Day 12 - Leviticus 19 - Holiness

Connecting to the Larger Story

Moses delivered the law of God to the people as they prepared for their entry into the promised land. These laws covered a wide range of aspects of human life - how to treat one another, how to make repayment for wrongs, how to show honor to God, and how to live peaceably in community.

Important to Note

1) This chapter is a part of the Holiness Code and lays out many of the things that God's people are expected to do in order to lead holy lives. The repeated refrain concluding many of the commands is "I am the Lord (your God)."  The implication is that the people are to act in holy ways because they are set apart for the Lord who is truly holy. The reason for them to seek to live in accordance with holy ways is because they belong to the one, true, and holy God. This distinguishes them from many of the people who will surround them, and the excuse that "everyone else is doing it" is not valid for them as people set apart as holy for the Lord.

Thoughts for Reflection

1) What does it mean to be a people set apart for God? Why is important that we lead holy lives?