Q&A: Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26 Q&A

Here are some brief answers to our questions from our Sunday evening service.

Leviticus is not an easy book to study. Some of the answers will not be able to be answered easily throughout the Q and A in this series. So I encourage you to talk with the preacher on the night if you have anything you wish to discuss in more detail. They would be more than happy to talk with you.

1. How do we know when God is disciplining us? What might his discipline look like?

God reaches us in different ways through the work of His Holy Spirit. Sometimes he disciplines us as we read his word, correcting us, training us, and rebuking us. Sometimes he simply puts it on our hearts. Other times he uses those around us, brothers and sisters. He can even intervene in our physical world. While he may send physical ailments upon us, if that happens to be the case, we should always remember that God's disciple of us is to guide and correct, NOT to punish. Jesus already took the punishment for our sins on the cross. God may allow things to happen to allow him to guide us, but these are corrections, never punishment. For example: IF somehow a sickness leads us to a correction in our life, that may be God allowing that sickness to happen to allow him to direct us. But it is not God punishing us for wrongdoing. personally, I find reading God's work and listening to him is a helpful way to seek his discipline, lest he needs to find another way to get our attention!

The best verse I can think of for this, as a summary, is this:

2. How do we know God will still forgive us if we are addicted to our sins? Would addicts be forgiven according to the law of Leviticus?

"According to the law of Leviticus" is (thankfully!) no longer relevant as Jesus has fulfilled that law - he has fulfilled every aspect of it and has passed his perfect score onto us. He has also taken our punishment for sin. We are free from sin's punishment and guilt. But we still sin. If we are addicted to sin, this is most likely the sign of a false god in our life. Something we idolise. Perhaps wealth, power, sex, or something else. The good news, great news, is that God is able to help us if we are willing to hand over to him these false gods - to confess our sins. God promises forgiveness to those who confess and repent. We can't do it on our own - we need his help:

3. Israelites were warned about idols. How can we, as Christians, know when we have made idols in our hearts?

An idol is anything that is made more important than God in our life. This can be one thing or a thousand things. It can change daily or stay the same for years. The question to ask is: "What am I not able to give up for the sake of my God?"

For the rich young ruler, it was his wealth. Once he knew he could not give it up, he went away sad.

Another test question for idols in our hearts is: "How much do they cost me?" In time, money, commitment. I like my gardens to look tidy, for example. But I'm not going to sacrifice my Bible time or my church family, or an opportunity to cook a meal for someone in need just to weed my garden. I'll make time for my hobbies and joys, but they can not go above serving God. What are your priorities? Are idols taking you away from serving God?

4. I find it confusing when God SOUNDS like he might be fickle and change his mind eg v14-16 cf v 40-42, even though he has the right to lay down the rules.

I'd say he's certainly not fickle, but it is actually God making and keeping his promises. He says very clearly what he expects. he says clearly what the implications are for ignoring him, and what the rewards are, and then, at his discretion, he exercises grace and mercy. He gives his children an opportunity to turn away from their mistakes. (Like any loving parent). if they don't turn away (repent), then the warnings are still there. God is very clear about his expectations, and the consequences, but then he shows grace and mercy BASED ON our repentance.

5. Does God threaten us to be faithful to him?

See question 4 also - he clearly lays down the expectations and consequences. Like a parent warning a child when they cross the road. "Don't cross against the lights, or you can be hit by a car." The parent is NOT saying "If you cross against the lights, I will hit you with my car". The parent is telling the child the consequences. And God's consequences do come from him - but that is because he is holy and he cannot go against his character. He must show justice and must judge fairly. he is just laying down the laws and consequences to give his children every chance to have rest and salvation in him.

Imagine a parent saying to a child "If you eat healthy, that will make you healthy and strong. But if you don't eat healthy, you will not be healthy and strong. You will get sick. You will not recover well. But if you fail to eat healthy, then change your ways (repent) and START to eat healthy, then you can be healthy!" This is not a threat - it is just the natural consequence of obedience and disobedience.

6. How do we see God's discipline in our lives?

Please see the answer to question 1. But check out this short clip - this may also give you a really interesting alternate way of thinking about God's commitment to us in (secular) words:

"Another way to think about God's commitment to us as his children"

7. In 1-39 describe the consequences of following God’s decrees and commands. In 40-46, about Sin, Confession and Covenant. How to link them up for a big picture?

1-39 are the consequences for obedience and disobedience.

40-46 are the promises if you sin, then repent. If you fail, but then turn back to God.

40-46 are amazing verses, because despite all the warnings, Israel WILL still sin (again and again!) but God says: even if you do fail, I will still show you mercy IF you repent.

The big picture?

1-39 - God is holy, so BE holy.

40-46 - Can't be holy? No, because you aare human. So repent. And God will show mercy and forgiveness. But if you won't repent - then you know what happens.

8. How do I remember to love obedience? I forget it leads to life and blessing, I disobey without thinking. How do I love God with ALL heart/mind/soul - not most?

That is a continuing work in our life and it is the work of the Holy Spirit. Obedience comes from allowing God to work in our life, not from trying to do it all ourselves.

I think I say this so many times, but it really is important - being around God and his people regularly is the way to do this. At church, reading your Bible, praying, spending quiet time with God, Bible study with brothers and sisters - all these things keep reminding us of the joyfulness of obedience. When we are away from these things, it is EASY to be distracted by what the world offers and be convinced more and more that obeying God is boring or that we're missing out. Be around God and his people regularly (not 100% of the time - we can't cut ourselves off from the world!) but regularly. Do not give up meeting together!

9. Can it be said that God uses covenant to explain our relationship with him? Is the covenant like a marriage vow? 

Not just to explain it to us, but his covenant promise of salvation through Jesus is exactly that - a covenant for an eternal relationship. And Ephesians 5 clearly compares it with a human marriage covenant:

The difference between marriage and God's covenant of love and salvation is that marriages are filled with human sinfulness and failure. God's covenant with us, however, even though we break it, he never does.

Not only that, but God also pays the price of us breaking this covenant through Jesus' blood. God does everything and even pays the price of our sins to maintain his covenant with us.

God's covenant of salvation is a step above a marriage vow - God is perfectly faithful even when we are not. God maintains his covenant even when we break it.