Regulations

O. T. #278  "Regulations"
April 29, 2014
Leviticus 11-Part 2
For I am the LORD God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  Leviticus 11:44

LET IT GLOW

When people look at me, they might judge me as different. The reason is that I wear long dresses or skirts to worship services. I think the Lord deserves our best, and that includes looking like a lady. Also, I have let my hear grow out. It is down to my waist now. Few women turning 60 do that. I hope to get it cut soon and give it to an organization which makes wigs for cancer victims. So please don't judge me as strange without knowing my reasoning. My nails or hair aren't painted in various bright colors, nor do I wear a ring in my nose, nor do I have tattoos. Now that is what I consider weird.
In America, we are free to dress and look like we desire. the Israelites had restrictions, regulations by which they were to live. Read on.

The Israelites would be tempted to follow the filthy customs of their pagan neighbors. The basis of these laws was centered around the holiness of God. Verse 44 is the key verse of the Book of Leviticus.
God identifies Himself as the LORD, stands for Jehovah (Jewish national name of God), means Self-Existent or Eternal.
What is God telling His people?

• sanctify yourselves (sanctify means to be clean, purify);
• be holy, for God is holy (holy refers to be sacred ceremonially or morally);
• do not defile themselves with creeping things (defile is to be foul, contaminated, polluted, be or make unclean)

The last two verses summarize the basic idea of the chapter. God desires our conduct to exhibit His nature, because we are His children.  (Falwell)

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament explains this:

Moses gives three motives for purity on the part of the Jewish nation. They would motivate them to obey the Lord and refrain from defilement.

1. God is a holy God. It is mentioned 9 times in this book, and is quoted in 1 Peter 1:15-16. These dietary laws reminded the Jews to be a separated people, a holy people. If we are God's people, then it's logical that we live holy lives.

2. God redeemed us for Himself. The Jews were a redeemed people. they were rescued by His grace and power, otherwise they would still be slaves in Egypt. The Exodus is a picture of the redemption we have in Jesus Christ, for He is the Passover Lamb. If we are redeemed, then we ought to live holy lives to please the God who set us free.

3.God wants His people to be different. They were a special people to the Lord and were supposed to be different from the nations around them. Today, believing Jews and Gentiles are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:26-29)

Are we living as a holy people?
Have you been set free from the price of sin?
Can others see that we are different by our words, actions, and looks?


LET IT GROW

God's people are to be set apart unto Him. We can now disregard all of these regulations because Christ nailed them to His cross. (Falwell)

Colossians 2:14 says, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.

The hand written document consisting of ordinances, was wiped away, erased, cancelled. The bond here is the instrument of condemnation, the certification of debt, the indictment drawn up against a prisoner, and a signed confession of indebtedness.
These ordinances had a valid claim against us, and we could not meet the claim. Our bond was once for all removed when Jesus was nailed on the cross. (2 Cor. 5:21). In the East, a bond is cancelled by nailing it to the post. Our bond of guilt was nailed to His cross. (Falwell)

1 Timothy 4:4-5 states, For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

The foods mentioned previously in this chapter and yesterday's post are those which have been declared all right to eat by Christians.

We should be encouraged to be a holy people, a grateful people, and a people set apart from the world  as we observe the Lord's Supper. The question is, are we?

LET IT GO

Treat God as being a Holy God.

Live a holy life, and wholly unto the Lord.

Be different from the world in my attitudes, words, and ways.

Share His redemption with others.

Thank the Lord for setting me free from all those laws and regulations.