We are in Numbers chapter eight with our word for today. טָהֵר be clean, cleanse, purify, pronounce clean. Our word is used 94 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense to cleanse, to purge of ritual impurities. 2 Chronicles 29:18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, טִהַ֖רְנוּ “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. Nehemiah 12:30 And the priests and the Levites וַיִּֽטַּהֲר֔וּ purified themselves, וַֽיְטַהֲרוּ֙ and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. This is how our word is used 3 out of the 4 times in our chapter. Numbers 8:5-7, 15 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel וְטִהַרְתָּ֖ and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them לְטַֽהֲרָ֔ם to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes וְהִטֶּהָֽרוּ and cleanse themselves … And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, וְטִֽהַרְתָּ֣ when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. We also find our word used in the sense to cleanse, to make pure or free from sin or guilt. Leviticus 16:30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you לְטַהֵ֣ר to cleanse you. תִּטְהָֽרוּ You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. This is how our word is used once in our chapter. Numbers 8:21-22 And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them לְטַהֲרָֽם to cleanse them. And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them. Did you catch that cleansing comes before service? This is a theme that we have seen and will continue to see throughout the Bible. I’ll close with these two uses of our word from a Psalm where David is repenting of his sin. Notice that he is asking for God to cleanse him from his sin. God is not only the one forgives but also who cleans us up when we come to him in repentance. Psalm 51:1-2, 7 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and טַהֲרֵֽנִי cleanse me from my sin! … Purge me with hyssop, וְאֶטְהָ֑ר and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
