Leviticus 13-14 More Than Meets The Eye

Seeing what I was about to read, I prayed, “God, don’t let me skim over this.  Show me something important.”  And He did.  I loved what Wiersbe said in my commentary.

“In Scripture, disease is one of the images of sin”  Chapter 13 illustrates sin and chapter 14, salvation.

“Sin is deeper than the skin … sin is not a surface problem that can be solved with simple remedies, like trying to cure cancer with land lotion.  Sin comes from within, from fallen human nature; unless the heart is changed, there can be no solving of the sin problem.”

“Sin spreads … when desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1:5)”

“Sin defiles … whatever sin touches, it defiles; only the blood of Jesus Christ can was away the defilement.”

“Sin isolates … there is no company in hell, because hell is a place of eternal isolation and loneliness … lost sinners will dwell alone; they we be alone FOREVER.”

“Sin is fit only for the fire … Hell is God’s eternal garbage dump.” 

He also saw salvation in chapter 14 … “The steps in the leper’s cleansing and restoration picture to us what Jesus Christ has done for sinners:”

“The priest goes to the leper … outside the camp … Jesus come to us that He might heal us of the sickness of sin.”

“The victim offers two birds …”  The first bird, killed in the clay jar, represents Christ, killed in the clay jar of a human body.  The blood-stained bird turned loose pictured His resurrection.  The victim knew he was clean when the priest said so, and we can know we are clean when His Word tells us we are.”

The person cleanses himself twice – that’s us “applying personally  what God has said was true positionally.  The man was ceremonially clean and had the right to live in the camp, but he needed to be made personally and practically clean so he would be fit to live in the camp … ‘Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh AND spirit…”

Father, thanks for these awesome and totally unexpected pictures this morning, and for reinforcing the ugliness and defilement of sin and how it isolates me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford