What is the meaning of Leviticus 19:31? You must not turn to mediums Mediums claim to bridge the living and the dead, but God forbids His people to look that way for insight. He alone reveals truth (Deuteronomy 29:29). Turning to a medium says, in effect, that God’s Word and Spirit are not enough. Saul learned this the hard way when he visited the woman at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7–20). The early church also confronted such deception; Paul cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl in Philippi (Acts 16:16-18). or spiritists Spiritists attempt to manipulate or channel unseen powers. Scripture classifies these practices alongside sorcery and idolatry (2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6). Isaiah warns, “And when they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God?” (Isaiah 8:19). Spiritism is counterfeit spirituality that competes with genuine dependence on the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 4:1). do not seek them out The caution moves from an outright ban to motivation: don’t even look in that direction. Seeking guidance should draw us toward God, not away from Him. • God invites us to seek Him for wisdom (James 1:5; Psalm 25:4-5). • He speaks through Scripture, prayer, and the counsel of mature believers (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Proverbs 11:14). When curiosity or desperation drives someone toward occult sources, the first step back is to re-anchor in God’s revealed truth (Psalm 119:105). or you will be defiled by them Contact with occult practices is not morally neutral; it stains the soul. Leviticus 20:6 reinforces this: “I will set My face against any soul who turns to mediums and spiritists.” Paul lists sorcery among the “works of the flesh” that bar inheriting the kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21). Defilement here is both personal and communal; Israel’s holiness as a people was at stake (Joshua 7:13). For believers today, it disrupts fellowship with God and opens doors to oppression (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). I am the LORD your God The command is rooted in relationship: God redeemed Israel, therefore He alone deserves their loyalty (Exodus 20:2). His covenant name, “LORD,” signals unchanging authority and faithful love (Malachi 3:6). Holiness is not merely abstaining from evil; it is allegiance to the One who is holy (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Every “no” in Scripture rests on a deeper “yes” to God’s character and care. summary Leviticus 19:31 warns against every form of occult consultation because it usurps God’s place, contaminates the seeker, and breaks covenant fellowship. Instead, God calls His people to trust His guidance, rely on His Word, and live set apart for Him alone. |
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