Holy Living
Leviticus 26:1–13
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, both the Catholic Church and various Protestant groups have been rocked by and ridiculed because of the unholy behavior of leaders.
God will not bless unholy behavior. However, God blesses His people when they pursue holiness. A pursuit of holiness requires the practice of daily spiritual disciplines by God’s people and behavior that follows biblical discipleship.
Faithfulness (1–2)
Faithfulness to God necessitates behaviors to be avoided and exclusive worship and service. Each believer should recognize that we are safer discussing God’s faithfulness rather than our own faithfulness.
God gave the people specific instructions about idols, telling them not to make them, set them up or place them in the land. Not only were these gods “worthless,” they would serve as distractions in the new land God would give them.
The issue is so important that God signed His name — “I am the LORD your God.”
Blessings (3–8)
My wife and I became Christians during the so-called Jesus Movement. I purchased a book titled “The Jesus’ Person Pocket Promise Book” — a collection of Scripture promises. I have never seen a book with the title “The Jesus’ Person Pocket Command Book,” yet most of the promises of Scripture are conditional and connected to commands.
Obedience is one evidence of our faithfulness to God. The obedient life is the blessed life. God’s message to the people, given through Moses, was this: If the Israelites followed God’s statutes and observed (kept) His commands, God promised to bless their land with rain, food, an abundant grape harvest, security, safety and victory over enemy forces.
He also promises peace to the land. This relates to the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom describes holistic well-being that encompasses every area of life. This kind of peace “surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) because it comes only from God. Peace comes through our appropriate worship of God.
Fellowship (9–13)
God liberated the Hebrews and brought them out of Egypt so they could live in freedom. God promised to meet their needs and make them fruitful in the sense of procreation. Moreover, God would confirm the Mosaic covenant with them.
Some of the most precious promises of God occur in this passage. God promised His presence with the people. They would be His people. To emphasize this promise, God once again signs His name: “I am the LORD your God.”
In the Old Testament, God desired a residence — namely the tabernacle (see Ex. 25:8 and Ex. 40:34–25). In the New Testament each Christian experiences the indwelling fellowship of God (see John 4:17, Col. 1:27 and 1 John 4:15). Personal holiness is simply us conforming our will and way to Christ and reflecting Him in everything that we do.
Jehovah God is not a self-serving God. He works in our lives for our benefit and His glory. Fellowship with God is possible because He placed His presence among believers. God will not reject His people. He will walk with us in every circumstance of life.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Additional information included from Lifeway’s Quicksource, a companion resource for teachers of the Explore the Bible curriculum series.
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
