The Monday after the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 31, 2026 by under
Scripture: Leviticus 18:1-5 (NKJV)
18:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”
Devotion
In this eighteenth chapter of Leviticus, the phrase, “I am the Lord your God” is used three times. Once at the beginning, once at the end, and then again at the end of today’s reading, in verse 5. In addition, the phrase, “I am the Lord” is used three other times throughout this chapter. This is used to indicate that what the Lord is saying should be given the hearer’s full attention. The sexual sins in this chapter are abominable to the Lord God. Indeed, the Lord states in verse 24 that these sins, which are committed by the Canaanites, are the reason they will be driven out by Israel.
The people of Israel will also become defiled if they commit these same sins. The Lord casts out such people from His presence. He used His name six times in this chapter to indicate this is the case. As the reading for today says, if a man keeps His statutes and His judgments, he shall live by them. This is done only through the help of the Holy Ghost, on account of faith in the One who obeyed the Law perfectly. As the Gospel from yesterday showed, mankind cannot keep the Law perfectly. He needs the One who fulfills that Law on his behalf. That Mediator, that Good Samaritan, is found in the Lord Jesus. He is the One who cleanses and heals us from our defilement and sin.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
