Monday, June 1, 2015

Bible Study Notes in Leviticus- Chapter 20


Leviticus 20

 

-This chapter goes further into detail on the LORD’s expectations for purity against sexual immorality, the occult, and human sacrifice. The pagan practices of the killing children to appease their false gods is attacked by the Sovereign LORD who is kind and calls murdering of innocent lives a sin (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 19:10, Proverbs 6:16-17). In Israel there is to be no giving of children to the false god Molech (The neighboring Ammonites’ national god who required human sacrifices for appeasing anger), plus any aliens sojourning among them are not allowed to do these despicable acts. God says He will set His Face against any man who practices these abominations because it defiles His sanctuary and His Holy Name. In fact, if the nation does not put any man to death for doing these inhumane acts, the LORD promises to set His Face against them (Leviticus 20:1-5). Also, God prohibits people from seeking mediums and spiritists to “play the harlot after them (Leviticus 20:6).” This is occultic divining, or trying to see into the future, as a source of information outside the realm and revelation of God. These are false hopes and tainted visions predicting what will happen since only the LORD has seen the future. His Word is sufficient and any deviation from His direction is to be cut off from among the people. God reiterates His expectations in verses seven and eight that the children of Israel consecrate themselves as to “keep My statutes and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies (sets apart) you.” Cursing the father or mother is a capital offense in the land (Leviticus 20:9). So is adultery, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality (Leviticus 20:10-16). Sexual relations with blood relatives is cause for being excommunicated from the camp as well as having relations with a woman during her menstrual period (Leviticus 20:17-21). All this will protect the pureness of the society and keep them together as a people for perpetuity. They were warned not to follow the customs of the nation that they were going to dispossess in Canaan because God abhorred these detestable and unnatural acts (Leviticus 20:22-23). God was giving His people a good land “flowing with milk and honey” and was separating them as a holy example of how to live properly in love, mutual respect, and dependence upon the Him (Leviticus 20:24). Further, they were to make the distinction between clean and unclean animals, which had been outlined before (Leviticus 11; 20:25). Holiness is again reiterated with a final prohibition for a man or a woman to practice being a medium or spiritist. These will be put to death by stoning because their bloodguiltiness is upon them (Leviticus 20:26-27).

-*Application* We still deal with the issues of appeasing God, having a fascination with the occult, and sexual impurity today. Let’s break these down a bit and see if God can’t help us grow in our understanding. To appease God’s wrath, we must accept His Divine human sacrifice of the cross through Jesus. Because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we can see that God is for us and not against us in His grace, mercy, and love. We don’t have to try to earn His favor. It’s already been given on Calvary. Secondly, His Word is all we need to have confidence and assurance (hope) in the future. We don’t need to dabble in the demonic with all its intrigue and manipulation. Seek and cultivate the real thing in the Holy Spirit, who has all knowledge and discerns all things. Finally, be satisfied with how God has created you and seek sexual pureness within the bounds of biblical covenant marriage (One man with one woman for one lifetime, Genesis 2:20-25, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6-9). Contentment and union can be ultimately found in doing things God’s way. Striving in our own selfish manners and ambitions will lead only to chaos, breakdown, and destruction.

 

Verses to Memorize: Leviticus 20:8, 24

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