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February 17th
The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 14,15.
Our reading yesterday and today introduces us to the laws concerning leprosy and the cleansing necessary to re-enter the presence of God at the Tabernacle.
You’ll notice in our reading that it was possible for the disease to be healed, but the healed victim still needed to be cleansed in order to approach the presence of God.
The Bible says, “As long as a person has the disease he is unclean. And as long as he is unclean he must live alone, outside the camp.”
And that means until the leper was pronounced clean by the priest, the leper was forbidden to live among the congregation inside the camp. Also until the leper was pronounced clean by the priest, the leper was forbidden to worship at the court of the tabernacle.
What a high price to pay for one’s leprous condition...for one’s ceremonial uncleanness....especially when it was of no fault of their own. No fellowship with God’s people, and No entering the presence of God for worship at the Tabernacle.
All of this concerning the laws of leprosy and uncleanness had nothing to do with an Israelite’s eternal salvation. This was entirely about a redeemed sinner’s daily fellowship with God and fellowship with the other faith followers of God.
God was saying...”I want my redeemed to come before Me...but I want them to come according to My Holiness....
God was speaking about an attitude of the heart. Let me illustrate. I once heard the story of how England won the world soccer championships in 1966. At the end of the game, the English team captain, Bobby Moore, stood upon a platform and received the World Cup for the team.
When asked later how he felt in that moment, he said,” Quite dirty. With the Queen sitting close by in her pristine dress and hat, all I could think about was wiping my dirty hands and feet off.”
Just like Bobby Moore before the Queen’s majesty, so must God’s people be in their hearts and minds when approaching the presence of God for worship, we must humbly want to be holy for He is Holy, we must not be careless and thoughtless or preoccupied with prideful thoughts of ourselves as we approach His holy presence. We must humbly want to wipe our dirty hands and feet off as we stand on our own platform of victory in Jesus.
The leper had been healed. A wondrous victory over disease had taken place.....Certainly, a wonder-filled accomplishment.
But the miraculously healed leper had to be cleansed and sanctified by the priest outside and inside the camp for seven days before he could approach the presence of God at the Tabernacle.
Wonder why the cleansing ceremony lasted 7 days outside the camp and 7 days inside the camp? I have a thought. Lepers were disgusting to people. People treated them with disdain and total lack of love and personal respect.
Perhaps the priest would know that the healed person’s scars went deeper than their skin...all the way to their souls. Perhaps the fourteen days were to help him get a start on forgiving those who had treated him so terribly.
Yes, he could understand the hygenic laws of separation. But where was the “mercy seat living” by God’s people?
And maybe the fourteen days were to help him in one more way...to begin to get past the “shame” he had lived with for so long.
God had a plan and He was working it...all of it pointing to The Way...Jesus!
Mark 1:40...”If you are willing, you can make me clean.”...A leper to Jesus in Galilee...”I know that you're not obligated to help me, I don't deserve your help. For you see, my kind have no hope. I am” willing...be clean!” (Jesus)....what a Savior...
Have a great day
