First, keep God's decrees (19-29). The Lord God's decrees governed business matters like animal breeding and farming, and detailed personal matters like clothing. Having sex with someone's slave was sin, and so was eating fruit from a tree you planted before the 5th year, because of ownership violations. God's people must not eat blood or seek omens (26). Many commands prohibited pagan wicked practices (27-29). God is holy and so must his people be holy. Second, follow God's laws (30-37). God redeemed his people from slavery. He said, 'Observe my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary' (30). Seeking answers apart from God defiles (31). Respecting elders reveres God (32). They must love foreigners since they had been foreigners in Egypt (33-34). They must conduct business honestly (35-36). God's commands are holy, righteous and good, so Christians must keep them in spirit (Ro 7:12). But we have all failed. Jesus came to be our righteous representative, substitute and Savior (Heb 7:25).
Application: Lord, your laws are good but I have not kept them, even the Ten Commandments. Thank you for sending Jesus as our example, Savior and Redeemer.
One Word: The law of the Lord is holy