We’re still slogging through Leviticus, but the last two days in Leviticus 17 and Leviticus 18 have reminded us that there are relevant applications even in the middle of what appear to be archaic rules. But coming to chapter 19, we don’t even have to try…most of the instruction is clear, important, and applicable. Here are some highlights:

Practical commands:

• Be inefficient for the sake of the poor (verses 9 and 10)
• Don’t steal, deal falsely, nor lie (verse 11)
• Don’t swear falsely by God’s name (verse 12)
• Don’t oppress or rob your neighbor (verse 13)
• Pay workers promptly (verse 13)
• Don’t be mean

Fearing God is a deterrent and motivator for right living.

You shall not curse a deaf man nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God; I am Yahweh. (Leviticus 19.14, LSB)

• Do no injustice in judgment toward the rich or the poor (verse 15)
• Don’t slander (verse 16)
• Treat your neighbor well

You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, and so not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, and you shall not keep your anger against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. (Leviticus 19.17, 18, LSB)

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.” There it is, and fearing God is in verse 14. Love God. Love your neighbor.

• Rise up before the gray-haired and honor the aged. (verse 32)
• Fear your God. (Several times in this chapter)
• Treat the sojourner well (you were sojourners in the land of Egypt) (verses 33, 34)
• Have just balances and just weights – don’t cheat! (verses 35, 36)

Not everything in chapter 19 applies, but a lot of it does! How do we treat people? The Israelites were mistreated as slaves in Egypt, and God says they were “sojourners” there. So don’t mistreat sojourners. How did church-going people miss this with respect to black people?

How we treat people counts. “Religion” is not about ceremony, it’s about being a good neighbor to all. Seems obvious, but we sure miss it. Isaiah didn’t miss God’s judgment against ceremony over behavior:

Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of convocation—I cannot endure wickedness and the solemn assembly. My soul hates your new moon festivals and your appointed times, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; indeed, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, purify yourselves; remove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, execute justice for the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1.13 – 17, LSB)

Neither did James:

If anyone thinks himself to be religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. (James 1.26 – 2.1, LSB)

Let’s let Micah close us out:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6.8, ESV)