SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 20
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As I read this chapter, I think about the time when Jesus was asked about whether the adulterous woman should be stoned [John 8:2-11]. He said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ [John 8:7] According to this chapter, this woman and the man with her were to be put to death [Leviticus 20:10]. The fact that the man was not also presented (they were caught, afterall), shows the hypocrisy and double standard the Jewish leaders were working with.
But aside from this, we also see that Jesus introduces a new reality. The Law of Moses was put in effect UNTIL the messiah should come [Galatians 3:23-25]. It was a strict, disciplinary code put in place to restrain sin and protect people from themselves. But it could not save them.
The sins mentioned here are serious, more serious than we realize. All sin is. It ruins individuals, communities and families. The land itself is corrupted by it, and eventually vomits the sickness out [Leviticus 20:22]. If we really knew how dangerous and destructive sin was, we would flee from it. But instead we often embrace it, excuse it or deny it.
The death penalty (stoning, burning) seems harsh, and I could not take part in it, it would horrify me. But despite this, it does impress on me that maybe we do not see sin and immorality as bad as it really is.
In the end, these two stories impress on me the horror of sin and the wonder of grace. As ugly and awful as our sin is, to hear the voice of Jesus say to us, ‘neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin’ sums up the whole message of hope. Sin is really bad, but God’s grace is better. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more [Romans 5:20-21]!
Today I am going to remind myself as often as I can remember, how serious sin is, yet how amazing and wonderful the Lord’s grace is!
PRAYER:
Lord, my sin is bad, but You are awesome, wonderful gracious. I stand before you like this sinful woman, and you say, ‘I do not condemn you, go and sin no more!’
I choose life LORD. Thank You for Your amazing Grace! Thank You for Your unfailing, unconditional love. Thank You LORD for the gift of Your Holy Spirit that comes alongside our humanness and helps us to become Holy and set apart for You. Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me…. My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God, my Saviour has rescued me. And like a flood, Your mercy rains, unending love; amazing grace! To You LORD, be all the glory, honour and praise!
Once again we hear the words of the Lord, Do this and live! Be a people, separate from the nations around them. Follow the instructions the Lord has given and gave again to remind the people how to live . . . but as we see, people choose death rather than life. To be apart from God is death. To break His law means to be driven out from among the peoples or even put to death. Not following the Lord means death as it did for Adam and Eve. The same is true today, however we tend to minimize the command to be holy, to be separate from the world, unique, Christian by name, Jesus follower. And we no longer call a sin a sin. To live for Jesus means life and life everlasting. To go one’s own way means death today and forevermore. It is by the blood of the Lamb, by His grace I live this day in His presence. Help me also this day Lord to put You first in all I do and say.
Alive alive alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive
Alive forevermore
Alive alive alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive forevermore
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive