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Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Leviticus 11-13 He makes the lepers clean

From Leviticus 11-13



Overview
Lev 11.1-47 Law; Food laws; 
Animals (11.1-8), 
Fish (11.9-12), 
Birds (11.13-19), 
Insects (11.20-23), 
Requirements for dead animals (11.24-28), 
Unclean animals (11.29-38), 
Touching unclean animals (11.39-45), 
Summary statement (11.46-47)
Lev 12.1-8 Law; Purifications; Childbirth, circumcision, purification waiting, offerings presented
Lev 13.1-44 Law; Unclean laws; Skin diseases and management
Lev 13.45-46 Law; Instructions for those with skin diseases
Lev 13.47-59 Law; Unclean laws; Stained or soiled garments

Passage and Comments
The Jews have a fair amount of laws by which they conducted themselves. But this one is quite involved. Consider the plight of one affected by a skin disease.
[45] “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ [46] He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. (Lev 13:45-46)
Now imagine at some point in your life a priest diagnosed you with a skin disease. Now your perpetually unclean. Now whenever you need food you need to rely on the charity of others. Now everyone knows that if they touch you they will be unclean also. There would be no chance of a normal life. You would be a continual object of avoidance and pity. You could not even stay with the people. Whenever you retire to sleep you must remain outside the city.

Story of Israel
For more than a thousand years, this is how those with skin diseases were treated. Perhaps through these laws God was trying to teach Israel to show compassion.

Story of Jesus
Now imagine what it would have been like if you heard of a man who could heal people with skin diseases. Initially perhaps you wouldn't believe the reports. But they kept coming. A man named Jesus can heal, can exorcise demons, forgive sins without the temple, feed thousands of people by the power of God. Could this be the promised Messiah?

Many people in Jesus time believed the reports about him. they came and received what they were looking for. They found the promised Christ. Today we still need that kind of faith that calls people to come to Jesus.