Godly Distinctiveness
W. H. Jellie. Leviticus 20:26 And you shall be holy to me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be mine. I. A UNIQUE CODE OF MORAL AND SACRED LAWS. "Ye shall keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and do them" (ver. 22). No other people had a standard of morals, or a directory of religious regulations comparable to these. II. A STUDIOUS AVOIDANCE OF THE CUSTOMS OF UNGODLINESS. "Ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations," &c. (ver. 23). Conformity to the world was prohibited. However sanctioned, or desirable, or seemingly harmless, the customs of the ungodly were to be shunned. III. A CAUTIOUS SELECTION OF SOCIAL ENJOYMENTS AND INDULGENCES. "Ye shall put difference between clean and unclean," &c. (ver. 25). Palate not to be gratified, tables not to be spread with promiscuous viands. God's wish and word were to rule them in every enjoyment, and self-restraint was to mark them in every gratification. IV. A HERITAGE OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AS GOD'S PEOPLE. "Ye shall inherit their land, a land that floweth with milk and honey," &c. (ver. 24). Sinners lose earthly felicities, as the penalty of their impiety: "therefore I abhorred them" (ver. 23). The godly possess rich heritage of good as the mark of God's favour: "I will give it unto you to possess" (ver. 24). V. A SEAL OF DIVINE SANCTITY RESTING UPON THEM: They show themselves to be — 1. Divinely "separated" (ver. 24), from other people. Their history and career attest God's dealing with them as with no other people. 2. Divinely sanctified. "Ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people" (ver. 26). For the very "beauty of the Lord" rests upon the character and conduct of those He redeems. Note:(1) God claims His people: they are not their own; may not follow their own desires and delights; He is their law, they must surrender to Him. "That ye should be Mine" (ver. 26). It is a blessed fact co belong to God: but it carries its obligations. (2) Privileges are conditioned upon fidelity (ver. 22). The inheritance would be forfeited if obedience were withheld. All God's covenant promises to us wait upon our loyalty to Him. "Ye are My friends if ye do," &c. (W. H. Jellie.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. WEB: You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.