We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן shall stone him with stones. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Let’s start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 20:1-2, 27 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן shall stone him with stones … A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They בָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמ֥וּ [this is our phrase just with the two words reversed so it is literally with stones shall be stoned] shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” The method of how these capital offenses were to be punished are clearly spelled out with our phrase. Here are other capital crimes that utilize our phrase. Leviticus 24:23 So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אָ֑בֶן [this is our phrase with the pronoun inserted in the middle probably for emphasis him being the one who cursed God] and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. Here is an example of breaking the sabbath. Numbers 15:35-36 And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation רָג֨וֹם אֹת֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” And all the congregation brought him outside the camp וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses. Here is an example of a person influencing others to serve other gods. Deuteronomy 13:10 וּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים [this is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. We see this practice continuing on beyond Moses who God originally communicated this to. Here we see Joshua instructing this to be done to Achan because of his sin against God that affected the entire camp. Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel וַיִּסְקְל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִֽים[this again is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. Our next example is how this capital punishment was corrupted to get rid of an innocent man who was in the way. 1 Kings 21:13-15 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים[this again is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.” As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” The next use is of the people who grumbled so much about being in the wilderness that they wanted to kill Moses and Aaron. Numbers 14:10 Then all the congregation said לִרְגּ֥וֹם אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים [again this is our phrase with the pronoun in the middle] to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. This reminds me of what happened in the New Testament when the people also were going against God in their attempts to kill God’s spokesman sharing truth. I’ll close with this example. Notice how Jesus welcomes him to himself. Acts 7:54-60 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת will be put to death. Our phrase is the same word next to each other as an infinitive and then as a causative imperfect ongoing tense. So literally to die will be dying or caused to die. This is for emphasis. It is used 29 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Let’s look at all the uses in our chapter since it has the most in the Bible. Exodus chapter 21 also uses our phrase 4 times. Leviticus 20:2, 10-16 Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones … For anyone who curses his father or his mother מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him. If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת shall surely be put to death. If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them מֽוֹת־יוּמְת֥וּ shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them מ֥וֹת יוּמְת֖וּ shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them … A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑תוּ shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them. Fifteen offenses in Israel were capital crimes: striking or cursing a parent (Exodus 21:15, 17); breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14); blaspheming God (Leviticus 24:10–16); engaging in occult practices (Exodus 22:18); prophesying falsely (Deuteronomy 13:1–5); adultery (Leviticus 20:10); rape (Deuteronomy 22:25); sexual immorality before marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-21); incest (Leviticus 20:11–12); homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13); bestiality (Leviticus 20:15–16); kidnapping (Exodus 21:16); idolatry (Leviticus 20:1–5); false witness in a case involving a capital crime (Deuteronomy 19:16–21); killing a human intentionally (Exodus 21:12). The people of Israel were the covenant people of God. Therefore, the Law of God was the law of the land. There isn’t a crime in the above list that would merit capital punishment in most nations today, including murder. But the biblical view of law is different from the modern view. God gave His law to restrain sin, not to reform sinners; the penalties He imposed were for the purpose of upholding His law, not improving the offenders. However, this doesn’t mean that Christians today should lobby for the death penalty for all these offenses. While we want to do what we can to see just laws enforced justly, our main task is winning people to Christ and our weapons are spiritual. The good news is that it is God’s spirit that transforms and changes us from the inside out. I’ll close with these great passages. 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Acts 6:4 And will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after, go whoring after. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. We’ll start in our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 20:4-7 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after Molech. If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, לִזְנ֖וֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. We have seen for several days know this great evil of sacrificing children to Molech. Here notice that this was so bad that God’s judgment was not only on those who practiced such horrific acts but even to those who would ignore them instead of making sure that God’s capital punishment was carried out. Our phrase is used to describe what this action was it was the ultimate unfaithfulness to God. It is also used in seeking out mediums and necromancers which we have looked at these words previously. Instead of connecting with the true living God his people left God and turned away from him. He describes just how the pain of the unfaithfulness of his people felt in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 6:9 Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over לִבָּ֣ם הַזּוֹנֶ֗ה [this is a different phrase than ours but very similar in meaning] their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that הַזֹּנ֕וֹת אַחֲרֵ֖י [this is basically our phrase just without the preposition in our phrase and with the article instead. It is translated the same way] go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. God’s answer to all of this unfaithfulness was in verse 7 of our chapter today. Leviticus 20:7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And it gets better if we look at the next verse. Leviticus 20:8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. This theme of God making us like himself is seen throughout the Bible. Holiness is the best thing for us and our loved ones around us. And the good news is that God is the one that makes us holy if we let him work in us. I’ll close with this great encouragement from the book of Hebrews and 1 John. Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי my holy name. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. We’ll start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Our phrase is used in the sense of profaning or defiling. Leviticus 20:3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי my holy name. Over the last few days we have looked at this great evil of children sacrifice as part of the worship of Molech. Again God uses the strongest words available to condemn this practice. Yesterday we saw how this made God’s sanctuary unclean today we see it profaning God’s name. We looked at this word for profane a week ago. A couple of chapters later we see our phrased used in the same way in relation to profaning. Leviticus 22:1-2 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name: I am the Lord.  God’s name is to be respected by the priests by following his directions not to perform their duties if they are unclean. We will look more into this when we get into this chapter. This warning to the priests is reemphasized at the end of the chapter. Leviticus 22:31-33 So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. And you shall not profane שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֔י my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord.” Another way our phrase is used along with profaning is in Ezekiel this time by the use of idols. Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but שֵׁ֤ם קָדְשִׁי֙ my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols. It is also given as the reason for God sending his own people’s into exile. Ezekiel 36:20-23 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’ But I had concern for שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of לְשֵׁם־קָדְשִׁי֙my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the וְקִדַּשְׁתִּ֞י אֶת־שְׁמִ֣י הַגָּד֗וֹל[here we have a variation of our phrase with the word holy first and then the word great after name. Literally it is my holiness my name the great] holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Did you see what God is doing here? He is the only one that is concerned about his reputation. Since the people’s sins were so great the surrounding nations noticed and it reflected negatively on God. So he acted by sending them into exile so his name would be seen as holy. This is how God showed concern for his holy name whereas the people did not instead the profaned or defiled it. Then God does something amazing he solves this problem of uncleanness and sin that people then and now struggle with. Ezekiel 36:24-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. This is a prediction of what God was going to do in sending his Spirit to live inside of us because of Christ work on the cross. I’ll close with these great New Testament passages that tie this all together. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Romans 8:9-11 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

We are in moving into chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today. מִקְדָּשׁ sanctuary, sacred place. It is used 75 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a holy place, a place considered holy or consecrated, often with reference to the tabernacle or temple. Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a מִקְדָּ֑שׁ sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build מִקְדַּשׁ֙ the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house לַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ for the sanctuary; be strong and do it. We also see our word used in the context of corruption or defilement of our word. 2 Chronicles 26:18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” Ezekiel 23:38-39 Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house. This is how our word is used in our chapter. Leviticus 20:3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. The good news is that God can and wants to clean us from our sin. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. This is what Jesus accomplished for us. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And more good news is that wherever God is becomes his sanctuary because of his presence. Because of this the Psalmist praises God. We can meet God in nature that he has made and worship him. Psalm 68:32-35 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God מִֽמִּקְדָּ֫שֶׁ֥יךָ from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! And we can meet God in places of worship where God’s people gather and worship him. I’ll close with these great Psalms that show us how we are changed when we worship God in his presence. Psalm 73:13, 16-17 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence … But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the מִקְדְּשֵׁי sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 96:4-6 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ in his sanctuary.

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Let’s look at our 3 uses. Leviticus 20:3-6 I myself will set פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set פָּנַ֛י בָּאִ֥ישׁ my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set פָּנַי֙ בַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁ [this has a different word so instead of man it is soul so literally my face against that soul] my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. The reason God is taking this strong action against this person is because of their horrific evil. We have looked at this yesterday and on a few other occasions. Our third use of our phrase is also in the context of great evil. Ezekiel 14:6-8 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I the Lord will answer him myself. And I will set פָנַ֜י בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Did you notice the specific reason God gives why he takes this action? Because they are the ones who have separated themselves from God because of their worship of idols. Notice how this is phrased “taking his idols into his heart.” God takes his relationship with us personally. This is why Jesus calls us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Because our sin has separated us from God when Jesus died on the cross and took our sin on himself God had to turn his face against his own son. This is why Jesus cried out from the cross, “my God my God why have you forsaken me?!” The good news is that because of Christ God is for us when we turn from our sin and accept the salvation God offers us. I’ll close with this great passage. Romans 8:31-34 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

We are in moving into chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today. נָתַן give, hand down, set, place, lay, put. It is used 2,010 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. This is the word used for the very common word to give, transfer possession. This is how our word is used 4 times in our chapter. Leviticus 20:1-5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who יִתֵּ֧ן gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he נָתַ֣ן has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when בְּתִתּ֥וֹ he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. Other translations like the NIV translate our word give as sacrifice. They do this because of the context and what Molech was all about. This is exactly what was going on it was giving over one’s child as a sacrifice to Molech. We have already looked at the words Molech and sacrifice previously. We have also seen that this practice was condemned by God with the strongest words that exist. And that it was the farthest thing from who God is and what God desires. It was evil whereas God is good. The other way our word is used in our chapter shows this extreme difference between Molech and YHWH. Leviticus 20:24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations. Did you notice the difference. The false god Molek who is really just about being influenced by demons as we have seen, takes. He demands sacrifice. But God the true YWHW reality God gives. He is the one gives to his people. In the Old Testament the promise was the land. Now God gives us eternal life because God gave his own son to be the sacrifice for our sins. I’ll close with these great passages. Genesis 22:7-8 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 3:23-26 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם I am YWHW your God or I am the LORD your God. It is used 34 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Let’s start with our chapter sense our phrase is used the most of all the chapters of the Bible. Leviticus 19:2-4 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I, the Lord your God, am holy. “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:10, 25, 31 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God … But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God … Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34, 36-37 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God …  Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin.  אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה I am the Lord.’” From this chapter and other uses we can see clearly that our phrase is used for the reason why his people are to do all of the instructions he is giving them. And the emphasis of YWHW is not just that God is the ever-existing reality God in that what he says is reality because of his power but that he uses his power to bless, enrich and benefit his people. The example of his power used to save his people from slavery in Egypt is repeat to make this point. Another way God makes this point is this summary idea of being holy which he starts our chapter with. Because God is different set apart from everyone and every being that exists. One of these ways is that he uses his power for goodness not corruption. God makes everything better. And not only that he is also the only one that can take evil and bring good out of it. This theme of God using his power for our good is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with these great New Testament examples. Romans 8:28, 31-35, 37-39 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose … If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. צֶ֫דֶק accuracy, what is correct, right thing, what is honest, equity, righteous, righteousness. It is used 119 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of honesty. Psalm 52:3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is צֶ֣דֶק right. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of righteousness, adherence to what is required according to a standard. A good example of this is the introduction of the book of Proverbs where the writer connects wisdom to our word today. Proverbs 1:3 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in צֶ֥דֶק righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 19:15, 35-36 You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but בְּצֶ֖דֶק in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor … You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have צֶ֣דֶק just balances, צֶ֗דֶק just weights, a צֶ֛דֶק just ephah, and a צֶ֖דֶק just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. As with other areas of our chapter these are very practical ways not to wrong one’s neighbor or fellow citizen. It is also gives more detail how to follow God’s earlier commandment not to lie, bear false witness, and steal. This is also emphasized later in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 25:13-16 You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full וָצֶ֙דֶק֙and fair weight you shall have, a full וָצֶ֖דֶקand fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God. This is interesting that even though people may justify that having a weight or measure that allows one to cheat someone else in smaller portions is ok. God certainly does not agree. He calls this an abomination. In all of God’s people’s dealings they need to be above board open and honest. The reason why God demands this from his people we will look at with our phrase for tomorrow. I’ll close with these great words from Jesus that help us understand God’s teaching on dealing fairly and justly with others. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. גֵּר stranger, foreigner, sojourner. It is used 92 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. We find our word used in the sense of a person who comes from a foreign country who does not owe allegiance to your country, frequently of someone who does not speak one’s native tongue. A good example of this is Abram and Moses. Gensis 23:4 I am a גֵּר sojourner וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב [This is a different word altogether] and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Exodus 2:22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a גֵּ֣ר sojourner in a נָכְרִיָּֽה [This is a different word altogether] foreign land.” God knows that because of our sinful nature we tend to take advantage of people who are not like us. This is why he instructs his people in this way. Exodus 12:48-49 If a יָג֨וּר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word] stranger shall גֵּ֗ר sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native וְלַגֵּ֖ר and for the stranger who הַגָּ֥ר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word]  sojourns among you. This is the sense of how our word is used 4 times in our chapter. Leviticus 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor וְלַגֵּר֙ and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:33-34 When a יָג֧וּר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word] stranger גֵּ֖ר sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat הַגֵּ֣ר the stranger who הַגָּ֣ר [again different word with same root word as our word] sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for גֵרִ֥ים you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Did you catch God’s reasoning behind this teaching? Because that is how they also started out as strangers in another country they need to remember this and let it encourage their kindness. This is emphasized specifically by God. Exodus 23:9 You shall not oppress a וְגֵ֖ר sojourner. You know the heart of a הַגֵּ֔ר sojourner, for you were גֵרִ֥ים sojourners in the land of Egypt. This theme of God loving all people regardless of where they came from is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with some New Testament examples. Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Luke 13:29-30 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.