We are Different to Show He's Different

Leviticus is known mostly for one main theme: Holiness. Holiness is not moral superiority. Holiness refers to sacredness or set apart(ness) for God and His people. It is clear here in Levitus 22, which wraps up the holiness code begun way back in Leviticus 17 that all that God's stipulations are meant to do two things - to set Israel apart from the nations around them and to set their God apart from all the gods of those nations.

Leviticus 22:9 (ESV) They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it: I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

The word for sanctify here shows up 15 times in Leviticus - more than any other book in the Pentateuch and it means to be hallowed, holy, sanctified; to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate. Israel was to obey God's stipulations about sacrifices, priesthoods and daily life because they were dedicated to God's purposes. This nation was to stand apart from all the other nations of the world because one day this nation would bring salvation to the ends of the Earth through the birth of Christ. 

Commentators note how similar God's sacrificial and temple worship system are to the other ancient peoples around them at the time YET they also note how much more specific God is and how important it is for all these sacrifices/priests to be "clean" and specifically chosen. General revelation led ancient peoples to sacrifice to gods for their wrongdoings, but God's specific revelation here made clear the purpose and method of offering clear. 

The first part of Leviticus 22 continues the strict stipulations for the priests who offer sacrifices. The second part of the chapter outlines how the sacrifices themselves are to be without blemish and completely whole. Israel is to be 100% whole, clean and righteous people who offer 100% whole, clean and perfect sacrifices. 

Leviticus 22:20 (ESV) You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.

Israel could not just offer God want they didn't want or couldn't use like the nations around them did for their gods. They couldn't just have anyone offering these sacrifices. Again, they were to be DIFFERENT... SET APART.

What this chapter illustrates for us is this:

God gives His laws to His people for two reasons: To make them distinct from everyone around them AND to distinguish Himself from all other gods people may be inclined to worship. 

The New Testament carries on this theme in how we live morally. Since Jesus fulfills Leviticus 22 in that He is both the PERFECT priest who offers the final PERFECT sacrifice of Himself, we now live responsively in ways that should make the world take note that we belong to Him and that He is like none other. We are set apart to set Him apart.

Notice how Peter unpacks this for us:

1 Peter 4:3–5 (ESV) For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

In other words Christian, your life in response to God's work in you should be a sign to those around you that the God you serve is different, better and far more satisfying. 

We are to live like no one else to show that our God is like none other!