Leviticus
chapter 14 is filled with rich symbolism of repentance, forgiveness
and restoration. The chapter explains the regulations for the
“ceremonial
cleaning”
once the “diseased
person has been healed“.
Notice, the priest does not heal the person of leprosy; God has
already healed him. Just as in our lives, the Law cannot heal us, we
are healed from our sin the moment we accept Jesus Christ as Savior.
No matter how “clean” you appear to the world, no matter
how good you are, no matter how many rules you follow, only accepting
the death and resurrection of the Savior can heal us. Galatians 2:21
explains, “if
righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly“.
Notice
the symbols used in the priests ceremonial cleansing after the person
has been healed, “The
priest is to go outside the camp to examine him… the priest shall
order two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be
brought to the one that has been healed“.
One of the birds is to be killed over a clay pot filled with water,
then the priest dips the live bird into the blood together with the
wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. After sprinkling the blood on the one
that has been cleansed, the live bird is released. We can’t miss the
references to the picture of Christ. The wooden cross, the earthen
grave, the scarlet blood, the risen Christ set free and the cleansing
of the Holy Spirit so often pictured as water being poured out on us.
But notice, after the ceremonial cleaning, the restored leper must
take action. “The person
to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and
bathe with water, then he will be completely clean. After this he
may come into the camp“.
And we too have a responsibility to take action after we have been
forgiven. All too often after a salvation experience, people remain
in the midst of their temptations. God does not set us free from our
sin and restore us to righteousness in order to keep living as a
leper.
Finally
the chapter discusses a house that is contaminated. Notice it cannot
be left alone, or the contamination will spread. Once contamination
has been detected, they are to react quickly and radically, “the
contaminated stone are to be torn out and thrown into the unclean
place outside the town“.
And if the contamination still spreads, “It
must be torn down and all it’s stones, timbers and plaster… taken
out of the town“.
Sin that is in our lives or homes that is ignored will not go away,
it will spread. According to Leviticus 14, the solution to cleansing
the house is exactly the same as the cleansing of the individual, the
Holy Spirit of God! Invite God’s Holy Spirit to fill your live and
home to overflowing, that your friends and co-workers and neighbors
would all be drawn to our Glorious God that can make “All
thing new”
(2 Corinthians 5:17).