these? This was a woman with no rights. Remember that in their day, as a slave she might have no financial security, or with no societal standing. |
In Lev 20:10, we read that the consequence of adultery is death for both the man and the woman. This was the standard consequence. | However, in this case, compensation and atonement was possible through the guilt offering. The man shall make full restitution to the slave master. The man was also told to bring guilt offering to the Lord, and he shall be forgiven.
The point of this is to distinguish that even the most unjust act of violence against another human being, is first and foremost against God himself. He is the one that dictates proper sexual relations and is the chief offended party in this. The man comes before God to address his sin. |
Before we get distracted by other questions that naturally arise from our reading of these verses, let's consider what these verses mean in its context. After all these appear sandwiched between verses on not mixing their livestock, fields and cloths (Lev 19:19), and verses on planting when they enter the Promised Land (Lev 19:23-25). Firstly, remember this key principle -- that these laws were given to distinguish Israel from the other nations. Secondly, Lev 20:10 tells us that adultery does lead to death, so God is not being inconsistent and allowing one form of sexual sin and not another.
These set of commands spoke about community living, and showed the Israelites how they ought to relate to one another. This law is to protect one who has no rights, no legal protection, no family, and basically nothing because she is a woman and a foreigner. This law is a protection law for slaves. In this context, slavery is not tied to race, but is more similar to our bankruptcy laws which actually serve to protect by setting a limit to how much trouble one can get into. Hence, here, the command is given in order that there is protection for the foreign woman. What kind of society does this describe? This is a society where provisions for protection of slaves are in place but the seriousness of adultery is underscored. What does this mean for us?
In Lev 19:23-25, the Israelites were given a set of commands pertaining to their planting when they enter the Promised Land. Notice how certain God is that they would enter -- "when you come into the land" and not "if you come into the land". When they finally entered this Promised Land, they were to plant and regard the fruit of their trees as forbidden for 3 years (Lev 19:23). In the fourth year, "all its fruit shall be holy" and offered to the Lord (Lev 19:24). They could only eat it in the fifth year (Lev 19:25). Only in the 5th year could they eat it.
This might sound really strange and impractical to us. Wouldn't the most practical thing be to establish a system so that the nation could be self-sufficient. In their obedience, it served as a reminder that the land is not their land to start with. The 3 years function as a way of purging, and the offering of first fruits in the 4th year served as a reminder that the harvest came from their covenant with God, not through fertility rituals offered through Baal. This was also a reminder that holiness involves total consecration of a man’s life and labor to God’s service. What kind of a people is this? Though they were not yet in the Promised Land, it was a given that they will enter this land. Even in the instructions, there is promise and hope. At no point does God say that they will stay in the desert. But when they finally enter the land, obedience in faith may look weird, but they were not obeying just any God. They were obeying the one who provided and led them to this Land. They had seen God at work, and obeying Him in order to reflect His holiness would matter, because they knew Him and His character.
(B) Holy Commands: Denying Ritual Norms (Lev 19:26-31)
This next section contains a series of things they ought not to do in order to distinguish themselves from their neighbours. Lev 19:26a contains 2 rituals which other people used to attain knowledge and power. People tried to attain power characteristics of animals through drinking their blood and sought to obtain knowledge of the future through interpreting omens or telling fortunes. Israel was not to be like them. God’s people are to walk by faith and in accordance with his general will declared in the law when God is silent.
There were other things that were prohibited -- cutting of hair around the temple, cutting the beard, cutting your body, tattooing your body. These were not for fashion purposes, but were all related to mourning rituals of the pagans. God’s people are to mourn differently.
Lev 19:29-30 was given to address cult prostitution in temple worship practiced by the neighboring nations. This is why Israel was commanded not to offer their daughters as prostitutes. God had different intentions for sex. Sex is reserved for marriage, and as Exo 22:16-17 shows us, sex outside of marriage means that a price is to be paid (with either marriage or a monetary compensation). In Lev 19, these laws were reiterated again to remind the people of how they are to live and what He has designed for them. In fact, some could easily twist the commands in Exo 22:16-17 for financial gain. Cult prostitution on a deeper level, is taking what God has intended only for the confines of marriage to be used transactionally in worship of other Gods. Taking something intended by God and using it in idol worship.
(C) Holy Commands: Relating To Others (Lev 19:32-37)
This final section was given to show Israel how they ought to relate to others in the community. Lev 19:32-34 focuses on the elderly and foreigners. Both are vulnerable (physically weaker for the elderly, and without rights for the foreigner) and defenceless. Why were they to do honor the elderly? Out of a fear for the Lord (Lev 19:32). We might resonate with this because we are Asians, but whatever the case, the Levitical laws given by God have principles that transcend cultures. We obey because God has said so, not because of cultural norms. The people of Israel were to treat the sojourner with love, because they too were once "strangers in the land of Egypt" (Lev 19:34) and were freed only because of God's grace. Lastly, in doing trade and work, they were to also be just (Lev 19:35-36). They could be tempted to cheat the foreigners or be dishonest in business.
What kind of a society would this look like, if the Israelites obeyed it all? They would have a distinct way of doing business and treating sojourners. It would also be welcoming to those around. They would also be concerned with justice and protecting the rights of the vulnerable in their midst, and not utterly concerned with maximising their profits.
What, then can we learn about God, a God who desires for His people to live in this way? This is a God that is pure and holy, but is also interested in justice and loves through upholding justice. This section is bookended by verses 19 and 37. The people of God were reminded once more that they were to observe the statutes of God and to obey the rules, because God is their God, and He is holy. This is the key to understanding Lev 19. This chapter is not merely a list of commands to check off. For many of us, we are also inclined to pass it off as commands with no real use for us today. But these verses remind us that God is concerned with his people reflecting his holiness. Are we concerned with marking our lives with his characteristics today? Perhaps we have also allowed things not of God to become normalised in our lives, and some of these have come in subtle ways. As we use Lev 19 to reflect on our own lives, let's also turn our eyes to gaze at this God. God brought them out of Egypt then gave them these laws because they were now His people. In the same way, through Christ, He has delivered us from our sins, and now we have the hope and encouragement to live as a holy people.