“SO KEEP MY CHARGE NEVER TO …” Thoughts from today’s bible readings – March 10th
D.Caudery
Today’s ch. 18 in Leviticus does not make ‘pleasant’ or uplifting reading! God spells out in plain language to Moses that God’s people must not follow the sexual practices they have seen among the Egyptians.(v.3) The LORD tells Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel … you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you…. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.”
[v.2-4]
The law which follows declares the need for integrity in sexual relationships, stressing the sanctity of a marriage commitment . The law then details sexual relationships which were abhorrent in God’s eyes, ones’ that “make” them “unclean.” From verse 7 onwards we read a depressing list of these relationships, the LORD sees them as “depravity.”
[v.17]
It is v.22 which is particularly relevant for us today with the apparent intention in this country (and not only ours) to make this form of sexual depravity legal. The verse bluntly states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Moses is to tell the Israelites this blunt message from God!
The “nations” God is “driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants”
[v.24,25]
The chapter ends, “So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.”
We recall what we read recently in 1st Corinthians. Paul bluntly wrote and told them, “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality … will inherit the kingdom of God” [1 Cor.6 v.9-10]
So let us “keep (God’s) charge never to practice any of these abominable customs.” Instead let us become ever more committed to daily reading God’s word and following God’s “rules” – making sure we do this because weactively love our Saviour and we are looking forward with all our heart to the absolute wonder of being eternally in his kingdom.
