Leviticus 19 offers to us the great challenge, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." The challenge is to mirror the faithfulness and righteousness of God; to be as faithful to God as God is faithful to Israel. Israel's challenge to be holy is to be faithful to the covenant that God has provided and agreed to at Sinai. The rest of chapter 19 are reminders of what this behavior is.
Note that the behaviors not only govern the relationship between Israel and God but between each other and creation as well. This call to be holy sets Israel apart from the nations, they are to be set aside for God's will and not live according to the world but according to God.
Just as chapter 19 reminds Israel of how they should live, chapter 20 outlines the penalties for those who fail to live to the standards. Failure to follow God's commands can lead to expulsion from the community, the land or, in some instances, death. Israel is not to follow in the behavior of the Canaanites, who God is forcing from the land because their behavior is reprehensible to God. Therefore if Israel follows in the habits of the Canaanites, they too will be removed from the land or as verse 22 points out that the land will "vomit them out."
Psalm 23 & 24
Not sure what else can be said about the 23rd Psalm, other than to say it is a reminder to Israel of the care that Yahweh demonstrated in leading Israel out of Egypt, through the Wilderness and then into the Promised Land. It is the image of God as shepherd that has given identity to Israel and the church, of those loved by God who cares for us each day and seeks to provide for our needs and desires.
Psalm 24 can be considered one of the Psalms of Ascents, a Psalm recited by Israel as it heads to the temple for worship. It opens with the reminder that all that is belongs to God, then reminds that only those who follow in the teachings of God are allowed to ascend to the temple. Finally, it ends with a doxology extolling the glory of God.
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