February 23
Lev 14:1-57 | PS 40:1-10 | Prov 10:11-12 | Mark 6:30-56
Chapters 13-14 surrounding the various aspects of leprosy make for very tedious reading. But if one reads closely there are important aspects to be taken from it. Leprosy is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Leprae. Of course this was not known then. Leprosy is a picture of sin in the Bible. From the time this bacteria infects it takes on average 4-8 years before symptoms are seen. Like sin, many dabble with various sins for years before they are manifested to the point of being seen by others. So, it grows slowly and insidiously. One of the bacteria’s targets is the nervous system. It deadens the nerves leading to the inability to feel. Like sin, over time you become immune to its harmful effects as it eats away at your body and your conscience. The leper would then be deemed “unclean” and would not be allowed near others, being forced into isolation. Sin also tends to isolate us from others and from society. Though now there is antibiotic treatment for this disease, in those days it was incurable except by divine healings from God. We see these divine healings to Namaan in 2 Kings 5, and by Jesus in Mark 1:40-45. Likewise for those addicted to sin, often their is no cure outside of entering into a relationship with God.
In Leviticus we read of the process of rendering one clean after their leprosy was healed (though the first time this was implemented was in the New Testament, Namaan was not Jewish). There are many pictures of Jesus in this process of cleansing one from leprosy (sin). We read in Leviticus 14:3, “And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper,”. Jesus was sacrificed outside the city of Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:11-13). We next read in Leviticus 14:4, “then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.” We read in Matthew 27:28 that a scarlet robe was placed on Him, along with being the color of the blood shed for us. His death, like the cedar wood, was by being fastened on the cross (John 19:17-18). He was offered sour wine on the cross placed on hyssop (John 19:29). We read in Leviticus 14:7, “And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field.” The number 7 is the number of perfection, as Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect. Also the living bird is set free, which is both a picture of Jesus’ resurrection, and our being set free from the bondage of sin.
When we skim tedious portions of Scripture we can miss some of the beautiful pictures of Jesus found throughout God’s Word. As you go through the Old Testament, we realize that Jesus was not introduced in the New Testament, but that He is present throughout. In fact, the Bible begins with Him in the creation account, He is in every book of the Bible, and it concludes with Him as He comes to rule and reign in the New Jerusalem at the end of Revelation. May we never minimize or trivialize sin. It eats away at us, under the surface until it spills over for the world to see. We read in James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Sin is not easily removed by some self-help plan. But God can do what seems impossible for us, as we read in Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” Whatever sin you are struggling with, God can remove it, like the bird who flew away. But you have to come to Him in humility and repentance seeking His will over your life.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: