Linking Laws regarding Boils and Bodily Discharges to Seeing God

Leviticus Chapter 15: The Laws Regarding Male and Female Discharges

The first 15 verses are instructions on how to deal with male ‘discharges’. Verses 16-18 deal with a man’s ‘seminal ‘emissions’.

Verses 19-30 deal with instructions on how to deal with a female ‘discharge’.

In both all cases, the instructions follow processes very similar to those with respect to leprosy – some isolation, washing, sacrifices, and presentation to the priest.

Verses 31 gives God’s rationale for these laws:

“Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them.”

The last two verses of the chapter describe again the areas this law covers:

 This is the law for the one with a discharge, and for the man who has a seminal emission so that he is unclean by it, and for the woman who is ill because of menstrual impurity and for the one who has a discharge, whether a male or a female, or a man who lies with an unclean woman.

Thoughts on the Passage

Chuck Smith sees this as primarily a chapter about boils, at least initially. It is about running sores and the necessary hygiene to deal with them.  I like this line of his:

“Now the Bible doesn't say that cleanliness is next to Godliness in those words. Those words are found in the Koran, but not in the Bible.”

And he then goes on to show how important it is for the Bible-believer as well.

David Guzik has some most interesting perspectives. He writes:

None of these discharges made a man or a woman sinful, only ceremonially unclean. [So,] This did promote hygiene in ancient Israel, yet discharges of semen and menstruation were so regarded, not because there was anything inherently wrong with them, but because the two are connected with symbols of life and redemption, blood and seed.

The phrase in verse 31, “My tabernacle that is among them” Guzik says,

. . . made an obvious separation between sex and the worship of God. To the modern world this seems normal, but in the ancient world it was common to worship the gods by having sex with temple prostitutes. God did not want this association in His worship.

He continues:

It is important for us to regard these laws of cleanliness in a New Testament perspective. In Mark 7:1-9 Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their over-emphasis on ceremonial cleanliness and their lack of regard for internal cleanliness. These laws were meant to have both hygienic reasons and spiritual applications; they were never intended as the way to be right with God.

In Acts 15, the early Christian community properly discerned the work and will of God in the New Covenant: that under the New Covenant, the believer was not bound to these laws of ritual purity. One could be a follower of Jesus without the ritual conformity to the Mosaic Law. Yet we need to remember that spiritual cleanliness in worship is important today. We also remember that Jesus is the One who makes us clean and fit for fellowship: “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).

And, of course, 1 John 1:7-9 tells us that our cleanliness is “complete” as we abide in Jesus.

Robert Jamieson makes the following statement of interest on this chapter:

[God] He required of them complete purity, and did not allow them to come before Him when defiled, even by involuntary or secret impurities, as a want of respect due to His majesty. And when we bear in mind that God was training a people to live in His presence in some measure as priests devoted to His service, we shall not consider these rules for the maintenance of personal purity either too stringent or too minute (1 Thess.4:4).

And lastly, Matthew Henry adds to our understanding of this chapter’s purposes.  Here is a sample of his thoughts on this passage:

·      This was to separate the children of Israel and their servants and proselytes or those who converted to their faith.

o   By these laws they were taught their privilege and honor, that they were purified unto God a peculiar people, and “were intended by the holy God for a kingdom of priests, a holy nation; for that was a defilement to them which was not so to others.

·      In all these laws there seems to be a special regard had to the honor of the tabernacle, to which none must approach in their uncleanness. . .. Now that the tabernacle of God was with men familiarity would be apt to breed contempt, and “therefore the law  made so many things of frequent incidence to be ceremonial pollutions, and to involve an incapacity of drawing near to the sanctuary (making death the penalty), that so they might not approach without great caution, and reverence, and serious preparation, and fear of being found unfit.

That takes us to the lessons we might learn from these verses today. First, we can thank God we are no longer under all those Mosaic Laws. Secondly, we need to remain pure in our hearts as we deal with God, abstaining from sin to the extent we are able to. Third, we need to recognize the indispensable necessity (as Henry says) of real holiness to our future happiness.  This requires getting our hearts purified by faith, “that we may see God.”

Henry ends his comments with the following:

Perhaps it is in allusion to these laws which forbade the unclean to approach the sanctuary that when it is asked, “Who shall stand in God’s holy place?” it is answered, “He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalm 24:3,4); for “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”

May we see God.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

What God's Rules of Cleansing Leprosy Can Teach Us about Judging

Leviticus Chapter 14: Cleansing of People and Houses with Respect to Leprosy

Verses 1-32 describe the process that individuals need to go through if they are suspected of contracting leprosy.  It involves the priests, examinations, declarations, sacrifices, allowances for those that can’t afford the sacrifices, etc. It follows a process not unlike some of the various “offerings” described in earlier chapters.

Verses 33 to 53 describe the process for cleansing a house that a person who was believed to have contracted leprosy needs to have their residence go through. Again, involves all of the above-mentioned elements and may even result in a house being destroyed.

Verses 54 to 57 close off the chapter with a direction to Moses and Aaron that the instructions that were described above had to be ‘taught’ going forward.  God told them it was indeed a “law” with respect to leprosy.

Thoughts on the Passage

Chuck Smith wants us to pay particular attention to verses 49-51:

“To cleanse the house then, he [the priest] shall take two birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop, and he shall slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over funning water. Then he shall take the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet string, with the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird as well as in the running water and sprinkle the house seven times.” 

He then comments:

“It is interesting that there is sort of a scarlet thread woven through the Old Testament pointing to Jesus Christ. Here the leper was to bring scarlet. We remember that Rahab the harlot was to allow a scarlet cord out the window so that all that would be in the house where the scarlet cord was hanging from the window would be saved when the children of Israel captured Jericho. But the cedar wood could, of course, be looking forward to the cross. And I'm sure that they all in some way looked forward to the cross. Could it be that the cross was of cedar? I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised. The bloodied water surely speaks to us of when Jesus had his side pierced by the Roman soldier and there came forth blood and water. And it speaks of our cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ. The hyssop, we remember while he was there upon the cross. They took the hyssop bush and they put vinegar upon it and put it to his lips when He cried, "I thirst." So I'm certain that in all of this, there is beautiful symbolism.

And as you read it and just open your heart to the Spirit, I'm sure that God can speak to you and give application to these things to your heart.”

David Guzik suggests that the total shaving of the head (in verse 8) for the ‘cleansed’ leper is an indication of starting all over again as if he were a baby, and that is a reference to the need to be “born again”.  He sees verse 14 as a time of anointing with oil and says,

“Therefore, a cleansed leper had a special calling and a special anointing. One could not go through such a ritual as this and not be changed.”

Matthew Henry says we need to note that:

The gracious care God took of his people Israel, for to them only this law pertained, and not to the Gentiles. When Naaman the Syrian was cured of his leprosy he was not bidden to show himself to the priest, though he was cured in Jordan, as the Jews that were cured by our Saviour were. Thus those who are entrusted with the key of discipline in the church judge those only that are within; but those that are without, God judgeth. [I Corinthians 5:12, 13]

This reference to I Corinthians 5:12, 13 reads as follows:

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”

Isn’t it amazing how we got from leprosy to cleansing to judging one another?  You have to love the cohesiveness of Scripture.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Linking our Physical Diseases to our Spiritual One; the Affects are Similar

Leviticus 13:47-59 

[picture from DoItYourself.com]

Verses 47 to 59 (of Leviticus 13) describe how a leper’s clothes were to be treated by the Israelites in the Old Testament. If there were ‘marks of leprosy’ found on them, they were to be shown to the priest and he would quarantine the article of clothing for seven days.  After seven days, he would declare it unclean (if it had spread) or clean (if it had not spread).  If unclean, it would be burned. If clean, it would be deemed so and allowed to be used again. 

Thoughts on the Passage

David Guzik reminds us that in Old Testament times, the term leprosy had a broad definition and could include some forms of mold or fungi. . .. The priests had to make careful determination to see if a garment might pass on a contagious disease or if it old still be used.

Robert Jamieson says “It is well known that infectious diseases, such as scarlet fever, measles, the plague, are latently imbibed and carried by the clothes. But the language of this passage clearly indicates a disease to which clothes themselves were subject, and which was followed by effects on them analogous to those which malignant leprosy produces on the human body--for similar regulations were made for the rigid inspection of suspected garments by a priest as for the examination of a leprous person.”

He continues, “It has long been conjectured and recently ascertained by the use of a lens, that the leprous condition of swine is produced by myriads of minute insects engendered in their skin; and regarding all leprosy as of the same nature, it is thought that this affords a sufficient reason for the injunction in the Mosaic law to destroy the clothes in which the disease, after careful observation, seemed to manifest itself. Clothes are sometimes seen contaminated by this disease in the West Indies and the southern parts of America [WHITLAW, Code of Health]; and it may be presumed that, as the Hebrews were living in the desert where they had not the convenience of frequent changes and washing, the clothes they wore and the skin mats on which they lay, would be apt to breed infectious vermin, which, being settled in the stuff, would imperceptibly gnaw it and leave stains similar to those described by Moses. It is well known that the wool of sheep dying of disease, if it had not been shorn from the animal while living, and also skins, if not thoroughly prepared by scouring, are liable to the effects described in this passage. The stains are described as of a greenish or reddish color, according, perhaps, to the color or nature of the ingredients used in preparing them; for acids convert blue vegetable colors into red and alkalis change then into green [BROWN]. It appears, then, that the leprosy, though sometimes inflicted as a miraculous judgment ( Num 12:10 2Ki 5:27 ) was a natural disease, which is known in Eastern countries still; while the rules prescribed by the Hebrew legislator for distinguishing the true character and varieties of the disease and which are far superior to the method of treatment now followed in those regions, show the divine wisdom by which he was guided. Doubtless the origin of the disease is owing to some latent causes in nature; and perhaps a more extended acquaintance with the archaeology of Egypt and the natural history of the adjacent countries, may confirm the opinion that leprosy results from noxious insects or a putrid fermentation. But whatever the origin or cause of the disease, the laws enacted by divine authority regarding it, while they pointed in the first instance to sanitary ends, were at the same time intended, by stimulating to carefulness against ceremonial defilement, to foster a spirit of religious fear and inward purity.”

All that to say that God knew exactly what He was demanding of the Israelites and why. That’s the lesson for us.  Trusting God, the Creator in His laws and believing that they are for our ultimate good.

Finally, Matthew Henry provides us with some additional insights. He perhaps gives us the ‘spiritual’ significance of the passage when he writes:

“The signification also was . . . to intimate the great malignity there is in sin: it not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all his employments and enjoyments, all he has and all he does. To those that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, Tit. 1:15. And we are taught hereby to hate even the garments spotted with the flesh, Jude 23. Those that make their clothes servants to their pride and lust may see them thereby tainted with a leprosy, and doomed to the fire, Isa. 3:18-24. But the ornament of the hidden man of the heart is incorruptible, 1 Pt. 3:4. The robes of righteousness never fret nor are moth-eaten.”

So, there you have it. The bottom line is this. A physical disease can indeed affect our possessions. A spiritual disease affects everything we do and enjoy. People know when they have a physical disease. They often miss their own spiritual disease and its consequences.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Laws, Lepers, and Love

 Leviticus 13:18-44 and 45-46 

[picture from American Leprosy Missions]

Verses 18 to 44 simply describe other possible scenarios that may have been leprosy and needed diagnosis. These included skin boils (vs. 18-23); burned skin (vs. 24-28); head or beard infections (vs. 29-37); bright skin spots (vs. 38-39); and baldness (vs. 40-44). All these could possibly be leprosy infection. Then the last two verses of the passage (vs. 45-46) give a general comment as follows:

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

Thoughts on the Passage

Currently, as I write this, the world is dealing with Coronavirus 19 and thousands of people are living their lives behind masks thinking they can avoid catching it. Millions of others are in quarantine in China where the whole thing broke out. It has the power of ruining nations as well as the global economy.  I find solace in the fact that I know my God is fully aware of the situation, He’s in control, and this is neither a surprise nor a snag for His plan for mankind.  We press on.

The images portrayed in the last two verses of the passage above certainly reminded me of the reality we face today with Covid-19 as the virus is referred to.

But what was God saying in these two verses? More importantly what can we glean from the passage for today?

Clearly, for the Jews of the O.T. and for Jews of Jesus’ days, leprosy was a big thing. We can read what was expected of them in the days of Moses in the passage above. However, in the first century A.D., David Guzik says the Jews and their rabbis went much further. He writes:

“Many Jews thought two things about a leper: You are the walking dead and you deserve this because this is the punishment of God against you. Jewish custom said that you should not even greet a leper, and you had to stay six feet away from a leper. One Rabbi bragged that we would not even buy an egg on a street where he saw a leper, and another boasted that he threw rocks at lepers to keep them far from him. Rabbis didn’t even allow a leper to wash his face.”

It sounds like the inhumanity of the clergy was alive and well in those days as it often is today.  But as Christians, we are not to stuck there. We don’t have to stick with the laws put in place for the Jews to keep them from being eliminated by sickness or a plague after they left Egypt.  Nor can we rely on what rabbis proposed in the days of Christ.  No, instead we must look at Jesus himself as the role model in how we treat those with such infirmities.  Guzik continues:

“But Jesus was different. He loved lepers; He touched them and healed them when they had no hope at all (Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 17:11-19).”

Here’s the good news, at least for North Americans, according to Guzik:

“Because of modern drugs and treatments, leprosy is almost unknown in the western world – the United States’ only two leper colonies have been shut down. But worldwide there are some 15 million lepers, almost all of them in third-world nations.”

For an excellent more recent update than Guzik’s on leprosy (and yes there are still two places you can find some lepers in the U.S.), take a few moments to check out this clip: Leprosy Update 2016.

The lesson for us? While you and I may not be able to heal lepers unless the Holy Spirit wants us to, we still have a responsibility to behave like our Lord did towards them.  Think Mother Teresa.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

A Birds’ Eye View of Iceland

Puffins Encounter Fire & Ice: The Puffin Explorers Series Book III

Author and Photographer: Ra Anderson

Publisher: My Favorite Books Publishing Company, Kingston, GA, 2019

In book one of the series, our two young puffling friends (Arni and Birta) were just about to set out to sea when they stopped to help two baby lambs. In book two, Arni’s parents are anxious that their little puffin will make it out to sea by night fall for his life’s journey. Still not sure of their puffling’s whereabouts, his parents continue their search in this final volume, book III, of the series.

Arni and his friend Birta continue to explore while at the same time trying to find two lost sheep and help them get back home.  Meanwhile Arni’s parents fly all over Iceland to find Arni – all before night fall when all pufflings must head out to sea.  And this time for their longest journey.

For all four puffins, author and photographer Ra Anderson, with the help of an Icelandic ‘Faery’ is able to provide her young and older readers yet more of a most beautiful travelogue of Iceland. The flights of the puffins take us through beautiful and famous lagoons, beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, and much more.  At the turn of every page, Anderson not only provides us with some of her own beautiful photography, but also facts about the origin, history, and current status of all the sights we visit together.

Did Arni and Birta find the two lambs they were trying to help? If not, what happened to them? And did the two young pufflings get to sea in time? You’ll need to find out for yourself.

In the meantime, you’ll learn some very interesting things about the Old Norse language and the Vikings that spoke it. You’ll find out where the title of Book III came from. You’ll discover some differences and similarities between puffins and penguins. You’ll learn about the 606 different species of moss that grow as large mats on lava rocks and could be as much as 18 inches thick. You’ll also learn why you never hear about the Icelandic earthquakes. You’ll visit one of the 120 lighthouses in the country and learn how many are still in operation. And much more.

Like the two previous volumes, this one too is highly recommended for young inquisitive minds that have a passion for animals, birds, and nature. As an adult, I too didn’t want to miss this last in the series to see how things worked out for Arni and Birta. And I wasn’t disappointed.

One more thing -- when I go to Iceland, I will do all I can to get a taste of their famous “Hot Springs Bread” or Rúgbrauõ. What is that you say?  The puffins found out. Get the book.

Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, February 07, 2019, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

RE-THINKING FOREIGN AID FOR AFRICA

By Sylvanus Ayenyi, M.D.

The author of RESCUE THYSELF: Change In Sub-Saharan Africa Must Come From Within has recently given a speech that all of us who support Foreign Aid to African need to hear. He believes foreign raid should be discontinued until certain conditions are met. Most interesting.

https://youtu.be/Pd1n2kxPsCU

Please share your views with me here, by commenting.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Even Birds Can Get Distracted in Iceland

Puffins Off the Beaten Path: The Puffin Explorers Series Book II

Author and Photographer: Ra Anderson

Publisher: My Favorite Books Publishing Company, Kingston, GA, 2019

In book one of the series, our two young puffling friends (Arni and Birta) were just about to set out to sea when they stopped to help two baby lambs. That meant they were lost from Arni’s parents who desperately wanted to find them and make sure they began their life-changing voyage before it was too late.

In their exhausting flight across Iceland in search of the young puffins, Arni’s parents themselves stop to explore the things they see and the people and animals they encounter, not to mention, taking time to help others who (namely, lambs) are lost.

But the journey of these two adult puffins gives the author a chance to share with us so much about Iceland’s origin, history, and her present treasures and beauty. To that, Ra Anderson, a professional photographer, adds her own pictures. These are beautiful in their own right and would make any national tourism board proud.

Anderson makes no bones about one of her other purposes – to help young and old realize the importance of taking care of our world and every single creature in it.

While many may think the book is intended for children and while it is well-suited and totally appropriate for them, I can’t help but think that adults reading the book with or to their children will be enticed to visit Iceland and enjoy its beauty – both natural and cultural. I know I’ve added it to my bucket list because of this series.

And about those pufflings? Well, Ra Anderson has one more chance in Book III, entitled Puffins Encounter Fire & Iceto find them for her readers. But with a title like that could there be trouble ahead. Stay tuned for my review of the final book in the series coming out soon.

Highly recommended for young inquisitive minds that have a passion for animals, birds, and nature. And also, for adults, like myself, who find a unique type of travelogue most interesting.

n  Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, February 02, 2019, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Jesus Didn’t Die For You To ‘Be King'

The Missing Link: Your Journey with Peter from Self Power to Holy Spirit Power Author: Sam Hunter

Publisher: High Bridge Books, Houston, Texas, 2019

For those of you that have read Lloyd C. Douglas’s 1948 epic historical novel called The Big Fisherman, this book will bring back memories. However, while Douglas’s book was more novel than history, Sam Hunter’s is more history than novel. In The Missing Link, Hunter takes poetic license in how he delivers scriptural texts – when, who, in what order, etc., but sticks very closely to words uttered by Jesus and the various apostles in the New Testament. With those passages, he takes the opportunity to let his main character, the Apostle Peter, share some personal (Hunter’s) views on key issues facing Christians and the Body of Christ today. I’ll let you discover them for yourself. But as a teaser, let me just ask you, “Where is the Biblical support for (local) church membership?”

The book is indeed an account of a journey or should I say two journeys.

The first and obvious one is Peter’s journey of life with Christ (what he learned and what he did not learn while Jesus was with the Disciples) as well his account of facing life without Christ after His ascension. It was at that time that he tried to understand what Jesus had meant when he uttered the words, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” This first journey goes on to explain how that happened and what it meant to him, and to other followers of Jesus. Peter, now an old man in the story, provides a description that is historical in nature – all this had already happened.

The second and slightly less obvious, but still very intentional journey, is a portrayal of a potential or future journey – your journey and my journey of having the Holy Spirit live within us and allowing us to exhibit His Power.  Some readers may already be on that journey and they will easily identify with what Peter shared about his journey. To others, it may be all brand-new thinking.

In the book’s prologue, again writing as Peter, Hunter makes several keys observations, but his main one (attributed to Pastor Jack R. Taylor) is this: The Holy Spirit “is, in fact, the only God left on earth.” If that doesn’t get you wanting to read the book, nothing will.

Hunter does a masterful job of developing a character that is like so many of us – we want to be in charge of our lives; we think we’re pretty good; we’re often in a hurry; and we get things done. And then he shows us, through “king Peter” that being like that does not work if our desire is to be Holy Spirit filled.

The majority of the book’s background is the account of the New Testament book of Acts which Hunter (through Peter) says we’ve misnamed it ‘the Acts of the Apostles’. Peter says a much better name would be ‘the Acts of the Holy Spirit’ and Hunter shows us why.

The author focuses on Christ’s instruction to His disciples to “wait” and tells us what we are to wait for.

In part two of his book, Hunter describes how seeking and receiving the Holy Spirit is not for the faint of heart. In essence, when the Spirit comes to dwell in you, the Enemy strikes back. In effect, he shows us that we have two choices when that happens. We can either react in fear or respond in faith. With great detail he describes for us what that looks like. This section of the book would not be complete without an account of Jesus’ challenge to Peter and to us – “Who do you say that I am?” With whatever answer we give, Hunter (through Peter) moves us on to a section of handling tribulation, suffering, even ‘flogging’ in Peter’s case and ‘stoning’ in Stephen’s case.

The third and final part of the book is an account of the conversion of the persecutor of Christians (Saul) to being one of the greatest proponents of Christ (the Apostle Paul), and Peter’s relationship with him. It is a fascinating section that gives us an interesting perspective on Paul’s early life after his conversion. The weight of his past acts is, to say the least, a heavy burden for him.  Together, Peter and Paul and others learn about each of the Spirit’s Fruits.

And readers won’t want to miss Hunter’s treatise on the difference between ‘aphiemi’ forgiveness and ‘charizomai’ forgiveness.  That alone is worth the price of the book.

If you, like many of us, are stuck in your spiritual life, and your relationship with God is not growing, this book will move you to the next step – no matter where you are in your journey.  It is easy reading, but full of practical suggestions that could have a great impact.

Highly recommended. Very different from the other (at least 17 by my count) books out there with the identical or basically the same title. 

n  Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 1, 2020, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.