Leviticus 13:2 “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 a Aaron the priest….”
This chapter causes me great conflict. I see the public health aspect of the inspection and isolation of those with contagious skin diseases. In light of the fact that at their heart, all of Leviticus’s rules seem to be aimed at keeping the Jewish people healthy so they could stay in communion with God, that isolation makes sense.
Leviticus 13:9 “When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest.”
But humans usually take things too far. And by the time Jesus walked among them, lepers had become a living parable of what sin does to a person. “…many Jews thought two things about a leper: You are the walking dead and you deserve this because this is the punishment of God against you.” Such attitudes, both then and now, can be incredibly dangerous.
Leviticus 13:45 Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your overwhelming love and mercy. You gave us laws to allow us communion with You. You gave us Jesus to show us perfect love, grace, and mercy. Help us to love You and love others with that same depth of compassion as Jesus exemplified. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 13:46 As long as they have disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.