How does Leviticus 18:1 connect with God's covenantal relationship with Israel? Setting the Scene Leviticus 18 opens a new section of statutes given during Israel’s wilderness journey. Verse 1 is brief, yet it anchors everything that follows. “Then the LORD said to Moses,” (Leviticus 18:1) God Speaks as Covenant Lord - The covenant formula begins with divine speech. - “LORD” (YHWH) is the covenant name revealed in Exodus 3:14–15, underscoring God’s unchanging faithfulness. - By speaking directly, God asserts His sovereign authority over His redeemed people (Exodus 20:2). Moses: Covenant Mediator - God addresses Moses because Moses stands as the appointed mediator (Exodus 19:3–6). - The pattern—God speaks, Moses relays—mirrors the Sinai covenant ceremony (Deuteronomy 5:4–5). - Israel’s obedience is therefore obedience to God Himself, not merely to Moses. Identity and Distinction - Verse 1 introduces laws that separate Israel from Egypt’s past and Canaan’s practices (Leviticus 18:3). - Covenant people bear a distinct identity: “I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 18:2). - Their lifestyle testifies to belonging to the holy God (Leviticus 20:26). Holiness as Covenant Requirement - The succeeding statutes (vs. 6–30) define purity in family and community. - Holiness is not optional; it is bound to the covenant (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). - God promises blessings for obedience and warns of exile for defilement (Leviticus 18:24-28). Connection to the Broader Covenant Story - Covenant language: Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12—“I will walk among you and be your God.” - Covenant signposts: blood of the covenant (Exodus 24:8), Sabbath rest (Exodus 31:13), and moral purity (Leviticus 18). - Jeremiah 31:33 looks ahead to the same law written on hearts, preserving continuity. Christ, the Covenant Fulfilled - Jesus embodies perfect obedience to every statute (Matthew 5:17). - Through His mediatorial work, believers are brought into a new covenant yet called to the same holiness (Hebrews 8:6-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20). - The Spirit empowers covenant faithfulness, fulfilling the moral intent stated in Leviticus 18. In verse 1 the Lord initiates, Moses mediates, and Israel is reminded that every subsequent command flows from their binding covenant relationship with the holy God. |
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