RPG Adults
SPIRITUAL CLEANSING EXPLAINED
THURSDAY, MAY 16
Leviticus 14
Hebrews 9:19-22
“This shall be the law of the leper
in the day of his cleansing:
He shall be brought unto the priest.”
SPIRITUAL CLEANSING EXPLAINED
God’s people living in obedience would be spared from diseases. Thus to be afflicted with leprosy meant that the person was afflicted by God because of a sin. Therefore, upon his repentance and recovery, he would need to be restored to society, and more importantly to the LORD. The procedure was spiritual in nature and more than just a ritual.
It had to be done before the priests, who were God’s appointed mediators between God and man. The priests held great power because of these responsibilities. It was very important that they were honest and beyond reproach. The cleansing period lasted eight days. Before the first day of cleansing, the priest would have to inspect the leper outside the camp, just in case the person was not cured. If he was healed, he would need to bring two live birds. One would be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The live bird would be dipped into the earthen vessel with the blood of the first bird in it as well as the cedar wood (incorruptible), scarlet thread (blood) and hyssop (fragrance). The live bird would then be set free. Before setting the bird free, the mixture of water would be sprinkled seven times onto the leper, symbolising that he was clean. This process at the beginning of the cleansing would have brought great relief and joy to the leper. Leprosy was a deadly disease where only the LORD was able to heal. Now that the leper was healed, do you think he would want to sin against God again and remain in sin? He had tasted the grace and mercies of God, for through the leprosy, he came to know Christ as his Lord and Saviour. Through repentance, he was healed. The bird flying away after being dipped in the water mixed with the life blood of the first bird was a vivid picture of “without shedding of blood is no remission.” We have been saved from our sins with a worse punishment than leprosy! It is through the blood of Christ that we have been washed and freed from sin and its bondage and penalty, which is death and hell!
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 14:8
PRAYER: Save me, O Father, from my sins, for I repent of all my sins and receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Amen.