God gave specific instruction concerning leprosy, the issue of the blood or the issue of the flesh and how to treat them. The priest was to declare the person unclean and set them apart from the camp. Just as they were set apart by their disease, we are set apart from God by our disease: Sin. As anyone approached them, they were required to shout out, “Unclean, unclean” declaring their disease so that anyone approaching could prevent themselves from becoming defiled by the disease. Today we have a conscious that declares to us, “unclean, unclean” when we approach wickedness. God has always made a way of escape; it’s just that sometimes we choose to defile ourselves. Once they were declared clean by the priest, they were to wash their clothes and shave off all their hair and wash themselves in water for cleansing. We too have a cleansing: the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the righteous. Once they were allowed to enter the camp they were to tarry abroad and not enter into their tent for seven days. We too must not enter into the Holy place of prayer until we have made ourselves sanctified, not just saved. On the eighth day, they were to make sacrifices unto the Lord. God told them exactly what to sacrifice, how the sacrifice was to be performed. God also made provision for the poor person to give an offering to the Lord. They were able to give less and follow the same ritual. This makes me think of us here today. Before we are saved, we are like the lepers: unclean. We live outside of God’s love and blessing but once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness and welcomes us into his family. After we are saved, we should bring our offerings to Him; not just money but our time, our talents and our love. I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2. We should work for Him so that others may come to know Him and to accept Him as we did. I am so thankful we are under grace and not under the law. It would’ve been very difficult to live with all the rules they were under.
Our disease: Sin. The battle rages on, the warrior is a child, the Lord is ready to answer...just ask.
ReplyDeleteIT IS AMAZING TO US THAT LEPOSY IS NOT KNOWN OF ANYMORE. WE HAVE ALL THIS INSTRUCTION ABOUT SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUT IT STILL SPEAKS TO US ABOUT BEING UNCLEAN. SIN IS COMPARED TO LEPOSY OFTEN BECAUSE IT DESTROYS.
ReplyDeleteKEEP YOUR HEART CLOSE TO GOD SO WE WON'T GET INFECTED WITH SIN.
GOOD NITE
I think 15:31 is a great explanation of all of these laws/regulations: "You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them."
ReplyDeleteTo dwell with God, we have to be clean. Today, our hearts have to be clean of sin to fellowship with God. This is an impossible task for us to do on our own, which is why Jesus had to live the perfect life as a sacrifice for us.
Boots, I agree that it would have been difficult... impossible... to live under these rules.
Boots - I love the way you made connections with the "old" law to us today under Jesus' amazing grace. I really liked the parallels you made with that. You know me, the "connectivity" freak!!! Terry, I do agree totally that chapter 15, verse 31 is a fantastic explanation for all of these laws. If God is going to dwell among us, or IN us as is the case for us, we have to be "clean". I would be wise to keep this in mind before entering to worship this most HOLY GOD of ours! I need to do a better job of examining my heart and confessing any sin I have not confessed yet prior to Sunday morning worship.
ReplyDeleteBoots - I also love the way you pointed us to Romans 12:1-2. That passage is SO applicable here AND it is Jaybrena's favorite verses! :)
These chapters spoke to me once again on holiness. I strive to be holy and have a pure heart. At times, sin creeps in through situations and circumstances. I must confess those sins so I can worship God with my whole heart. Again, I am gracious for God's grace!!!! Amen.
ReplyDelete