Leviticus 19:1-16
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. – Leviticus 19:9
Click to read
Leviticus 19 opens with a clear call to holiness: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (v.2). In just 18 verses, the phrase “I am the Lord” is repeated at least eight times. This repetition is intentional. It emphasizes that God is not only the source of authority and the Giver of the law, but also the very foundation for our holiness.
“the Lord” or “I Am”, which is a translation of the Hebrew word YHWH, is God’s covenant name. The name He revealed when He established His covenant with His people. This name appears after each commandment to remind us that we do not obey impersonal or abstract rules, but a living and holy God who draws near to us. He is not a distant lawgiver, but a present and relational God who longs for a covenantal relationship with us so that we may reflect His holy and glorious character.
The purpose of the law, then, is not merely external obedience, but an inward transformation of a heart shaped by reverence, love, and surrender to God. When we lose sight of who He is and what it means to belong to Him, obedience easily becomes a hollow ritual. May the Lord help us remember our identity in Christ, as God’s holy people, so that our obedience flows from love and gratitude, rather than just duty alone.
Today’s passage gives practical ways that holiness is lived out: honouring parents (v.3), rejecting theft and deceit (v.11), treating neighbours fairly (v.13), judging justly (v.15), and even leaving portions of the harvest for the poor (vv.9–10). These commands reflect God’s own heart, full of compassion, justice, and faithfulness. To follow these commands is to reflect the One who calls and saves us, the great “I Am”.
Reflection:
What does the phrase “I am the Lord” mean to you personally? Does it stir your heart with reverence and gratitude? In your daily choices, are you mindful of the Lord and His holy calling for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle your first love for God and to remind you of your identity as His chosen and set-apart people. As Galatians 2:20 says, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”.
Prayer:
Dear Father God, You are set apart in glory, and Your word reveals Your heart. Thank You for calling me to belong to you and to live a life that reflects your holiness. Forgive me for the times I have followed the world’s ways instead of Yours. Teach me to walk daily in Your truth, not just outwardly, but from a heart that loves and trusts you. Let my words, thoughts, and actions reflect Your holiness in me and bring honour to Your holy name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Click to read
Leviticus 19 opens with a clear call to holiness: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (v.2). In just 18 verses, the phrase “I am the Lord” is repeated at least eight times. This repetition is intentional. It emphasizes that God is not only the source of authority and the Giver of the law, but also the very foundation for our holiness.
“the Lord” or “I Am”, which is a translation of the Hebrew word YHWH, is God’s covenant name. The name He revealed when He established His covenant with His people. This name appears after each commandment to remind us that we do not obey impersonal or abstract rules, but a living and holy God who draws near to us. He is not a distant lawgiver, but a present and relational God who longs for a covenantal relationship with us so that we may reflect His holy and glorious character.
The purpose of the law, then, is not merely external obedience, but an inward transformation of a heart shaped by reverence, love, and surrender to God. When we lose sight of who He is and what it means to belong to Him, obedience easily becomes a hollow ritual. May the Lord help us remember our identity in Christ, as God’s holy people, so that our obedience flows from love and gratitude, rather than just duty alone.
Today’s passage gives practical ways that holiness is lived out: honouring parents (v.3), rejecting theft and deceit (v.11), treating neighbours fairly (v.13), judging justly (v.15), and even leaving portions of the harvest for the poor (vv.9–10). These commands reflect God’s own heart, full of compassion, justice, and faithfulness. To follow these commands is to reflect the One who calls and saves us, the great “I Am”.
Reflection:
What does the phrase “I am the Lord” mean to you personally? Does it stir your heart with reverence and gratitude? In your daily choices, are you mindful of the Lord and His holy calling for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle your first love for God and to remind you of your identity as His chosen and set-apart people. As Galatians 2:20 says, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”.
Prayer:
Dear Father God, You are set apart in glory, and Your word reveals Your heart. Thank You for calling me to belong to you and to live a life that reflects your holiness. Forgive me for the times I have followed the world’s ways instead of Yours. Teach me to walk daily in Your truth, not just outwardly, but from a heart that loves and trusts you. Let my words, thoughts, and actions reflect Your holiness in me and bring honour to Your holy name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.