Day 16

Holiness of the Priests

from the Leviticus reading plan


Leviticus 21:1-24, Leviticus 22:1-33, Psalm 15:1-2, 1 Peter 2:9

BY Vina Mogg

Lists.

Some of us were born for lists. Others of us have a more difficult time checking off the boxes.

In these chapters of Leviticus, we see the mind of God as He gives very clearly defined lists of what is appropriate to live before a holy God. We are given exhaustive details of what affects holy living. What defiles holy living. What profanes His name. Some of these details are plain common sense, such as protecting His people from disease. Others at first seem petty and controlling.These lists in Leviticus seem impossible. Especially if you are one of those people, like me, overwhelmed by lists. Why are these lists even necessary?

I remember in the early days of my faith when I first read through the book of Leviticus, I thought, Why would anyone want to follow a God like this? There are too many rules.

At the end of these two chapters in Leviticus, God states the reason why.

 “You are to keep my commands and do them; I am the LORD. You must not profane my holy name; I must be treated as holy among the Israelites. I am the LORD who sets you apart, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD.” 
—Leviticus 22:31–33

“I am the LORD who sets you apart.” God is God. He is set apart from us. Other than us. These comprehensive lists contrast His holiness to our shortcomings. Because He is holy, He requires specific measures for us to approach Him. Because He is set apart, He desires us to live set apart, different from the world surrounding us.

These lists reveal His hope for His people to be set apart, to reflect His holy nature as image bearers. Through these enumerated lists that seem impossible to keep, He was outlining the promise of the covenant relationship He longed for between us. A tender relationship between a holy God and a fallen people. A relationship of contrast. A relationship of grace.

Despite our fallen nature, in Christ we are a chosen “people for His possession” designed to proclaim His praises for the mighty deeds He has done (1Peter 2:9). He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. These impossible lists emphasize the impossibility that a God this powerful and holy would desire to have a relationship with us. He does. And the way we live, set apart for Him, will proclaim this relationship to the world.

Post Comments (33)

33 thoughts on "Holiness of the Priests"

  1. Melissa Mcronney says:

    Amen

  2. Kimberly Z says:

    Taylor I’m glad to hear you’ve been feeling better. Praying it gets easier every day

  3. Adrienne says:

    I have lists for my lists… Heeheehee! And ouch! Sweet dreams, seeet She’s!

  4. Margaret W says:

    My daughter was born with a cleft lip; today you would never know by looking at her. Her older brother has multiple disabilities which won’t be healed this side of heaven, but he teaches me so much about God’s grace and mercy towards our weaknesses that I don’t want to think about who I might have been without him in my life. Even in his weakness, he is such a testimony of God’s goodness.

  5. Jennifer Anapol says:

    I’m so glad that we don’t have to be perfect to enter God’s presence. I pray I would never take for granted the freedom I have to enter his presence.

  6. Susan Lincks says:

    Amen

  7. Mercy says:

    God is really scrutinizing the qualifications here and priesthood is a refined elite list. Priests have to be in tip top shape from the outside to the inside, physically to spiritually, with only a few select individuals could make the cut. But then, praise be to God, in the New Testament, grace and truth comes with the Lord Jesus. Hallelujah. He declares to us (Gentiles included), you are a nation of my priesthood, you make the lists by your faith in my Son Jesus. We become qualified, we get grafted into the nation of holy priesthood (And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. Romans 11:23 ESV). He has the power to graft us in. May we realize the magnitude of this honor of being the elite priesthood for God Most High, and continue to live blamelessly, practice righteousness, and acknowledge the truth in our heart (Psalm 26:2). Pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Be blessed dear sisters.

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