Day 53, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Leviticus 17–20
Staying Clean; a Practical Guide to Holiness
Dogs seem impossible to keep clean, and we may feel that way about children. In vain, we instruct them, “Don’t get your dress dirty,” or “Don’t get any grass stains on those new jeans!” We want them to stay clean. If we have teenage children or minister to them, we may tell them to make sure they have good friends, don’t get into trouble, or violate their curfew.
As Christian adults, God also wants us to stay clean because we can get into trouble. We may return to a sinful lifestyle from which we were saved, be influenced by bad friends or places, or be tempted to return to some addiction.
What can we do to prevent this? We need to establish godly habits like Bible reading, prayer, church or other worship services, and ministering to others. We also need to find better places to hang out and make sure our good friends are committed Christians. It is a good idea to have accountability partners to listen and keep on the straight and narrow path of righteousness. With these new habits, we can avoid slipping back into destructive and abusive behaviors. Then we can experience the continual blessing of the Lord. What else can we do to stay clean?
In today’s Bible reading, the LORD gives specific and practical details in a covenant he made with his people, the Israelites. There are many stipulations, a long list of do’s and don’ts to keep to stay clean or holy. It may seem old-fashioned in our day, but signing a commitment paper to refrain from doing some things but doing other things for the glory of the LORD is an excellent way to help us stay spiritually clean. Many people don’t like to make commitments, but Biblical agreements are pleasing to God. What does the LORD require of Israel? What is acceptable to him?
God wants to be worshipped as the one and only God
Israel’s people carried remnants of their old sinful culture with them when God delivered them from Egypt. They were still sacrificing oxen, lambs, and goats in the fields to a goatGod delivered them from Egypt. They were still sacrificing oxen, lambs, and goats in the fields to a devilish goat idol (Leviticus 17:7). Therefore, God tells them to bring all their sacrifices to the tabernacle to worship only him. If they don’t do it, they will be cut off from the assembly of Israel. This may mean they will have to leave the camp (17:9) or possibly be killed (The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 199).
Have we spent our resources on sinful things in the past? Now, we can use them for God’s glory! After we take care of the family God gave us, we can help others. This might include other family members or friends in need, widows, orphans, foster children, the poor in our community, extra offerings to our church, or donations to other Christian charities. It can be fun to see and experience what God does with our resources.
God wants the Israelites to respect life
He appoints the blood of acceptable domesticated animals to atone [make amends] for the life of the Israelites. Therefore, since the blood of the animal gives it life, it is not to be eaten. And, if any wild animal is hunted for food, they are to drain out the blood and cover it with earth before the animal is cooked and eaten. If they do not obey this directive, again they face the penalty of being cut off.
In the New Testament time of Jesus, he is crucified on a cross as a sacrifice for all people (1Corinthians 11:23-29). We should have great respect for the blood of Christ—he bled to atone (make amends) for our sins. He offers us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life (Hebrews 9:11-14).
God wants his people to behave with respect and sexual purity
They are not to act like the Egyptians or Canaanites (Leviticus 18:2-5, NIV). These are things they did, but the Israelites are not to do them:
- Have sexual relations with their family members or neighbors.
- Engage in homosexuality or have sex with animals.
- Dishonor their parents.
- Worship idols and offer their children to Molech for burnt sacrifices.
These are some of the stipulations for the covenant treaty. If they do these things, God will have them killed! The LORD wants the Israelites to turn away from their evil culture and dedicate their lives to him in righteousness. Like the Israelites, if we don’t want to be influenced by our culture and receive God’s discipline, we must make decisions ahead of time to deal with moral issues.
Do we want to stay clean? Then we should make commitments to not live according to our ungodly culture but to remain pure for the LORD. It was for despicable moral behavior that, metaphorically, the land vomited all the wicked nations out of Canaan, the Promised Land. This is another way of saying that God got sick of their wickedness and expelled them. He warns the Israelites that if they do these things, the land will also vomit them out. If they and any aliens among them keep the decrees of the LORD, however, they will prosper in the land of Israel (Leviticus 20:22-24).Likewise, if we are to stay clean before God, we must regularly read his Word to find out what pleases him and obey him. We must not trample on the grace of God by living immorally. If we do, the LORD will discipline us. We must live holy (clean) lives before our LORD to experience his blessings.
Discussion
What are three significant things the LORD required of Israel?
If we don’t want to be influenced by our culture and receive God’s discipline, what should we do?
How do we regularly stay clean before God so we might be blessed?
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Focus Verse
Leviticus 20:26 (NIV) “You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
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Looking Ahead: Why do we want to stay clean? Because Our Lives are a Tribute to God. Find out what that means and how it affects each of us and our world in our Next Lesson.
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