Articles
Holy Like God
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You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. (Lev. 19:2)
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To the ancient Israelites, the book of Leviticus was the principal volume of canon law, regulating every detail of their religious and social life. A theme that runs throughout the book is the call for the people to "be holy"--that is, to be culturally distinct from their pagan neighbors. Their God was not like the gods of the pagans, and to reflect that uniqueness, their conduct was to mirror the nature of their God. That's why the call to "be holy, for I am holy" appears again and again throughout the book (11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7; 21:8).
This theme takes center stage in chapter 19. The chapter begins with the demand to "be holy" like God (v. 2). Then the rest of the chapter fills out the details: respect your parents (v. 3); avoid idolatry (v. 4); make provisions for the poor (v. 9-10); be truthful and honest (v. 11, 13); treat the disabled with kindness (v. 14); don't gossip (v. 16); stay clear of sexual sin (v. 29); honor the elderly (v. 32); use honest weights and measures in commerce (v. 35-36). Any society built upon these behaviors is far more likely to enjoy peace and prosperity.
But the climax of the chapter is verse 18: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." This principal of "loving your neighbor" is so central to the Biblical message, that centuries later Jesus and Paul pointed to it as one of two pillars upon which the entire enterprise is built (Matt. 22:37-40; Rom. 13:8-10).
The social disintegration that plagues our lives today has many contributing factors, but only one root cause: we have not yet learned how to love others as we love ourselves. God may be holy, but our vicious treatment of others betrays a different allegiance. We can and must do better.
In a world that is being ripped apart by selfishness, tribalism, hatred, envy, and revenge, this call for unselfish love lies at the heart of healing. But the only way humanity will ever learn it, is to see this mark of holiness in God's people.
Father, let it begin with me.
--David
