Leviticus 19:23-37
23 “When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord. 25 And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.
26 “You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.
29 “Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32 “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
33 “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
35 “You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. 36 You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 ‘Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.’ ”
26 “You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. 27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.
29 “Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32 “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
33 “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
35 “You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. 36 You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 ‘Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.’ ”
More commanding guidelines were given here to cover many areas of living a holy life to God. From practical farming to not seeking guidance for life from the occult practices of telling the future, which deny God’s leading and sovereign rule over His people, these things were written down. Marking up our bodies for the dead, selling daughters into prostitution, and following other worldly practices opposed to God’s word and will would only breed more wickedness, so the warnings were clearly given. Honoring God and His work means not practicing nor seeking advice from the dead in seances as Saul did (1 Samuel 28:11, 16-20). God’s people are to follow and seek the Lord and His guidance from His word, which is why these and many other things are written for our learning (Romans 15:4). Dealing with older people in respect and fear of God, treating others with hospitality and love, just dealings with others - all these are to fulfill the two greatest commandments to love God and man. Obedience to Christ through trusting faith is fulfilling God’s work (John 6:29), and should lead to following these and other commands with overflowing desire to please Him in return for our reconciling salvation. We can now obey from willing and thankful hearts.
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