The Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament describes the laws given by God to Moses for the people of Israel after God rescued them from the Egyptians. Much of this law reflected hygienic issues that modern medicine copes with efficiently. Some laws related to the sacrificial system instituted by God for the ongoing forgiveness of sins. Fortunately, the death and resurrection of Jesus is the perfect substitute for these imperfect rituals. Quite a deal of Leviticus deals with fairness in the many ways that people interact with each other.
While Christians no longer need to pick through the detail of these laws for daily living, the underlying principles will always remain valid, as summarised by Jesus, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). But even more importantly, said Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
These words to the people of Israel now particularly apply to people who pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ and His church. They have God’s word (the Bible) for guidance and the knowledge of His salvation by grace alone. These must not be dismissed lightly.
Leviticus chapter 26 begins well enough with God promising blessings “if you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments” (v 3).
But things look very bleak from v 14 onwards to 45. We like the kind face of God but we ought to dread the hard face of God if we reject His Son.
14 ‘But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, 15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up. 17 I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. 18 If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will also break down your pride of power; I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.
Leviticus 26:14-20.
And on it goes! But even the angry God demonstrates amazing grace because He is love and His holiness and righteousness are at stake. A remnant always remains. God always keeps His promises.
44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 26:44-45.
It is impossible for a God who loves mercy, grace and justice to overlook sin, especially when He is perfect and holy. He is unable to look upon sin and must condemn it. True love executes perfect justice. The wrath and judgment of God is an inevitable consequence of His holiness. How fortunate are Christians who know and trust the grace of Christ shown at its greatest on the cross and vindicated by His resurrection. We must never take the love of God lightly but obey Him with reverence, lest we incur His wrath.
“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
