Leviticus is a fascinating book. The details of the law, the application of the covenant, the worship of Yahweh - all laid out in this sometimes troubling, often times misunderstood book of the Bible. The whole book is a summary of the law God laid out for His people in the old covenant (i.e. before Jesus came and fulfilled that). And the reason for this law and God's desire for the Israelites to obey it is never said more clearly than in chapters eighteen and nineteen. As I read those chapters this morning, it was in the first verses that I saw this reason:
In just the following chapter, Leviticus 19, the phrases "I am Yahweh" or "I am Yahweh, your God" are used nineteen times, always following a commandment. God calls His people to holiness because He is holy. And even though Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law and covenant when He came as the perfect sacrifice, we live today in the new covenant, the covenant of grace. But we still must be pursuing holiness. Just because we do not live in Old Testament times and we no longer have to offer sacrifices of animals and grain does not mean that we should not still be worshiping and obeying God. We are not bound to follow the law but instead are free to follow the law. We still pursue holiness because of a holy God. We were not saved to lawlessness but righteousness. We seek to do what is right, because He is Yahweh.
"Yahweh spoke to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am Yahweh your God. Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs. You are to practice My ordinances and you are to keep My statutes by following them; I am Yahweh your God. Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am Yahweh." (Leviticus 18:1-5 - emphasis mine)The thing that fuels the rules is God's holiness. The first thing Moses was to tell the people before a long list of commands was: "I am Yahweh, your God." That is why they were not to "follow the practices of the land of Egypt." Then again, after commanding them to practice His statutes, we read, "I am Yahweh your God." And finally there is one more repetitive command followed by a last repetitive statement. "I am Yahweh." Within five short verses, Yahweh is said four times. We can learn from this. We worship and obey God, the Israelites worshiped and obeyed God because He is the self-existing, self-sufficient, omnipotent Yahweh. He deserves worship, and He certainly deserves complete obedience. What was the reason for the old covenant that God made with His people to obey His commands? God and His holiness.
In just the following chapter, Leviticus 19, the phrases "I am Yahweh" or "I am Yahweh, your God" are used nineteen times, always following a commandment. God calls His people to holiness because He is holy. And even though Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law and covenant when He came as the perfect sacrifice, we live today in the new covenant, the covenant of grace. But we still must be pursuing holiness. Just because we do not live in Old Testament times and we no longer have to offer sacrifices of animals and grain does not mean that we should not still be worshiping and obeying God. We are not bound to follow the law but instead are free to follow the law. We still pursue holiness because of a holy God. We were not saved to lawlessness but righteousness. We seek to do what is right, because He is Yahweh.