Leviticus 19:9-18, 33-37

There is no recording of the sermon this week.

Pastor Amy suggested that worship today focus on the Lev 19. So…

We find ourselves at Leviticus Command Central. Our goal is to make the Leviticus Commands a productive mission. Ready yourself at your station to make a tangible contribution to this history altering venture. I will review Leviticus point 19. Then you will add data to carry out the Leviticus mission.

Leviticus includes dozens of commands and worship guidelines for ancient Israel. Moral rules that shape community. Without such moral codes, trust and caring are at risk. Even AI can only guess the purpose of some of the commands; but most focus on community building. Harmony among peopleis th e goal. The Kosher dietary laws codified in Leviticus made close inter-cultural bonds difficult (and particularly inter-marriage) by creating barriers to eating with non-Israelite people. Yet this dietary exclusivity launched a core community intended to expand to include all people.

Ready? Your first individual assignment is to solve a program bug: No person likes to be told what to do.

We’ve all experienced this feeling of resistance to commands–You should wear a hat. Even, “Honey, please take out the garbage.” Most of us even resist the wisest guidance. One man is so sick of commands that he commented: “I don’t understand how God decreed only Ten Commandments for the whole world, and yet my wife has at least 150 just for our house.” People resist anyone telling us what we should do, even if they give advice for our own good.

Our first mission assignment is to minimize this command resistance programming bug.

Please consider that the intent of Lev pt 19 is to win command breakers by treating them with love and winning them back to harmony with others. The ancient commands in Leviticus have significant spiritual-moral wisdom for everyone who trusts God. Leviticus point 19: God desires for people to live in purity and “holiness”: You must love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD…You must keep all my rules and all my regulations, and do them; I am the LORD.”

Many of the ethical commands are nearly second nature for faithful program users. Yet our second assignment is to inspire user compliance:
Despite good intentions, people often do not DO what the mission commands.

Our assignment is to promote command compliance. Lev 19:9-10 says, “Leave the gleanings from your harvest for the poor and the immigrant.” In broad terms–whatever our work product is, make sure to set aside some of it for disadvantaged and immigrant people. Jewish and Christian traditions have read this command less in terms of some abstract justice, but rather as participating in providing love of God as a community. Individual generosity is important. Promoting broad generosity multiplies the impact.

Lev 19:11 says, “You must not steal.” And, “Do not deceive nor lie.” We to address subtle forms of stealing lying and deception. Program users might be surprised by their own theft, lying or deception. Our hyperlink might also address how long it takes to reboot trust, 19:12 goes on: “You must not swear falsely by my name, desecrating your God’s name in doing so.”

When I hear someone say “O God,” I’m tempted to sincerely reply,” That’s a good prayer.” DO we use God’s name casually? Or, “God forbid,” do we call upon God’s name for punishment? Do those who do not believe in God fall under the jurisdiction of this command? I do not take the name of the Lord in vain when I say “Thank God everyone here is experienced with biblical programming.”

You might want to take a few breaths because the commands in Leviticus go on. Lev. 19:13 says “You must not oppress your neighbors.” This command is followed by an example: “Do not withhold a hired laborer’s pay.” A hyperlink seems warranted for under-compensating restaurant servers or others with stingy gratuities. Worse yet, self-centered over-indulgences oppress neighbors here and abroad by not using resources to help others instead. Excessive consumption depletes limited resources. Over-indulgences clearly oppress the earth’s resources, too. We may need to add data about food waste and daily use of fuels and plastic. This link can focus on: What we need to DO to reduce our over-consumption. A woman bragged that she donated her used clothes to starving people in an impoverished country. Her friend retorted, “But your clothes are far too big for anyone who is starving!”

Lev. 19 14 says: “You must not insult a deaf person or put some obstacle in front of a blind person.” Our hyper link needs to address condescending vs sensitivity to their feelings? Also: ignoring people with inadequacies or difficulty communicating reinforces their social isolation. Do we avoid because relating to them isn’t easy? How can program users build caring bridges?

Lev. 19:15 is surprising: “Do not show favoritism to the poor or deference to the great; you must judge your fellow Israelites fairly.” Despite political taboos, we need links discrimination toward dis-empowered and powerful people. No more billionaire bashing or jokes about politicians! A queen asked a leader from India, “I hear Indian politicians are notoriously corrupt and wealthy.” And he said, “But none so brazen as to wear their loot on their head.” This joke probably “should” be banned for decimating against national leaders.

Lev 19:16 continues:   Do not go around slandering. Of course, we never slander…right?

The next command is daunting: “Do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed.” Does this mean we should help whenever we are present at a scene of violence? Does “stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed” demand that we intervene when we learn about violence towards innocents, children, immigrants, etc., — whether near or far? Do we make excuses like, I’m not cold-hearted, I’m just in sleep mode.

Lev.19:33-4 says: “When immigrants live in your land, you must not cheat them. Any immigrant must be treated as if they were one of your citizens.” How is the United States following that command and many other biblical texts about caring for immigrants? What are we as individuals DOING to help immigrants?

Lev. 19:34 specifically prohibits using inaccurate measures for lengths, weight or volume. This form of cheating was a regular temptation in ancient society. Today, we can find even more ways of cheating. Leviticus also addresses our inner spirit: 18 – You must not take revenge nor hold a grudge. Uh-oh, can any of us claim to be free revenge or grudges? Do we love fully enough to forgive?

A woman recently humiliated me in public. I told her that I forgave her. Yet I still hold some resentment. She is oblivious, but I feel a gnawing discomfort from my bitterness. Hopefully, a heart reboot is in progress. Grudges and plotting revenge eat away our peace of mind. This text about grudges and revenge summarizes: “Instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”

These commands apply all situations. Isabel Wilkerson said, “It is no honor to be tolerated. Every spiritual tradition says love your neighbor as yourself, not tolerate them.” The world needs a love that is troubled by injustice … A love that has no tolerance for hate, no excuses for prejudice, no contentment in the unjust status quo. We need love that is fiercely resilient. We need to look to God’s love and empowerment.

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