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Leviticus 18:26
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commitany of these abominations;neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:

Leviticus 19:37
Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: Iam the LORD.

Leviticus 20:22
Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

and keep My statutes
Statutes refer to the specific laws and decrees given by God. In Leviticus, these statutes often pertain to issues of purity, worship, and community living. Keeping these statutes was crucial for maintaining holiness and the distinct identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people. The emphasis on keeping statutes highlights the need for continual observance and dedication. This concept is mirrored in the New Testament, where Jesus fulfills the law and calls His followers to uphold the spirit of the law through love and obedience (Matthew 5:17-19).

by walking in them
Walking in God's statutes and judgments implies a lifestyle of consistent obedience and faithfulness. This metaphor of walking suggests a daily, ongoing commitment to living according to God's ways. In the ancient Near Eastern context, walking in a deity's ways was a common expression of loyalty and devotion. Biblically, this idea is seen throughout Scripture, where walking with God signifies a close relationship with Him, as exemplified by figures like Enoch and Noah (Genesis 5:24, 6:9). In the New Testament, believers are called to walk in the Spirit, reflecting a life transformed by faith in Christ (Galatians 5:16).

I am the LORD your God
This declaration asserts God's authority and identity as the covenant-keeping God of Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies His eternal, self-existent nature and His personal relationship with His people. This phrase serves as a reminder of the basis for the commandments given: they are rooted in God's character and His covenant with Israel. Historically, this statement reinforced the distinctiveness of Israel's worship of the one true God amidst a polytheistic culture. Theologically, it underscores the continuity of God's relationship with His people, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is recognized as Lord and Savior in the New Testament (Philippians 2:11).

- “Judgments” are God’s settled decisions about right and wrong. They show up in places likeExodus 21–23, where the Lord renders verdicts on real-life situations.

- Putting them into practice means letting His decisions guide ours every day:

• Choosing honesty becauseProverbs 11:1 says “dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD.”

• Treating people impartially becauseDeuteronomy 1:17 insists, “Do not show partiality in judgment.”

- When Israel obeyed these judgments, God promised “that it may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 6:18). The same principle remains: His rulings protect us and bless others.

- “Statutes” are fixed ordinances—commands meant to be safeguarded, not edited. Think ofDeuteronomy 6:17: “You must diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and the statutes He has given you.”

- Keeping them involves:

• Guarding the truth (Jude 3) so it isn’t distorted.

• Passing them to the next generation (Psalm 78:5-7).

• Obeying from the heart, as Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

- God never treats His statutes as temporary suggestions; they flow from His unchanging character (Malachi 3:6).

- “Walking” pictures a lifestyle, not a one-time act.Deuteronomy 5:33 urges, “Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live.”

- Daily steps matter:

• Planning: “In all your ways acknowledge Him” (Proverbs 3:6).

• Speech: “Let your conversation be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6).

• Relationships: “Walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2).

- New-covenant believers still walk this path, empowered by the Spirit: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

- The command rests on who He is. He reminds them, “I am the LORD”—Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God who delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 20:2).

- Because He is:

• Sovereign (Isaiah 45:5), His word is final.

• Holy (Leviticus 11:44), His people are called to be holy.

• Personal—“your God”—He desires relationship, not mere rule-keeping (Jeremiah 31:33).

-Revelation 1:8 echoes the same authority: “I am the Alpha and the Omega… the Almighty.” The foundation of obedience is always His identity.

Leviticus 18:4 calls God’s people to live out His settled judgments and guard His fixed statutes by making them the pathway of everyday life. Obedience isn’t abstract; it’s a walk empowered by the One who declares, “I am the LORD your God.” His character undergirds His commands, and following them lets the world see who He is through how we live.

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