In Whoring After לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after, go whoring after. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. We’ll start in our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 20:4-7 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after Molech. If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, לִזְנ֖וֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. We have seen for several days know this great evil of sacrificing children to Molech. Here notice that this was so bad that God’s judgment was not only on those who practiced such horrific acts but even to those who would ignore them instead of making sure that God’s capital punishment was carried out. Our phrase is used to describe what this action was it was the ultimate unfaithfulness to God. It is also used in seeking out mediums and necromancers which we have looked at these words previously. Instead of connecting with the true living God his people left God and turned away from him. He describes just how the pain of the unfaithfulness of his people felt in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 6:9 Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over לִבָּ֣ם הַזּוֹנֶ֗ה [this is a different phrase than ours but very similar in meaning] their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that הַזֹּנ֕וֹת אַחֲרֵ֖י [this is basically our phrase just without the preposition in our phrase and with the article instead. It is translated the same way] go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. God’s answer to all of this unfaithfulness was in verse 7 of our chapter today. Leviticus 20:7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And it gets better if we look at the next verse. Leviticus 20:8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. This theme of God making us like himself is seen throughout the Bible. Holiness is the best thing for us and our loved ones around us. And the good news is that God is the one that makes us holy if we let him work in us. I’ll close with this great encouragement from the book of Hebrews and 1 John. Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.