Read to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Leviticus 26-27
Leviticus 27:34
These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.
This is the last verse of Leviticus. It speaks volumes. Last words often do. Here the Lord reminds the reader of a few things.
One lesson is Leadership. God gave the commandments to Moses; Moses gave them to Israel. He had a choice, he could faithfully give the law as God gave it to him, or he could change it to his benefit. Israel too had a choice. They could obey the commandments or reject them. The balance of the previous chapter (26) relays the results of obedience to these commands or rejection of them. It is quite clear.
Consider a real-life situation for today. A pastor is led by the Lord to preach on Hebrews 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. He lays out from Scripture the truth that the New Testament, in its entirety, is written with the understanding that all believers in Christ would be active in a local church. He proclaims that as we see “the day” approaching that we should have more church services not fewer. He extols the great, profitable, and practical reasons to not forsake the assembling together. He had the choice to preach this or not. The members of the church have the choice to see that their pastor is giving them a command of God or see him as being self-serving and manipulative. This is leadership/followship 101. There were those of Israel that thought Moses took too much on himself; they all paid a price.
Another lesson is one of Commandments. God’s Book says these were “commandments.” They were not suggestions, advice, recommendations, or even opinions. They were commandments. In the last verse of chapter 26 these are also called statutes, judgments, and laws. A book could be written explaining the differences in these, but suffice it to say they are all commandments. There are commandments also in the New Testament, many of them. Paul wrote of this in I Thessalonians 4:2. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For example, consider Baptism. After Peter preached to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ and many came to believe in Christ’s Gospel he … commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord… Acts 10:48.
These two simple lessons, leadership and commandments are the two that are continually violated in the heart, mind, and actions of God’s people. Leadership is often criticized, ignored, rejected, and dishonored, while individuals plunge headlong into sinful actions that hurt, destroy, maim, and possibly lead to an early grave. It doesn’t have to be this way. But, since the garden of Eden until today there is a constant struggle to properly live by the commands of God as taught by His leaders.
William T. Howe Ph.D.
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