“HOLINESS,” the main theme in Leviticus is a lifestyle of godly and morally standards mandated by God. Now Israel-the children of God has been delivered from the hand of the enemy, the Egyptians. While journeying through the wilderness the LORD went before and guided them by day in the pillar of a cloud and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. They were able to travel day and night. Look at God! How does God guide you and me today?
Despite their deliverance from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, bitter water became sweet water for the people to drink when Moses followed God’s instruction to cast the tree into the water and in addition to more miracles. Israel rightfully earned the title of “Stiffnecked” people that refused to listen, grumbled and were ungrateful. Do you and I know people like Israel?
The Ten Commandments are for insight and guidance on how to model a life of HOLINESS. Not only mandated for Israel but, all believers after the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross, his death, burial, resurrection and return to heaven. Therefore a reminder of our accountability to HOLINESS based on the new and better covenant through our LORD and Savior Jesus/Yeshua. Exodus 20:1-2 begins with who God is and He reminds Israel as well as us of what He has done.” Therefore I attest in “Awe… of God’s greatness, absolute power and the LORD God Almighty. Then confirming Him to be “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Now asking, who is God to you? Then what has He done for you?”
Can we brag on God while waiting for Him to turn somethings around for the good of us that love Him? Maybe our love for Christ needs to be “Turned-up” more to HOLINESS like the music when some of us were dancing all night in the club having a “Good time.” That’s the kind of joy we need in the LORD. Now God’s response to what He has done “I brought Israel out of the land of Egypt. The house of bondage.” Next question what bondage has Christ delivered you and me from? I can say, “From putting my will before His will.”
The 10 Commandments (an opportunity for self-reflection) Exodus 20:3-17 are and only listing a few: 1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
During this time camp was set up in the wilderness at Mount Sinai. Then the LORD wanted to resume their journey to the land He promised with “Milk and honey,” but when the people heard the report of the LORD Exodus 33:2 “That God will drive out the Canaanite, Amorite, Hittie, Perizzite, Hivite and the Jebusite, Israel mourned and no man put on his ornaments.” God rebuked Moses again about the “Stiffnecked people.” So they continued camp at Mount Sinia. Now in Leviticus where God continues with His commandments, ordinances of atonement for their sins and more.
The LORD foreknew Israel’s inability to maintain the 10 commandments, other laws and ordinances that He gave them. Therefore different types of offerings were mandated by God with instructions that included the specific unblemished animals to be sacrifice. Examples are: Burnt Offering-The whole offering, except the skin of the animal, was burnt upon the altar and all went up to God as a sweet savor. Peace Offering represented communion and fellowship with God. Sin Offering the non-sweet savor offerings. Trespass Offering as a trespass against the government of God.
Another reason for the need of a Savior is seen throughout Malachi, the last Book of the Old Testament. Even though a remnant among Israel was found that loved and obeyed God. Yet most rebelled. Excerpts of the rebellions' conversations with God through the prophet, Malachi were: 1:2 “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say wherein hast thou loved us?” So God is telling Israel of His love for them in the deliverance of their ancestors from Egypt and more. Yet that meant nothing to most of them. They were unable to see any love God had for them and basically said, “No LORD, You have not shown us Your love.”
A portion of God’s Word to the priest verse 6-7 “O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say Wherein have we polluted Thee? In that ye say, the table of the LORD is contemptible. 2:7-8 For the Priest lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts..
Then portions of Verse 3:13-15 Yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance and walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?” Therefore God had enough of His chosen people which lead to 400 years of silence from Malachi to Matthew. He sent not another prophet/messenger to them during that time.
Israel’s “New way of life” to the receiving of God’s ten and other commandments, His laws, ordinances, God visited their camps, showed them His signs and wonders; and practice the various ritual offerings of slaughtering millions of unblemished, as well as “Polluted” animal sacrifices and the ritual offerings made for the priest prior to the animal sacrifices for the people were all unable to save Israel from their sins. Evidence by God’s silence to His chosen people for 400 years. Yet skipping ahead to 2 Chronicles 20 a great witness of Israel/Judah’s praise, worship and trust in God. The body of Christ can learn how to grow in HOLINESS through our praise and shouting “God’s grace and mercy endurances forever;” and worship by bowing down with our face on the ground/floor.
To reiterate “Bondage” demonstrated the need of deliverance out of the hands of the Egyptians; and the body of Christ need of deliverance from sin to death by Jesus/Yeshua-the Deliverer and the Savior of the World. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.”
Therefore HOLINESS is still mandated by God. Clearly the need for Jesus/Yeshua-God-the Son-the Savior of the world. The Deliverer of mankind from sin to death. Yet it was not until His appointed time. Matthew 1:17 “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Therefore Christ’s appointed time of 42 generations to be born and nurtured. He was prepared for the work of His Father and fulfilled His purpose on earth as our Deliverer/Savior of the world.
Another question: What is/was your “Appointed time” to fulfill God’s work? Our appointed time can be observed by our date of birth-Life; the spiritual date (appointed time) of accepting Christ as Savior-New Life. I was nine years old and no recall of the date. I do remember joining the church to sing in the “Junior choir;" then what about the appointed time of our re-commitment to the LORD to complete His work? Our maturity in Christ develops over a period of time. Therefore we must cultivate our love relationship with the LORD.
Our truth of HOLINESS is built upon Jesus/Yeshua, the Rock of our Salvation. Proofs-Second Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Hebrews 7:26 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ”Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
The “New way of life,” HOLINESS for babes to become matured converts have been made possible only through Christ’s atonement of His body, the unblemished Lamb of God. A onetime sacrifice of Himself on the cross for the sins of all mankind and more. We have the benefits of freedom and liberty through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, burial, resurrection and returned to heaven seated at the Right Hand of God-the Father daily interceding for us. Therefore our relationship with the LORD is built on Jesus/Yeshua, the Rock of our salvation. We grow in HOLINESS through grace, Christ lives in us and we live in Him. Our hearts are connected through His Holy Spirit. Therefore in Christ we thirsts to be more like Him by fellowship in prayer, praise, worship, studying His Word, meditation, quiet time, fasting and surrounding ourselves with folks with like minds. Thanks LORD we are able to maintain a life of HOLINESS because You are HOLY. Then speak to our hearts and refuel us when we fall short. We thank and praise You. In Your Son Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!
