Leviticus 18:24-30

SOLEMN WARNING 18:24-30
TEXT 18:24-30

24

Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;

25

and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26

Ye therefore shall keep my statutes and mine ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you

27

(for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled);

28

that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

29

For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

30

Therefore shall ye keep my charge, that ye practise not any of these abominable customs, which were practised before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am Jehovah your God.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 18:24-30

409.

The defilement of Israel by the ways, customs, or life style of Egypt and Canaan was deeper than ceremonial uncleanness. Discuss.

410.

The land of Canaan was sick and ready to vomit. What a graphic figure of speech! Discuss the cause and effect.

411.

Evidently obedience was the one quality God wanted most. Is this a fair appraisal?

412.

What is meant by the word abomination?

413.

Why refer to the land as sick and not of God as such?

414.

Excommunication was a real danger. Was it ever practiced? Discuss.

415.

Why repeat so often the phrase, I am the Lord your God?

PARAPHRASE 18:24-30

Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for these are the things the heathen do; and because they do them I am going to cast them out from the land into which you are going. That entire country is defiled with this kind of activity; that is why I am punishing the people living there, and will throw them out of the land. You must strictly obey all of My laws and ordinances, and you must not do any of these abominable things; these laws apply both to you who are born in the nation of Israel and to foreigners living among you. Yes, all these abominations have been done continually by the people of the land where I am taking you, and the land is defiled. Do not do these things or I will throw you out of the land, just as I will throw out the nations that live there now. Whoever does any of these terrible deeds shall be excommunicated from this nation. So be very sure to obey My laws, and do not practice any of these horrible customs. Do not defile yourselves with the evil deeds of those living in the land where you are going. For I am Jehovah your God.

COMMENT 18:24-30

Leviticus 18:24-30 This chapter begins and ends with a reference to the sovereignty of God. The whole cause of sin is a failure to recognize and obey the will of God in interpersonal relationships.

The word defile or defile yourselves is a most provocative one. There is a deeper meaning than mere ceremonial uncleanness. Disobedience to our conscience produces a stain on the soul which only repentance and sacrifice can remove. When such response does not take place and the sin is repeated the defilement or stain becomes darker and deeper. The one large lesson we get from the rejection of the Canaanites is that they were responsible for their actions! One man for one woman was a law given by God in Eden. In the beginning it was not so are the words of our Saviour (Matthew 19:8). Whereas Jesus-' words refer to the words of Moses such a law was known and either kept or rejected long before Moses recorded it.

Personal failure produces national disaster! God does consider man in both ways. The land refers in its context to geography that will one day be a national possession. Does God yet hold the country as well as the individual responsible for his life style? We have no reason to believe otherwise.

The kind of immoral conduct here described and practiced by the Canaanites produced an indigestible ingredient in the national body. The whole body was full of nausea. The body swallowed such conduct, but it offered no life or energy to the bloodstream. It lay as lead in the stomach. It decomposed and could not be assimilated. It must be removed! The laws of self-preservation will take over. On a national scale, such conduct is self-destructive.
God is saying through Moses: the present inhabitants of Canaan offer a graphic object lesson. Either learn from their mistakes and prosper, or repeat their sins and suffer as they are.

FACT QUESTIONS 18:24-30

418.

Show the similarity in the beginning and ending of this chapter.

419.

Discuss the deeper meaning of the word defile.

420.

How can we be sure the Canaanites were responsible for their actions?

421.

Show how personal failure produces national disaster.

422.

Is this generation about to be vomited out of the national body of America? Discuss.

423.

Perhaps God does not recognize nations as such today. Discuss.