For several weeks now, I have enjoyed helping to lead Bible Drill here at Tallowood, in which our church’s kids are learning about God’s Word by memorizing various Bible verses. One of their verses is the first verse in the passage above. Ask any of them what Leviticus 22:31 says, and they’ll excitedly tell you, “Keep my commands and follow them! I am the Lord!”
It's certainly a verse worthy of memorization. That’s because, in a book that seems to overwhelm us with boring and confusing rules, God continues to remind Israel that he’s not giving the rules without good reason. What’s his reason? “I am the Lord.” Let us never forget that the Law of Moses does not exist in a vacuum, nor do any moral standards we followers of God are held to. In fact, when we try to just focus on the right and wrong without considering God’s reasons for them, we become legalists. When we try to isolate morality and forget to ground it on good theology, even our morality falls apart.
I believe we can categorize all of Christian theology into four questions. They have to be asked in order, and it’s not until the last one that we actually start to consider right and wrong. Firstly, we ask, Who is God? This is where we are floored with awe at the infinite glory of the Triune God who stands in eternity with perfect power, wisdom, and goodness. The story does not start with us; it starts with Him who is greater than our capacity to comprehend. Secondly, we ask, What has God done for us? This is the story that the Bible tells! God created us for his own glory, and though we fell away into sin, he saved and redeemed us back to himself with a staggering show of love through Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, we ask, Who are we? We can only answer rightly in light of the first two questions. We are created in God’s image and beloved. We are broken sinners that have been forgiven, adopted as God’s beloved children, and called to righteousness. What greater identity could you possibly hope to attain! And fourthly, we finally ask, What are we to do? Only now that we’ve established who we are, we can make sense of what it means to love the Lord, obey his commands, and live joyously in his glory.
It is our tendency, when asked what it means to be a Christian, to jump straight into explaining what we do. But we can’t make sense of that fourth question without the third, nor the third without the second, nor the second without the first. This is why throughout the laws in Leviticus, God reminded the Israelites of that foundation. Who is he? The Lord who is holy. What has he done? Rescued them out of Egypt. Who are they now? A blessed holy nation, set apart by God. Therefore, what are they to do? Keep his commands!
Let’s not downplay the importance of obeying God’s commands. But let’s also not forget why. Contemplate who God is, what he has done, and who we regenerated believers are—let those truths engulf you—and then live as if they are true.
