Leviticus 6:1–2: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘If a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor.'”

December 20th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Moses recorded these instructions from the Lord, for the priests handling the 5 major offerings covered so far in this book. But here in these detailed instructions for handling sacrifices, we find an interesting insight into the nature of our God. Moses writes that a sin of lying to a neighbor is actually a sin against God. He records that if a person sins and “commits a trespass against the LORD by lying to his neighbor,” something is required. This is a painful truth worthy of our attention.

King David wrote in Psalm 51:4: “Against You, You only, have I sinned, / And done this evil in Your sight.” In reality, there is no question that the damage of David’s transgression was broad and far-reaching. He sinned against Bathsheba, the woman he committed adultery with. He sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. He sinned against his own family. David even sinned against his men, who had a right to expect fidelity from their leader. In a broader sense, he had betrayed the nation he was anointed to lead. There were innocent victims scattered all around him. However, David’s confession makes it clear that he understood how horribly he had violated the law of the God he loved so dearly. It was a crushing moment in his life.

In Genesis 39:9, Joseph also clearly understood this fact when he said to the temptress, Potipher’s wife, “How could I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” He saw that a trespass against his neighbor was fundamentally a trespass against God.

My sin may hurt other people and will require confession, repentance, and perhaps restitution to them; but the over-arching, prevailing problem is that it is first and foremost a sin against God Himself.

“LORD, we agree with Your Word and confess that it is against You and You only that we have sinned. Please cleanse us anew this day that we might serve You.”