Page 19 - May 2026 - Truth & Tidings

firstly, “I am … your God” and, secondly, divine grace (v8) and human responsibil-
“I … sanctify you.” They are in covenant ity to act in accordance with it (v7).
relationship with Him, and in that sense
He has already sanctified them, as He The Relevance
states later in the chapter: “And ye shall So far, all that has been said pertains
be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, to the relationship between the Lord and
and have severed you from other people, the nation of Israel many years ago. Is
that ye should be mine” (v26). They are this relevant to us in 2026? It surely is:
His, separate from all the other peoples, God has not changed, and, as His people
for whom the wicked practices described in the present day, whose calling and
in these chapters are part of normal life. blessings are on a far higher plane than
He is holy, and His people are to be holy, those of Israel then, our responsibility
as He is. So their obedient behaviour to sanctify ourselves and to be holy is
manifests their separation, and at the same no less great than theirs was. And the
time plays an indispensable role in main- wickedness in this world around us may
taining it. So the need for holiness, seen in not be expressed in precisely the ways
obedience to Him, is not only because of it was then, but it has not changed one
the severe punishments for disobedience, iota in character, and the danger of our
and not only because it is the Lord who is being influenced by it for evil is greater
commanding (vitally important as that is), than we like to admit. We do not face the
but also because they, uniquely among all harsh punishments the Israelites faced for
nations in the earth, are in relationship to disobedience, but that should not cause us
a holy God and are therefore to be holy. to think that God takes a lighter view of
The Resource sin now than He did then. He does not,
and He is still the Lord, our God, who has
While He has sanctified them in sepa- separated us unto Himself, who requires
rating them off as a nation unto Himself, that His people be holy, as He is, and
there is also the practical side. The use of who provides the resources needed for
the word “sanctify” at the start of verse 7 is this to be so. “But as he which hath called
practical, and, in part at least, “sanctify” at you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
the end of verse 8 (“I am the LORD which conversation; because it is written, Be ye
sanctify you”) is also practical. Here is a holy; for I am holy” (1Pe 1:15-16). The fact
solemn – yet encouraging – statement. that Peter lifted this command straight
Their responsibility to sanctify themselves out of Leviticus and placed it before his
and to stand apart from the wickedness Christian readers, without diminution or
all around them could never be done in qualification, shows that the truth of Jeho-
their own strength. However, they are not vah Makadesh is as relevant to us today as
2
left to their own resources. This is a work it was then: “Sanctify yourselves therefore,
which God does in them. He forms the and be ye holy … I am the LORD which
desire in them to be sanctified people, and sanctify you.”
He gives the needed strength so that this
desire can be fulfilled. He sanctifies, and 2 Other forms in which this title appears include
they are to sanctify themselves. There is a (but are not limited to) Jehovah M’Kaddesh and
beautiful balance between the provision of Jehovah Mekoddishkem.

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