A Matter of Life and Death

Leviticus 14:33-16:34

Clearly, from today's One Year Chronological Bible daily reading, things are different today than they were in the times this passage from Leviticus was written. We can only surmise that these instructions were important. Regardless how different circumstances are today, there MUST be something for us to learn from these instructions given for that time. Right?

Mildew in the house was a serious problem. In today's world, we are learning that mold is, in fact, a bad deal in a house.

"Bodily discharge" is a strange subject. I have tried to guess what this might be - and I one 'might' assume it has to do with a man's emission of semen except that topic is specifically address immediately following So, the thing that comes to my mind is diarrhea. Gross as it may be, it IS 'unclean' and could easily be what this passage is referring to. Maybe?

And then, the discharge of semen is discussed... followed by discussion about a woman's menstrual cycle. Both require consideration of 'uncleanness' and have procedures to follow.

Following the discussions above, Leviticus 15.31 says: This is how you will guard the people of Israel from ceremonial uncleanness. Otherwise they would die, for their impurity would defile my Tabernacle that stands among them.

So, the subjects discussed must be important if life is at stake! It is indicated that "uncleanness" in these areas defiles God's Tabernacle. It is a matter of life and death!

These are interesting subjects to consider when considering the work of Jesus on our behalf. I suppose it is not ironic that the next subject in Leviticus (chapter 16) is The Day of Atonement!

Frankly, I have no real idea what lesson to conclude from these passages for contemporary times. Part of me wishes to just ignore it and get on to other subjects, but, another part of me wonders if there is something very important that would be missed in so doing.

Father, I really want to understand what You are saying to me today through these passages and subjects found in Leviticus! Give me a heart to understand.