Walking In Newness of Life Pt. 2 God shows us how to walk for His glory!

God tells us how to walk and how not to walk!

Leviticus 18:1-5  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3) After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4) Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5) Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. 

Leviticus 20:23  And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

This text from the law of Moses puts both aspects of the verb "walk" before us. Remember, that the verb "walk" is a transitive verb, meaning that it must have its action transferred to something or someone. 

The first part of the verb "walk" is what we might think of as a "put off" that we encounter so many times in the New Testament. By telling His people not to walk in a certain manner God was telling them to "put off" those sinful behaviors. 

Jehovah made it abundantly clear that Israel was not to "walk" in the ordinances of the Canaanites, and they were not to "walk" after the practices of the Egyptians. Both the Egyptians and Canaanites practiced idolatry and worshipped hundreds of deities. Both practiced religious rites that were depraved, sensual and unholy. God made it clear that His people who are called by His name must not walk after those things. 

However, the "put off" of Jehovah is followed by a "put on" because God always gives us clear instruction of what to do after we "put off" something that is morally bad. Jehovah told His people that they must "walk" in His judgments, statutes and ordinances. This is the "put on" whereby they were to learn God's law and "walk" in His ways. 

Walking in the ways of God is the path of blessing!

Leviticus 26:3-12  If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4) Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5) And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6) And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7) And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8) And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9) For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10) And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11) And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 12) And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

 This text presents an "If...Then" argument to encourage the people of God to obey His Word. If God's people choose to faithfully walk in His statutes and judgments to do them, then Jehovah will pour out great blessings. 

• God will send rain as needed for farming and sustaining life.

• God will cause the land to yield a bountiful harvest and an extended growing season.

• God will supply abundant bread, fruit and vegetables for the people so that they are well satisfied.

• God will grant His people peace in their land by removing evil beasts and not allowing enemies to attack. 

• God will bless His people when they go out to fight and cause their enemies to lose courage and flee.

• God will multiply His people.

• Last, God promised to establish His place of worship with them and walk among them and be their God!

These are rich and abundant blessings that God did indeed pour out upon Israel when they chose to walk in His ways. The same principle is applicable for believers today in that God will bless us when we obey Him. His blessings may not take the form of abundant crops or dwelling in peace like Israel's blessings. However, they will be blessings of peace, love, joy and blessings in our homes, interpersonal relationships and blessings in our worship.

Two paths to walk on.

Psalm 26:11  But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

David tells us the joy of walking in the ways of God. It is a path that leads to living a life of integrity. The word "integrity" means being made whole and complete, and morally sound before God. It refers to living a life that is pure and wholesome because our choices are aligned with what God's word says. 

Thus, walking in the ways of God leads to a believer walking in integrity. 

Psalm 82:5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 

Those who refuse to walk in the ways of God are walking in darkness. Their lives are messed up by sin and depravity. all that they do is wrong because their starting point is self gratification instead of beginning with God. 

Psalm 84:11-12  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12) O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 

Notice how the Psalmist phrases the blessings that attend those who walk in the ways of God and walk after the Spirit. Jehovah Elohim is the first name of God in this text and the name Jehovah is found three times in two verses. 

Jehovah is the promise keeping, covenant honoring God. He is the unchangeable God who inhabits eternity and dwells with those who have repentant hearts. He will always do what He says He will do. 

Elohim is the God who is Creator, Sustainer of life, governor of the universe and Sovereign King who intends to rule His subjects. 

Thus, both the names of God used give us a full picture of knowing the One, true God and the great privilege of worshipping Him.

Jehovah Elohim is both a sun and a shield to the believer. He will grant grace and glory to us. In fact, he will not hold back any good thing that we ask for in accord with his will. 

This rich blessing is reserved for any man, woman or young person who will walk in His ways, and who demonstrates a life marked by uprightness. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

God's word is usually very clear in what it says to us. There are two kinds of people in the world at any given moment in time: those who are not born again and those who are born again. Those who are saved and those who are lost. 

In this lesson we see that there are two paths that people can choose to walk on: walking on the path to self pleasure, self gratification and self conceit. Or walking in the ways of God that leads to walking on a path of living uprightly before God, having integrity and enjoying God's blessings. 

Those who refuse to walk in God's ways will lose out on living the best life possible. When we walk with the Lord in humble obedience it is the best life on earth and it will be exponentially better in heaven when He calls us home. 

Which path will you choose to walk in this day?

I hope and pray you choose to walk in the ways of God. 

Bob