Leviticus 13:1-2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons b who is a priest.
There’s a lot going on in commentary about today’s verses: A call for “The State” to be able inspect and examine (with a caution to use care that no wrong be done to any individual), a call for priests to also be public health officers (hence the care with any who potentially has leprosy), and an analogy between leprosy and sin chief among them.
Leviticus 13:3 The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean.
But what I can’t get past is the fact that the God whom I believe in would not hold up a person, especially a sick person, for ridicule: “See this person with leprosy? Leprosy is like sin. It will eat away at your life until nothing is left.” Quickly, in this analogy, the PERSON is forgotten. The focus is on the disease and the analogy. But my God, a God of deep love and compassion, is all about the PEOPLE.
Leviticus 13:4 If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.
Precious Savior, I am often surprised at what gets my hackles up as I read Your word. Thank You for helping me see what I truly believe about Your character based on how I react to scripture. Thank You that You are a God of deep love and compassion, a God who focuses on people first and foremost. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Leviticus 13:5 On the seventh day the priest is to examine them, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days.
Have a blessed day.