February 24, 2010, Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14

Holy, Merciful Father; As we enter your presence again today, we repent that we have become unclean and request your cleansing, renewing our wineskins that they may be filled with new insights found in your word.  We ask that you would guide our hearts and minds to hear your will for our lives as we share our thoughts and words in response to your Holy word.

Response to Leviticus 15:1-16:28

Allow me to take a liberty today of combining our Old and New Testament readings.  There are a variety of emmissions or discharges which Leviticus may be talking about which will not be of great benefit to our discussion.  However, Our focus verse from Mark 7:14-15 brings this passage right back into play.  "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.  Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him.  Rather it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"  Mark 7:20-23 continues: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean'"

As the Levitical law continues in Leviticus 15, it does not recommend that the clean not associate with the unclean, but that he must be ceremonially observant of the fact he was associated with uncleaness through washing.  Even Pilate washed His hands of the evil he sensed at the crucifiction of Christ. (Matthew 27:24) David also ceremonially washed his hands in innocense in Psalm 26:6 and Psalm 73:13. 

Leviticus 15:13 reflects the ceremonial cleansing of the unclean person when they are cleansed.  Again, symbolically, this could represent confession of sin.  As one considers his confession for seven days, there is honor to God.  On the eighth day, following the period of honor before God.  There are two offerings, first the sin offering, representing the confession and removal of guilt, and then the burnt offering of ascension, recommiting oneself to God. Verses 19-30 follow a similar procedure for women with a closing to this section given in verse 32-33.

You may be wondering, why so many laws.  Back in Exodus, the people had offended God through innappropriate worship.  God was following through on establishing His presence within the Israelite nation.  It was important for His presence not to be taken lightly, just as we today should not take the name, child of God, lightly.  If we claim it, we must live up to it.  Over and over in the Bible, bad things happen to "His" people if they bring dishonor to His name.  Leviticus 16 continues the story after Nadab and Abihu have died in Leviticus 10.  God had said "I will show myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" A similar story happened in the New Testament in Acts 5 regarding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira who attempted to be glorified through a lie.  To take on the name "child of God" is a serious matter as the world looks to you to be His reprentative.  His reputation is at stake and He is a jealous God.  I do not take this blog lightly, and I pray that I might stay true to His leading. All the glory belongs to Him. This is why I cherish your participation, yet call you to honor His name in the process.

Leviticus 16 details a ritual which must be followed for the High Priest's entry in the Holy of Holies.  The day in question becomes "The Day of Atonement".  The High Priest, Aaron initially, washes and dresses appropriately and offers sacrifices.  First the Bull of the sin offering is offered, making atonement for himself and his family, taking some of the blood and incense  behind the veil into the Holy of Holies, ceremonially  anointing the atonement cover of the Ark of the Testimony.  Again, there is a sprinkling "seven" times.  He then sacrifices one goat for the sin offering of the people and follows the same procedure behind the veil.  Included with this annual ceremony is an atonement for the tent of meeting and the altar.

Leviticus 16:20-28 is the first mention of the scapegoat which removes the sins of the people away from the camp.  Again, as becomes clear as we move through the Bible, all of this ceremony was symbolic and much had to do with God's message of salvation through His sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world.  Isaiah 53 is perhaps the strongest prophecy in Jewish scripture depicting this sacrifice.  The symbolism of the scapegoat is reflected in verse 6 (RSV); "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Again in verse 11(RSV); "he shall bear their iniquities." and verse 12 (RSV); "yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.  If you have time, check out Isaiah 53 regarding God's plan for the sacrificial lamb and see how this document, hundreds of years before Jesus Christ lived reflects His death.

There is good news to share regarding judgment day. The Defense attorney is the Judge's Son and has yet to lose a case, and the prosecuting attorney is just looking for people to take down with Him.

Response to Mark 7:1-23

As we have just observed the ritual observance of cleansing in Leviticus, I do not have trouble with Jesus questioning the Pharisees concern about washing of hands.  Again, there is something profound being stated here about the law.  It was not to be used in an oppressive manner, but to bring glory and honor to God from the heart of the man who understood the reasoning behind it.  It is obvious Jesus is not speaking from a physically health conscious perspective here, but a Spiritually health conscious perspective.

You might question whether Jesus was changing the subject here.  Perhaps the Pharisees were concerned about the physical aspect of washing hands.  However, even in our day to day activities, if we stop to pause a moment and consider how day to day activities represent our lives lived before God, we might gain inspiration also.  Cleansing, purifying, having a pleasing odor - all of these things help us to live healthy, normal lives.  They all help us to invest in relationships with humans. Who does not clean up, wear nice clothes, and attempt to have a pleasing odor before they go out on a date? If we can honor another human in this way, why not honor God in this way? Your answer might be; "Because I can see, feel, touch, and smell the human being, I know that they are there." This then begs the question; "Do you really believe God is there - or that He cares?"

Mark 7:1-23 is also reflected in Matthew 15:1-20.  Both authors refer us back to Isaiah 29:13. As I have brought this back to a question of God's very existence, let me quote the section from Isaiah 29:13-16.

"The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.  Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."  Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?" You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?

If by this blog I appear to want to change anything Moses said, or any of the Biblical writers for that matter; If I appear to disagree with Muhammad, John Smith, John Calvin, Martin Luther or any of the litany of church fathers who have added to our divisions and hostilities today, I am not ashamed.  My desire is to remain faithful to God's word as it, and He, is alive and well.  As I search the scriptures with you, I claim the wisdom of Matthew 13:52:


"Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

And Paul's exhortation to unity in the Father as represented in I Corinthians 1:21-25:

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

I hear many within the faith from their own spiritual identities, claiming that they know the true Christ and others serve a false Christ.  How dare they!  I believe it is the Spirit of God at work on men's souls, and that the power of d'evil is lame in His sight.  I search for God through Jesus Christ daily and I have yet much to learn.  If He is the Prince of Peace and God so loved the world, it should be very difficult indeed for men to justify war in His name.  If a believer questions a brother's understanding of Christ, he must internalize the question and repent of his own sin.  Let go and let God! You and I can't save anyone, and the concept that we can may very well be blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, if what is coming out of you in the name of faith is evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly; Then, by all means, wash your hands or do whatever else you need to do to become ceremonially cleansed and made right with God within your heart.  Seek the true fruits of the Spirit which you know to be good, and right, and true (Ephesians 5:9): faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,  self control, compassion, lowliness, forbearance, forgiveness, wisdom, praise, thanksgiving, and the greatest of these is Love. (Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 12:17, I Corinthians 13).

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 3:5-11, Paul describes this new nature and the bond we must have with Christ. Understand that although you are invited into the family, you must be working to cleanse yourself  from the impurity within.  Any of us who have felt worthy to serve within the Kingdom of God are working on this ourselves daily and are (must be) willing to help.  The question is, do you want to be healed? Can you forgive our humanity and failures and work together with us at this cleansing? Listen to Paul:

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Galatians 5:13-15 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

For more reading, check out I Corinthians 13. If you are online, you can use the Bible Gateway tool to the right of this blog.

Response to Psalm 40:11-17

As we hear the heart of David in this Psalm, we can understand that this cleansing from within is a lifelong struggle for all of us.  As David speaks of his earthly enemies, I exhort you to consider your spiritual enemies.  Those thoughts and ideologies from within that give you pride, disension, and all those unclean spirits within that we have reflected in the blog above (Mark 7:20-23, Colossians 3:5-11, Galatians 5:18-21).  The same is true as those evil desires are cleansed in righteousness in the blood of Jesus to the glory of the Father.  May "The Lord be exalted!" (vs. 16)  He is our help and our deliverer, O Father, Creator of all,  come quickly to save us and grant us your peace.

Response to Proverbs 10:13-14

The further along you get in the Word of God, the more you can relate to the beauty of  the longest chapter in the Bible - a love letter to God.  In response to today's Psalm, Psalm 119:11 came to my mind:

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

The next world war, should that ever happen, will not be the Creator's choice, but man's. Repent and believe in the Prince of Peace. He is mighty to save.

Until tomorrow

Rick.