ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tusite Me 25, 2021

Ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua

I am the LORD your God 

Levitiko 18 (Leviticus 18)

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

At this point in the enunciation of the laws of separation they assume a slightly altered character. So far, the fundamental matters of relationships to God have been the principal note. Now the habits of the life of separation are more particularly dealt with. The enactments here recorded especially recognize the perils which would surround these people on account of the habits and customs of the people by whom they would be surrounded in the land.

 

In view of these there was first a call to separation in general terms. Jehovah asserted Himself as being their God and distinctly forbade their conforming their actions to the doings either of Egypt or of Canaan, accompanying the commandment with a promise that if they obeyed Him they should live thereby.

 

Then followed the naming of certain evil practices of the people of these lands, certain abominations which had cursed the whole life of the peoples.

 

In this connection occurs a most important declaration, explaining the judgment of God upon the people of these lands. It is that the reason for such judgment is to be found in the practice of these abominations with terrible effects produced upon the peoples, so that they were utterly corrupt. All this emphasizes the paramount importance of the insistence on the necessity that the people of God should not be influenced by such practices.

 

(v. 1-4) 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. 3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. 4 You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.

 

(v. 1-4) 1 PEA folofola ‘a Sihova kia Mōsese, ‘o pehē, 2 Lea ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, pea ke tala kiate kinautolu, 3 Ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua. ‘E ‘ikai te mou fai ‘o hangē ko e fai ‘a e fonua ko ‘Isipite, ‘a ia na‘a mou nofo ai, pea ‘e ‘ikai te mou fai ‘o hangē ko e fai ‘a e fonua ko Kēnani, ‘a ia ‘oku taki kimoutolu ki ai: pea ‘e ‘ikai te mou fou ‘i he‘enau ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni. 4 Ko e konisitūtone ‘a‘aku te mou fai ki ai, pea ko e ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni ‘a‘aku te mou tauhi ke mou fou ai: ko Sihova au ko homou ‘Otua.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide to Leviticus*

I am the LORD your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do: Before God gave a single command in this area, He first established a foundation for the whole matter. He declared this principle: "You belong to Me, you shall not do as the world does."

"The Persians, for example, encouraged marital unions with mothers, daughters and sisters, on the ground that such relationships had special merit in the eyes of the gods." (Harrison)

Sadly, the Christians today often take their standard of sexual conduct from the world, and not from God and His Word. Clearly, Christians should be different from the world in their sexual morality, and they should follow a Biblical standard of sexual morality. In the early church, one argument for the truth of Christianity offered by Christians was "You can know it's true by looking at our lives." Today, the Christian world says, "Don't look at me, look at Jesus."