https://esv.literalword.com/?q=leviticus+18
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 5 March 2025:
Leviticus 18, 19 – “I am the Lord.”
In Leviticus 18 and 19, God gives several rules, statutes and commands to His people, and throughout He reminds them, “I am the Lord;” in fact, in these two chapters He repeats this proclamation 21 times. Why should you obey God? Because He is the Lord! Note that all of chapter 18 is dedicated to unlawful sexual regulations. For example, God says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) Why? “I am the Lord [and] it is an abomination.” Homosexuality is listed in God’s prohibitions (next to incest and bestiality), yet today our society celebrates it, and we now see some churches ordaining homosexual clergy. Some might argue that God’s laws concerning homosexuality only applied to Old Testament times, but these prohibitions are clearly reiterated in the New Testament (Romans 1:26-32; Jude 1:5-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:2; and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11), along with many other sexual sins which have long been normalized in popular culture.
God’s commands in Leviticus concerning sexuality are not jut laws for that age but reflect Gods heart and standards for all people at all times, reiterated in many New Testament verses such as the ones mentioned above and Mark 6:17-29, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, Romans 13:9, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Hebrews 13:4, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, and many other passages.
“In many ways, the modern western world is moving further and further from a Biblically guided sexual morality. Yet every person has some sense of right and wrong when it comes to sexual matters. In our modern culture it often appears that the strongest idea shaping the sense of right and wrong is, if it feels good, then it is right for me. This twisted sense of sexual right and sexual wrong has done tremendous damage in our culture, as it has throughout all history. It is important that Christians live according to God’s sense of right and wrong when it comes to sexual matters, and not do according to the doings of the surrounding culture.
In radical contrast to the thinking of much of the modern western culture, Christianity has the important message: sexual activity has profound meaning for people and before God. The broader culture has emptied sex of all meaning and has reduced it to only a way to experience personal pleasure. God’s desire is that people should experience sexual fulfillment not only in pleasure, but in the fulfillment of the highest purpose for sex: as part of what bonds together a man and a woman in a one-flesh relationship in their covenant of marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6).
In a day when more and more people seem to abandon God’s clearly stated standard of right and wrong regarding sexual matters — including many who profess to be faithful Christians — one must ask: ‘If I will not accept God’s standard for right and wrong when it comes to sexual behavior, then what standard or whose standard do I accept?’
Every person has some sense of right or wrong regarding sexual matters but not every person’s sense of right or wrong brings ultimate blessing to humanity, either in general or in individual lives. The sickness and disease associated with sexual immorality is only one obvious way that disobedience to God’s wisdom takes away from life and does not add to it. One might say, ‘if a man does, he shall live by them; if he does not, he may die by them.’ The idea that obedience to God’s commandments is a source of life is found throughout the Bible (see, for example, Ezekiel 18:9; Nehemiah 9:29; Luke 10:28; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12).” (Peter Guzik)
Similarly, God says, “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God (Leviticus 18:21),” yet we have recently seen states in America expand the laws for late term abortion. Concerning this verse, some might argue that the prohibition against giving “your children to offer them” is only about sacrifices to idols or only about children who have already been born, but Exodus 21:22-25 leaves no doubt that God views the unborn child as being just as valuable and entitled to life as anyone else.
The issue is not that God’s laws aren’t clear enough, the issue is we have made light of the sovereignty and holiness of God, and God is equally as offended with “those who practice such things” and those who “give approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32) Silence is consent. ““Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land…. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:2-5)
Leviticus 18:3 – “You shall not do as they do….”
“Seven times in the introduction and conclusion [of Leviticus 18] the Israelites are commanded not to act as the other nations (see 18:3 [2x], 24, 26, 27, 29, 30).” (Rooker) Paul communicated the same message from God: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
Romans 18:4 – “You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.”
God’s people are to stand out as holy due to their uncompromising obedience before the LORD. Obedience isn’t the path to salvation, it is the product and proof of salvation.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 5 March 2025: Today, obey God solely because He is God, and encourage others to do the same. Stand out as faithful to God above all else.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 