Leviticus
chapter 15 discusses the consequences of a man or woman with a
disease, and how their uncleanness affects everyone around them. The
Chapter begins very directly, “When
any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean… it will
make him unclean“.
As we will read, the man with the disease (and later the woman) has
an effect on everyone having any contact with them. All of the
following become unclean and must be cleansed, “Any
bed he lies in will be unclean…whoever sits on anything he sat
upon…whoever touches the man…if he spits on someone… everything
the man sits on… anything under the man while riding… anyone who
touches those things… a clay pot must be broken, wooden article
must be rinsed“.
The person that becomes ceremonially unclean must wash their clothes
and bathe and they will remain unclean until evening. Interesting
that God desires a separation from uncleanness. The unclean person
is not shunned or kept outside the camp, but contact is limited for
the CLEAN person’s own good. At a time before microscopes or the
understanding of how viruses are spread, God gave His nation a
solution to effectively prevent the spread of disease. Verse 31
explains God’s motivation in giving these guidelines, “You
must keep the Israelites separate from the things which make them
unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my
dwelling place“.
There is a distinction between being physically sick, and being
spiritually unclean preventing God from working in your life. Psalm
86:5 reminds us, “For
Thou, Lord art good and ready to forgive, and abundant in
lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee“.
God is ready to restore you, are you willing to call on Him?
The
chapter continues by giving the process by which the diseased man is
restored. He must first be clean for seven days before his
ceremonial cleansing. He must wash his clothes, bathe himself and on
the eighth day bring two doves to the priest at the Tent of Meeting,
“one
for the sin offering and the other for the burnt offering… he will
make atonement before the Lord“.
We then read a woman is unclean during her “monthly
flow of blood“.
Like the man, anything she touches, sits on and wherever she sleeps
is unclean. “She
will remain unclean as long as she has the discharge“.
Again, after seven days, she must bring two doves to the Tent of
Meeting to offer as sacrifice for atonement. This understanding adds
so much to the story of the women in Matthew chapter 9 who had been
“suffering
from hemorrhage for twelve years“.
For twelve years she was unclean and unable to worship God at the
temple. She was truly desperate when she approached Jesus. Verse 21
says, she was saying to herself, “If
only I touch the hem of His garment I shall get well“.
And remember the reaction of Jesus, “But
Jesus, turning and seeing her said, Daughter, take courage; your
faith has made you well”. And at once the women was made well“.
No waiting, no priest, no doves, no washing; immediately she was
completely restored to full fellowship with God because she believed
Jesus was who He said He was.
All
of the Law of Moses and the symbols of the temple and the sacrifices
were designed to point Israel to the coming Messiah, the Christ.
Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, and now we no longer need to be
ceremonially clean, nor have a priest offer sacrifices on our behalf.
We can approach Jesus Christ, by faith and be restored completely
and immediately. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“.
No matter how long you have been unclean, you can be restored to
sinless perfection by asking Jesus to be Lord of your whole life
today.