Transcript:

Leviticus 19:2 – “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

In this verse, God speaks to “all the congregation of the children of Israel,” emphasising that holiness applies to everyone, not just a select spiritual elite or priestly class. Holiness is not optional, nor is it reserved for a few; it is the calling of the entire covenant people. This command flows directly from God’s own character.

Holiness is not the means by which Israel becomes God’s people; it is the response of a people who already have the LORD as their God. Holiness is not something Israel is asked to create or define for itself. It flows from the character of the LORD Himself. God’s purity, faithfulness, and righteousness set the pattern for the lives of those He has redeemed. Holiness, therefore, grows out of relationship before it is expressed in behaviour; it arises from belonging to a holy God.

This verse introduces a chapter that applies the concept of holiness to everyday life, including family relationships, honesty, compassion, justice, and love for one's neighbour. In Leviticus, holiness is not about withdrawing from life but about faithfully obeying God’s Word while engaging in it. God's people are called to reflect His character through ordinary acts of obedience just as much as in their sacred worship.

This command also challenges any attempt to separate faith from daily living. To belong to the LORD is to be shaped by Him in every area of life. Yet the call to holiness is not heavy or crushing, for the God who commands holiness also supplies the grace needed to walk in it. Leviticus 19:2 reminds us that holiness is not a means of earning God’s favour, but a grateful response to the God who has already claimed His people as His own.