How many of you out there can’t wait to sit down and read through Leviticus? Wait, I don’t see any hands raised. While surely there are some people who enjoy reading this book of the Bible, for most of us it can feel like a bit of a chore to get through. Lots of instruction for the Israelites about sacrifices, offerings and daily life.

But here’s the thing.

There is a lot of amazing truth we can learn from Leviticus. Not the least of which is this:

God is holy.

God or gods
“We try to reduce God to a size that conveniently fits our plans, ambitions and tastes. God cannot be fit into our plans, we must fit into His. Holy refers to a life burning with an intense purity that transforms everything it touches into itself. Because the core of all living is God, and God is a holy God, we require much teaching and long training for living in response to God as He is and not as we want Him to be.” (Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Leviticus, The Message)

In the book of Leviticus God communicates to the people of Israel in meticulous detail about everything from the ordination of priests to how to treat infectious diseases. Through all of it they are reminded that God, with all of His wisdom, is in charge and that they have a choice of whether they obey Him or walk away from His wisdom.

In Chapter 26 God lovingly and very specifically lays out what the results of their choice of obedience (or disobedience) will be. Living by God’s decrees include an abundant harvest of food, a country of peace, and God’s very presence among them. Rebelling against God will bring the exact opposite. The Israelites have a clear choice and they will reap what they sow.

This is About a Relationship
But this isn’t about a killjoy rule-keeping Creator. It’s about a God who is so desperately in love with His people that He desires to live in communion with them. And because God is holy, their fellowship with Him becomes broken and polluted when they willfully choose an unholy and disobedient path. God doesn’t love them any less but His holiness can’t abide unholiness.

Peterson also tells us, “Back in Egypt (where the Israelites had come from), a great god’s “holiness” meant that only rich and well-connected people could expect any attention. For daily needs, ordinary people stuck to household gods who did what you wanted. In Canaan, where the Israelites were heading, things were worse (if possible): Canaanite gods liked orgies and child sacrifices, just for starters. No wonder the Israelites needed to get clear on what their God meant by holiness.”

God’s instructions and rules were designed to protect the Israelites from falling into the horrific actions that the Canaanites were practicing, like murdering their own children as a sacrifice to their god. God’s instructions to them are about their own welfare as well as His holiness; He wants to protect them and also live among them.

God is in the Neighborhood
One of the most beautiful promises from God to the Israelites, if they choose a holy life, is this:

“I’ll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won’t avoid or shun you; I’ll stroll through your streets. I’ll be your God; you’ll be my people. I am God, your personal God who rescued you from Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I ripped off the harness of your slavery so that you can move about freely. (Leviticus 26:11-13)

The Creator of everything and everyone created us so He could love us and have a relationship with us. He wanted that with Adam and Eve, He wanted that with the Israelites.

He wants that today…with us.

Let’s take some time this week to think about the holiness of God and how we have the opportunity to let our life, thoughts and actions invite God’s Holy Presence to purify and transform us, creating a deeper fellowship with Him.

In the end this isn’t so much about following a list of rules as it is desiring to walk away from impurity and walk closer toward our Holy, loving Father God.