Tuesday - Leviticus 24 - Cussing

Words are powerful! Words were God's tool of choice for making the universe and for revealing Himself to humanity. Words reveal and express the realities of the heart of mankind. Words have the force to affect people's earthly and eternal destiny. A word can be absolutely bound up with potential (Proverbs 15:23 and 25:11).

Now, this chapter begins with an innocuous repetition of the instructions concerning the light in the sanctuary. It continues with more instructions concerning the showbread that was to be kept in the Tabernacle (Leviticus 24:1-9).  But it ends with an account of violent justice against a blasphemer.

It all started with a fight.  In the middle of that fight one of the moral vagrants (an Egyptian-Jew) used God's name unholily (Leviticus 24:11). Well, those who heard him cussing brought him to Moses for judgment. And, what was the verdict? God decreed, "Death by stoning." His accusers laid their hands on him identifying him as the guilty one and then they killed him (Leviticus 24:23).

Our society has almost completely lost touch with this perspective.  God expects respect from everyone, believer or non-believer (Leviticus 24:22). Yet, what's the truth? In cussing, cursing, swearing, blaspheming, degrading, mocking, joking, marginalizing and ignoring the name of God - His name is currently "taken in vain" everywhere by wholesale disregard for its value and perfection. His name is wonderful and powerful.  His name is unique.  There is no other name through which we can be saved (Acts 2:21 and 4:12).