Leviticus 20:22-26

EXHORTATION TO FAITHFULNESS 20:22-26
TEXT 20:22-26

22

Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all mine ordinances, and do them; that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out.

23

And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

24

But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Jehovah your God, who hath separated you from the peoples.

25

Ye shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by bird, or by anything wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have separated from you as unclean.

26

And ye shall be holy unto me: for I, Jehovah, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be mine.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:22-26

463.

This seems to be a very appropriate time to call for faithfulness to God and His laws. Why?

464.

These laws were a preparation for living. Where? When?

465.

If God described the land as flowing with milk and honey it would indeed be so. Was this adequate reason for obedience to His laws? Discuss.

466.

How could Israel make themselves detestable or make your souls abominable by bird or by anything wherewith the ground teemeth?

467.

God really wants a set apart people. Is this true today? Discuss.

PARAPHRASE 20:22-26

You must obey all of My laws and ordinances so that I will not throw you out of your new land. You must not follow the customs of the nations I cast out before you, for they do all these things I have warned you against; that is the reason I abhor them. I have promised you their land; I will give it to you to possess it, It is a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God who has made a distinction between you and the peoples of other nations. You shall therefore make a distinction between the birds and animals I have given you permission to eat and those you may not eat. You shall not contaminate yourselves and make yourselves hateful to Me by eating any animal or bird which I have forbidden, though the land teem with them. You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and I have set you apart from all other peoples, to be Mine.

Leviticus 20:22-26 There is a temporal advantage in keeping the statutes and ordinances of God. The land of Canaan will be yours if you do and it will vomit you out if you do not. Cf. Leviticus 18:28. This is an oft repeated word in Leviticus and the rest of the Pentateuch because Israel was so dull of hearing, or perhaps the allurements of sin were so near. Again and again the several distinctive differences are emphasized: (1) you have one God; they have many; your God is alive and responsive, theirs are dead and dumb; (2) you have one wife with whom you have sexual relationsin this relationship is the highest happinessthey live to satisfy their own lustsbut such lust creates its own appetite and is never full. Self-destruction and misery are in their way; (3) you have a different diet; it will keep you strong and healthy; you will live a long and happy life. They eat to their own self-destruction. I created you and the food you eat, won-'t you please follow my menu?

In these waysand othersyou are separated from other nations, i.e. sanctified or holy, not that you are by nature any better than other people, but you could be an example of what I want for all mankind. You belong to Me. I love you deeply and dearly; if I didn-'t I wouldn-'t take such an interest in all of your life.

FACT QUESTIONS 20:22-26

476.

What was the temporal advantage in obeying Jehovah?

477.

Name and discuss the three distinctive differences of Israel to other nations.

478.

In what ways was Israel sanctified or holy?