Lately, I’ve been plodding my way through the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. I know what you’re thinking. Why am I putting myself through the torture of reading ancient laws, dated regulations and strange customs? Bleeaachhh! Reading Leviticus is like reading a phone directory; it’s mind numbing—sleep inducing—and a total waste of time.
I thought so too, but now I’m in chapter 14 and my preconceived ideas have been tossed aside.
Leviticus was written for the Levitical priests. They were to guide the nation of Israel’s social and religious life after they had been liberated from Egyptian slavery. God was building a nation—his chosen people—and they needed governance. That’s why there were so many rules.
When is a leper not a leper?
According to the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, the condition designated as leprosy in chapters 13 and 14 does not in every case refer to the disease known by this name at the present time. Although true leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) is included in the physical irregularities described.
What does this mean?
Leprosy was a broad term used for infectious skin diseases or skin ailments. So, psoriasis, chronic dermatitis, scaly eruptions on the skin or even skin cancer would have been classified as leprosy.
Besides leading in proper worship and performing his duties regarding the tabernacle, a Levitical priest would be called upon to diagnose skin conditions.
Leviticus 13:9
When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
A person with leprosy was considered unclean. The priest would determine how long the person should be isolated from the community and what measures were needed to be taken before the leper could return.
The equivalent of our public health announcements is in Leviticus 13:45
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
Leviticus 13:46
All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without(outside) the camp shall his habitation be.
Sound familiar?
Isolating the sick prevents the spread of contagious infections and disease.
God put in place regulations that clearly showed his love and concern for his people. The rules served to protect the rest of the community. There were many other rules God laid out to enhance the physical health and well being of the Israelites.
Yet, the spiritual health of God’s people was always in the forefront of God’s mind. In the ceremonies and sacrifices, the Lord used rich symbolism to point to the one who would save the people from their sins.
Reading Leviticus 14:1-7 through modern eyes makes the ceremony for the leper who was cured of his skin disease or leprosy seem very strange indeed.
The leper was required to bring two clean birds to the priest. One bird was killed and its blood was mixed with water.
The other bird was dipped in the blood stained water and then set free in an open field.
The same blood stained water was also sprinkled on the leper seven times to signify complete purification.
What’s marvelous here is that this ritual in Leviticus points to Jesus.
The slain bird symbolized Christ dying for our sins. The living bird as Christ rising again for our justification, and a new life for the cleansed leper. It is no stretch of the mind to understand that leprosy here represents sin.
Here is an infographic explaining salvation. It outlines what Christ has done for us.
So far, what am I seeing in Leviticus?
God’s Holiness and our sinfulness.
God’s constant reminder for us to “be holy, for I am holy.”
God revealing the difference between the clean and the unclean in the physical sense to help us know what is pure and impure in the spiritual realm.
God desires for us to have an intimate relationship with him.
He loves us and wants us to know and enjoy who he is.
He wants us to be a holy people set apart for him and different from the rest of the world.
References:
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Commentary in one Volume
The Expositors Commentary
