God Speaks
God’s Rules Regarding Health Issues: Being Declared Clean After a Skin Disease, Mold, a Discharge or Period
Verse of the Day: “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.” (Leviticus 15:31 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection
Consider the following questions regarding Leviticus 14-15
> 1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
> 2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Leviticus 14-15 will be addressed as a unit.
It may seem to the reader that these laws for the cleansing of skin diseases, the cleansing of a house of mildew (or mold), the handling of a discharge in a man, or a woman’s monthly period are antiquated and not relevant in our modern times. However, their purpose was to distinguish between what was ceremonially clean or unclean, common or set apart to honor the LORD God. These regulations point to the way a person or object could be restored to fellowship or service as opposed to being permanently removed or destroyed. Consider this summary of John MacArthur’s commentary on Leviticus 15:31-33 in The MacArthur Study Bible which sheds further light on the matter. “God was showing the Israelites that they must have a profound reverence for holy things; … [by barring] from the tabernacle all who were polluted by any kind of uncleanness, ceremonial as well as natural, physical as well as spiritual. [To demonstrate] dwelling with Him in holiness, He required of them complete purity. They could not come [having been] defiled, even by involuntary or secret impurities…. God was training a people to live in His presence, . . . pointing to purity in the heart.” Fortunately for all mankind, through the loving sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at the cross, all who believe in and receive His free gift can be completely cleansed, healed, and given access into the LORD God’s presence in heaven forever.
Prayer
> 3. How might I pray regarding Leviticus 14-15?
Dear Holy Father, You are totally set apart from Your creation and from human beings. Thank You that You have made a way for us to be cleansed, healed, and set free from the things that would contaminate us in this world. There are so many ways that we can become polluted, but the blood of Jesus can cleanse them all. Holy Spirit, teach and enable us to avoid them as much as possible. However, if we do knowingly or unknowingly sin, please help us to immediately seek cleansing by faith in the blood of Jesus. It is the only way we sin-prone human beings can live a holy, clean life with the Holy Spirit living in us and live in the presence of You, our Holy God, for eternity. This will forever be for our good and Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
> 4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Leviticus 14-15? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will memorize 2 Corinthians 6:17 to help me to avoid contact with things or people that would draw me into sin.
- I will immediately seek cleansing by faith in the blood of Jesus whenever I do sin.
- I will examine my life to determine the “touch points” that draw me away from God.
- I will ask a trusted friend to hold me accountable to avoiding situations that would contaminate my walk with God.
Share
I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.