The people of Israel had been a slave nation. These verses indicate that their society was not based on a proper relationship with God, but on other social dynamics. There were sexual deviancies that were evidently common. Those with power or wealth took advantage of others. The ones that suffered were the weakest in society—the fatherless, widows, foreigners or even young virgins. The social fabric of the time was corrupt. Though they had been delivered from their slave life in Egypt, they persisted in their slave mentality.

The Lord did not see his people only based on their actions. They were called to worship the Lord only (20). The Lord called them out of their slave life in Egypt (21). He called them to offer their best to him, to honor and not blaspheme the Lord. God’s hope was that they would grow in obedience to his word. God saw them based on his hope for them. He saw them newly—as his holy people.
Application: Lord, thank you for your word and your hope. Thank you for guiding me out of my corrupt slave mentality to your holiness.
One Word: God’s holy people