Readings for today: Leviticus 19-22
The primary challenge in reading and understanding Leviticus is the cultural gap that exists between modern, Western culture and the ancient Near East world. There are fundamental differences between how both cultures understand human identity, social order, ritual purity, and moral codes. We have to keep in mind the progressive nature both of God’s revelation and of humanity’s own growth in self-understanding and awareness. Ancient Near East cultures did not believe in modern concepts like universal human rights, free market capitalism, democracy, freedom, etc. They lived in a world with strict hierarchies drawn from a shared understanding of the cosmic order where ritual purity must be maintained lest they incur the wrath of God and the destruction of their society. As He always does, God was working in and through their cultural and social worldview to bring about His will and teach them about Himself.
Israel was set apart as a nation from all of her neighbors in any number of ways. She was a God-centered rather than a king-centered society. She was called to holiness and purity in all of life not just when she worshipped at the Temple. Her ethics were universal because every person - no matter their social or political or economic status - lived under the same covenant with God. So when we read about prohibitions against mixing seeds or mixing fibers, we have to understand their worldview. While such things seem trivial to us, they were Israel’s way of maintaining purity. The same was true when it came to sexual boundaries. The harsh penalties listed were necessary in a world where families and clans often struggled and even fought violently to protect clean lineages and tribal inheritances and strict patriarchy was a way to maintain stability and social order. Finally, Israel understood the priesthood to serve a critical role in maintaining not just social and religious order but the cosmic order itself. As they performed their duties, they maintained a right relationship with God on which all of human society depended.
I know all this may seem strange and esoteric to us. The gap is definitely hard to bridge. And yet, there are some beautifully progressive, even radical, concepts embedded within the Levitical code as well. Leaving the gleanings of a field for the poor. Outlawing the oppression of hired workers. Banning the cursing of those who are deaf. Requiring fairness and impartiality in a court’s judgment. And, of course, the Golden Rule. Loving your neighbor as yourself. All of these were grounded not in kingly authority but in sacred obligation in service to God. As such, they reframe human understanding of civic law as imitation of the divine character of God.
Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 23-25