Leviticus 19  The Lord tells Moses to speak once again to the congregation, beginning with these words.. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."

15 more times in this chapter the Lord repeats these words.. " I am the Lord your God" or "I am the Lord".  The "Lord" - Jehovah=the existing One;  the eternal and one true God.. is setting apart these people as sacred.. holy.  Their lifestyles would be different than that of the world. Their government would be different, their culture would be different.. because they belonged to Jehovah who is HOLY!

Because they were His people.. the people of the One true God.. their lives were meant to reflect His holiness. They were commanded to:

Reverence their mothers and fathers (v3)

Never make any "molten gods" for themselves. (v4)

Follow the instructions for eating the peace offerings (v5-8)

Not glean the corners of their fields or vineyards so as to leave it for the needy. (v9-10)

Not steal, lie, swear falsely, oppress, or rob.. (v11-13)

Not mistreat someone who is deaf or blind. (v13)

Not do injustice to anyone, whether rich or poor.. but to judge fairly.. no matter who it is (v15)

Not slander or "act against the life of your neighbor" (v16)

Not hate your "fellow countryman in your heart;"  but "you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him." (v17)

Not take vengeance.. or hold a grudge.. (v18a) 

"But you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." (v18b)

Verses 19-25 deal with some statutes that would also distinguish the Jewish people from other nations.. they were not to try to breed two kinds of cattle together nor mix two kinds of seeds in their fields, and also not mix two kinds of fabrics in one garment.  They were not to mistreat a female slave. They were not to eat the fruit of a new tree until the 5th year.. 

Verses 26-37 warn against divination; soothsaying; pagan practices of cutting off certain parts of the hair or beard; cutting the flesh or tattooing the skin. ( Yes it actually says that in verse 28)  And the very next verse speaks of profaning a daughter by making her a harlot..  giving us the seriousness of these offenses to the Lord. 

The Lord again reminds the people of the importance of keeping His sabbath and revering His sanctuary. (v30) 

"Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." 

The Lord tells His people to revere and honor the aged.. do not wrong the "stranger" who resides with you; but to love " him as yourself".  They needed to use honest "balances and just weights".  

"You shall thus observe all My statutes, and all My ordinances, and do them; I am the Lord." 

We know that because of Christ we are no longer under the Law.. but that does not change the Lord's definitions of what He considers holy.. set apart to Him.  We need to seek His direction regarding these statutes and ordinances.. laying ourselves before His feet and allowing Him to show us what He desires for each of us. We surely would agree that selling our children into prostitution is unholy.. but what about mixing two kinds of fabric together in a garment?  We might disagree about tattoos.. but we surely agree that mistreatment of any human being is against God's will for His people.  Leviticus 10;10 tells us that the Word was given to the people of God to "make a distinction between the holy and the profane."   Peter reminds us that we are also "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession.. " (I Peter 2:9) He wrote, "As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior..because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' " 

Father in heaven, these are Your Words.. not mine. These words are the path to life.. the lamp for our feet, the light for our ways.. help us to hear what You are saying and to obey Your commands.  Spirit of God, open our ears and give us discernment and willing hearts to serve You fully.. with all holiness. .in Christ Jesus our Redeemer and King.  It is in the Name of our Lord Jesus that we ask for grace and mercy.. forgive us every sin and trespass and cleanse us once again that we might be Your holy people. Amen.