Reflections from March 16, 2011

Today we finish with God's details regarding cleanliness and dealing with bodily discharges. God provided instructions for His children to wash themselves, wash their clothes, and remain isolated for a period of time as well as provide an offering to God to renew their holiness. Thus it says in Leviticus 15:31,
"Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them."
God intended for His dwelling place to remain most holy, and He would not allow it to be defiled in any way.

We learn of the annual day of atonement when the priests were to enter the Most Holy in the tabernacle and offer atonement for his sins as well as the entire nation of Israel. We read in Leviticus 16:30,
"For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord."
There were several steps to this procedure that occurred on the day of atonement. Interestingly, it culminated in the release of the scapegoat. The goat was led to the edge of the camp, where the priest laid his hands on its head and confessed over it all the sins of the nation. The goat was then driven into the wilderness as a symbol of the people's sins being carried away.

God tells His people not to ingest blood at all, for He says in Leviticus 17:11,
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."
God has made it very clear that blood is important, for it wasn't until the blood of Jesus was released that we were given the opportunity to attach ourselves to His sacrifice. Blood from any living being is not to be eaten in any way.

Finally, we read how God wanted the undivided worship of the Israelites when He states in Leviticus 18:5,
"You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgements; which if a man does, he shall live by them. I am the Lord."
Perhaps God was speaking in terms of a quality of life, rather than eternal salvation as it does in the New Testament. We've read of many details regarding cleaning rituals, and it's surmised by many theologians that the Mosaic Law had much to do with hygienic principles and preventing diseases due to being unclean. Beyond that, God wanted His people to live in purity, distinct from the Egyptians from whom they cam, and distinct from the Canaanites to whom they were headed. These people practiced things that God called "abominable." So God gave these holy ordinances, or a Holy Code, and told them it will produce life -- life in the sense of fulfillment, joy and overall prosperity.

This called for trust on the part of the Israelites, and we read in Psalms 31:14-17 of just that,
"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies' sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You."

Blessings to all