Daily Bible Reading: May 26th - June 1st
Date Added: 5/26/2008 10:42:38 AM Daily Bible Reading: May 26th - June 1st
Date: May 26
Reading: Leviticus 11:1-29; 12:1-8
A few different topics are discussed in today’s reading, but we are going to continue the discussion of the dietary laws. Some argue that this “law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth” (11:46) was simply given to develop a separation of Israel from the other nations. Now it is true that these laws did separate Israel from the pagan and heathen nations around them that ate some of these animals, drank their blood, and did many of these activities in a form of worship. And, Israel was called to not only be separated from all other nations, but to worship only the one true God. God would not tolerate any other form of worship than what He dictated.
However, we also need to let Scripture interpret Scripture, and there is no place in the context of this chapter that the Scriptures tell us that this was only purposed to separate Israel from the other nations. The reason given by the Lord for the giving of this law is the following: “to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten” (11:47).
The Lord God made all things, and He made them for a purpose to be fulfilled. Though these laws bring us no spiritual benefit, we should no throw out the possible practical wisdom the One Who Knows All preserves for us here.
Praise God for the purposes of all His creatures and for wisdom to live a healthy life before Him.
Date: May 27
Reading: Leviticus 13:1-28
In this reading we learn that one of the duties of the priests of Israel was to be the physicians of the community. They were trained to diagnose diseases. In particular, they were trained to determine if a disease was a threat to spread in the community. A number of diseases fell under the category of leprosy. Essentially, the critical aspect was to keep the disease from spreading to others. The priests were instructed to examine the sore on the person’s skin and determine if it was a common sore or boil, if the person needed to be separated for a few days before a determination was made, or if a diagnosis of leprosy was called for.
The priest’s diagnosis of the external skin of a person was critical for that person and for the community of the whole. Leprosy, being a physical ailment, is a picture of the spiritual disease every man suffers from because of the sinful nature inherited from Adam. Praise God, that there is a cure from the leprosy of the soul we all suffer from. That is the healing work of Jesus Christ upon our heart.
Date: May 28
Reading: Leviticus 13:29-59
The Scriptures continue teaching the priests how to perform their duties as the physicians of the community. In the first part of this chapter, the priests are taught about how to detect leprosy in the head. Again, like in the detecting of leprosy in the skin, if the priest is not sure of the diagnosis, the person was to be separated from the others and placed in quarantine. Quarantine means to be separated from others and not allowed to interact with anyone. This was done to protect the general population and to give time for the proper diagnosis to be made.
After seven days, the priest would review the condition of the sores on the person’s head and was giving guidelines for making a diagnosis. If certain conditions were met, then the person would be pronounced unclean and a leper. If other conditions are met, then the person may be declared clean.
I am sure that each person who came to the priest, stood with trepidation as they waited for the pronouncement from the priest. If the pronouncement was unclean, the person’s life was essentially destroyed as he would have to live forever separated from the general population and required to cry out “unclean” to anyone who would come near him.
On the other hand, if the priest should make the declaration of “clean”, his life would be, in a sense, saved. He could continue making his living and could stay with his family and friends. What a relief to hear that wonderful word, “clean.”
All of us are brought into this world in a condition of being unclean. We cannot be found in the presence of God. However, through Jesus Christ we can be declared “clean.” When such a declaration is made over us, then we are freed from the condemnation of the unclean. Instead, being pronounced “clean” by God, we can enter the presence of God and enjoy our relationship with Him.
Date: May 29
Reading: Leviticus 14:1-32
The section you read today addresses the process a leper would go through once it is known that he is clean or healed from his leprosy. This process had both practical community health purposes as well as deep spiritual symbolisms. As you read, even though the person was pronounced clean and had been clean for 7 days, he still had to wash his clothes, bathe his body and shave all his hair off – even his eyebrows. Though this sounds strange, it was all a practical process to remove all that could be harboring the disease on the person’s body.
God knew that man, since the Fall of Adam, would face trials and tribulations in his life, including health issues. We get sick and our body sometimes becomes diseased. Though God is a healer and He was so very overtly active in the Nation of Israel, people still became sick and some even became diseased with leprosy. Knowing this would be the case, God taught the priests and the children of Israel how to handle diseases like leprosy that could affect the whole community.
Through the process of quarantine (separating from the rest) the leper may become healed. Once that has occurred he is allowed back into the community. Yet, he must still offer the sacrifices for sin and of thanksgiving. This is because God is the only true healer and to enter the community of Israel is to re-enter the presence of a Holy God.
We, too, still suffer from illness and disease and need to look to God and thank God for every healing and recovery. Though we do not offer animal sacrifices, we do offer our prayers and praise to God. Thank Him for your health today. If you are ill or know of others that are sick, pray for their healing as well.
Date: May 30
Reading: Leviticus 14:30-57
In this section, the Lord speaks of when the Israelites enter the promised land and a plague of leprosy is found a house. Two things I would like for you to notice are these.
First, the Lord is teaching the Israelites something they will need to know years from now when they have more permanent settlements. At this time they are dwelling in tents as they travel in the wilderness. When they enter Caanan, they will settle down in actual houses. So, the Lord, in His Providence, teaches them about how to handle the situation they could face of leprosy actually found in the structure of the house.
Secondly, I want you to notice that this instruction of community health is being given about 1500 years before Christ. These laws of Scripture, which are so advanced in recognizing and protecting a community from disease, were given at a time when many cultures were completely trapped in mysticism about illness and plagues. God’s Word taught about disease and that disease can be harboring even in housing structures.
God’s Word is applicable for all of time. Here we read of the health standards of the Israelite community. They are perfect guidelines for health standards for us today. Thank the Lord for His life applicable Word.
Date: May 31
Reading: Leviticus 15:1-3
The last of the laws of cleanliness and sanitation due mostly to illnesses and disease are given here. Some of these things are kind of hard to read about because they deal with what some people consider gross or at least distasteful. But these types of things are a matter of life. People, because of injuries, diseases, or illnesses, and even some natural body functions, have situations where they have continuous bleeding or the discharge of other fluids from different places on their body. Each of these situations can end up being disease infecting of others and God, in His wisdom, set down laws of cleanliness to protect the Israelite community from spreading disease.
In the practical sense, we should also practice caution when someone is bleeding or has some infection that is oozing puss or other fluid. Some sports, like basketball, will not allow a player to continue playing if he is bleeding because of the potential of getting his blood on another player. We consider this type of a decision as a modern stroke of genius. The truth is, it was the Biblical wisdom giving by God to Moses over 3500 years ago. The Bible is truly an amazing Book.
Date: June 1
Reading: Leviticus 16:1-34
Do you remember what happened to Aaron’s sons back in chapter 10 when they brought “strange fire” before the Lord in the tabernacle? God struck them dead. They apparently brought incense in to the Lord and attempted to burn it before the Lord. However, they either did it without properly preparing themselves or in some other way it was done inappropriately. God, in striking Nadab and Abihu dead for trying to approach Him on their own terms, was making known that He will be worshipped in the fashion that He alone dictates.
So, here in Leviticus 16 the Lord tells Aaron through Moses how and when He is to be approached for the type of worship Aaron’s sons attempted in chapter 10. In verse 2, the Lord says Aaron is not to come before Him just any time he wants. This warning is given so that “he die not.” Then, after instructing Aaron in the several sacrifices He is to prepare and do for himself and for the people, God tells Aaron,
“…put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the
incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he
die not.”
Again, we see that Aaron must bring the incense before the Lord in a proper way, so that he does not die like his sons.
Whether Old Testament or New Testament, it is God who determines the manner in which He is to be worshipped and the avenue through which He is to be approached. It is only through Jesus Christ that any of us can approach the holy God of the Universe.
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