The overall theme of Leviticus is holiness: the holiness of God, leading toward our own holiness as well. Yesterday’s reading stated this clearly: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). In today’s reading we find this reiterated: “You shall keep my commandments and observe them: I am the Lord. You shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel: I am the Lord; I sanctify you” (22:31-32).

There is a strong contrast between what God intends for our lives, and what we generally intend for ourselves, and we need to notice this contrast. God intends our sanctification, that we will become holy as individuals and as a people: “I am the Lord; I sanctify you.” We should note that this sanctification is both mental and practical, both word and deed. It is not enough to understand things correctly or say the right words; we must know the commands and also put them into practice.

We, in contrast, have an intention in the opposite direction, generally aiming for less holiness for ourselves and indeed less holiness for God’s name as well. We had already been told not to take God’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7), and generally tend tend to think of ‘taking God’s name in vain’ as a verbal thing, speaking God’s name as a cussword or a joke. Yet profaning God’s name also takes place by how we live, when we claim to belong to the Lord and yet live no more devoutly than anyone else.

This may well be what Paul was getting at when he said, “the name of God is blasphemed among the heathen because of you” (Romans 2:24). Because of our tendency, in word and deed, to blaspheme or profane or take in vain the name of our God, we get here another explicit prohibition: “you shall not profane my holy name” (Leviticus 22:32).

* * * * *

You are holy, O Lord, and you intend us for holiness; and we are profane, and we profane your name. Why do you bother with us at all? We are such a poor bargain. And yet in your love you still believe in us, and you keep calling us back to yourself. Grant us repentance: that we may yet learn to love and serve you with all our hearts.