This chapter focuses on the holiness of God, loving our neighbor, and keeping the Lord’s statutes/laws.
“ ‘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. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.’ ” (v9-10,17-18,33-34,36b-37)
God has always had a mission of love, and from early on in Hebrew history He has imparted that mission to His people. Loving God, and loving our neighbor are not new concepts stemming from Jesus, they are as old as recorded history and began in the Garden of Eden (“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’ [Gen 2:18]).
This chapter also contains one of the earliest commands to honor, respect and love the gentiles (non-Hebrews): “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself…” (v34a) This command was given long before the Apostle Peter was reminded to be inclusive of the gentiles. Somewhere along the way Israel (at least the religious elite) seemed to have forgotten (or ignored) this command.
What does this mean for us today? Well, it’s fairly clear from this passage and many in the NT that God longs for His people to be at peace with each other, and with the “gentiles” (non-believers in our case). We are to love everyone equally as a human beings bearing the image of God their creator. We are to help the poor, feed the hungry, and care for the sick as if they are our brother or sister.
I realize that this is easier said than done, and that we as human beings have limited capacities. I’m not suggesting we single-handedly help the whole world, I’m suggesting that with the leading of the Holy Spirit we are attentive just to those He brings across our paths. We can’t change the entire world for everyone, but we can change the entire world for someone.
Father God, thank you for the high calling of loving our neighbors as ourselves and being reconciled to everyone as much as possible. We admit this calling is beyond our capacity, so we praise you for the strength and guidance You give so we may fulfill our calling. Spirit please show us how we can love those You bring across our paths, please give us Your heart for them so we may love them as Jesus would. Please help us discern Your will for our role in their lives, and grant us all that we need to fulfill Your statutes of love. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training