Leviticus 19

I love reading Leviticus 19. Why? It cracks me up! In one breath you're totally tracking with the author. "Do not steal." AMEN. "Do not lie." PREACH IT! "Do not deceive one another." CAN I GET A WITNESS? "Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of fabric." SAY WHAT? DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY? This last 'breath' was probably pretty confusing to you. Am I correct?

So how do we address this craziness? One of the solutions is to divide the law into three categories: CIVIL (laws that govern disputes between individuals), CEREMONIAL (laws pertaining to religious rituals), and MORAL (laws pertaining to ethical behavior). What conclusion has been reached from these categories? SIMPLE. The moral laws still apply to us today (because they're easy to apply) but the ceremonial and civil laws are obsolete (because they are foreign to us).

While there is some truth to this, the Bible doesn't make these distinctions! And in fact, there is overlap between civil laws and moral laws (For instance, "Do not steal" is both civil and moral). On top of this, it would be difficult to determine into which category the prohibition against blending fabrics should be placed. So this leaves us with unanswered questions. Are people today sinning if they wear a cotton/polyester blend t-shirt? And why on earth would God give such a strange law in the first place? Let's find out!

LEVITICUS 18
People's confusion with God's laws in Leviticus 17-26 (the Holiness Code) often begins with a misunderstanding of Leviticus 18. Most people think that chapter 18 exists to prohibit incestual relationships (that is, relationships between blood relatives) for genetic and scientific reasons. While there is truth in this, this rationale does not explain why this passage also prohibits intimate relationships between in-laws (people who are not genetically related). So then why would God give these laws? The best reason (in my opinion) is that intimacy between family members (including in-laws) pollutes God's creation design by threatening the sanctity of the family structure and confusing the inheritance process. In short, it perverts God's order in creation (by mixing what God did not intend to mix).

LEVITICUS 19
This understanding of Leviticus 18 sheds light on Leviticus 19. But how? The chapter begins with very understandable laws that provide specific ways we can love and honor both God and others. But then things get interesting in verse 19. "Do not mate different kinds of animals." "Do not plant your fields with two kinds of seed." "Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material." What's wrong with mixing these things? Well, I guess if God had wanted these types of mixtures He could have created them that way in the first place. Isn't that a possibility? If so then the author's point is simple: "Don't mess with God's creation order." Or more specifically, "Keep separate what God originally separated."

Now something interesting seems to be going on here. Think about this. From where do these laws seem to originate? How about the creation account in GENESIS 1-3? In Genesis 1, God brought order on the earth by SEPARATING things (light/darkness, water above/water below, land/sea). But then in Genesis 3 Adam and Eve contaminated God's 'good' creation by MIXING bad/evil with God's good creation when they ate from the forbidden tree. Now, it appears that God wants to remind us not to make the same mistake.

But blends were not completely banned by God. Interestingly, the curtains in the tabernacle were made of blended fabrics (Exodus 26:1). So is this a double standard by God? NOPE. Rather it provides further clarity behind the rationale for the 'mixing' laws. How so? In the sacred domain, mixtures and blends are allowed BUT in the secular (human) domain, mixtures and blends are prohibited. This signals that these laws have more of a symbolic significance and serve to remind people to live holy (distinct) lives. God wants His people to distinguish between the sacred and the secular as they go about their everyday lives. When knitting a shirt...Remember you are called to be holy. When seeding a field...Remember you are called to be holy. When mating animals...Remember you are called to be holy.

This reminder was important because God's people would be confronted time and time again with other worldviews on their journey to the promised land (and even in the promised land). In fact, verses 26-31 instruct God's people to avoid the pagan religious practices of other people groups (Lev. 18:3). No seeking out spiritists (vs. 31). No participating in pagan death rituals (vs. 26-28). No participating in pagan fertility rituals (vs. 29).

In fact, these practices had desecrated (made impure) the promised land during its occupancy by the pagan nations (Lev. 18:24-25). This probably explains why eating fruit from any kind of fruit tree was forbidden (lit. uncircumcised) for three years after entering the land (Lev. 19:23-25). In the fourth year, the fruit was dedicated to God and considered holy. And then in the fifth year, the fruit could be eaten. But why was the fruit forbidden (uncircumcised) for three years (and not for two or four or seven years)? One interesting possibility draws from the original creation of fruit-bearing trees on day three in Genesis 1. After God created them, these trees remained untouched for three days and then on the fourth day (after the trees were created) God rested and declared that day 'holy'. This creation pattern fits the pattern in Leviticus 19 (3 years = forbidden fruit; 4th year = holy fruit).

So what's the point? The promised land was to be a holy (distinct) place governed by God's original creation design and completely free from any pagan influences and contamination. In other words, God wanted His land and people to be PURE and attractive for the success of His rescue mission.

THE BOTTOM LINE
So what is the takeaway for us? God's laws reflect His design for a harmonious world. What does this type of world look like? Respect your parents. Help those in need. Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not pervert justice. Do not seek revenge. Do not spread slander. All of these laws provide for a well functioning world. But God doesn't want us to make the same mistake as Adam and Eve and contaminate His PURE world by MIXING good with bad. And so God placed these 'mixing' laws into the lives of His people to remind them to live holy (distinct) lives.

So how can we live UNMIXED lives? SIMPLE. Don't taint love by mixing it with actions and attitudes such as slander, arrogance, greed, drunkenness, violence, and sexual promiscuity. A lifestyle of PURE love is how God desires us to distinguish between the secular and sacred in our everyday lives. This is how God defines a PURE life. And so may this be true of your life!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
How does Leviticus 19 relate to James 3:6-12 and James 4:8?

Are you ever tempted to be double-minded (that is, have mixed loyalties)?

How are you doing at taming your tongue?

Would you consider yourself to be more of an encourager or a discourager?

What changes do you need to make to avoid IMPURE speech in your life?