Leviticus 13:29-59
He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. – Leviticus 13:46
Click to Read
Although we now know it isn’t easily transmitted, leprosy (known today as Hansen’s Disease) was dealt with so seriously because it was such a horrible sickness. It begins on the skin as small, red spots that soon get bigger and turn white, appearing shiny or scaly. As the spots spread over the entire body, the victim’s hair begins to fall out, gangrenous ulcers start to form, and that disease attacks the nerves endings, causing the victim to lose sensation in his body. Because the victim can’t feel when he’s injured, he loses fingers and toes, even limbs. Leprosy keeps eating at the body until the nose, face, and even eyes rot away. The victim of this incurable disease eventually comes to exist in a state of living dead, just slowly waiting to die.
The “leprous disease” could also infect garments of wool, linen, and leather in the form of mould or mildew (v.47-59). It might sound weird to bring mouldy clothes to the priest for inspection, but all of us know how stubborn mould and fungus can be, especially in this humid climate in Singapore. It is indeed like a contagious disease, not easily eradicated, and its presence can cause serious health issues. So it is understandable that it is treated as such to prevent it from spreading farther. Leprosy is like sin in many ways. It begin as nothing, small and unnoticeable spots in its early stages. It grows slowly, even insidiously. When left unchecked, its effects numb the senses of the conscience. Eventually it causes the decay, deformity, and death in the soul of the sinner. As James 1:15 says, “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”The sinner becomes “incapable of fellowship with God’s people, and utterly and entirely shut out by his sin from the presence and acceptance of God” (Spurgeon).
In the olden times, those with leprosy were made to live outside the camp and to keep at least 2 meters away from other people. Garments infected with fungal “leprosy” were burned up in the fire. This perhaps is an illustration of how we should react to sin in our lives and within our community. Once we’ve confirmed the presence of sin through inspection and examination in God’s presence, we must do our best to distance ourselves from it, even to the extent of cutting out that part of our lives, whether it be a habit, a group of enabling friends, a certain time or place or a particular state of mind that drives us toward that sin time and time again. Like mould, this may take repeated tries to completely eradicate. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, it may still come back, we may still fall back at any time if we allow ourselves to slacken our vigilance. We can’t do this on our own.
The only sure way to be completely healed of this plague of sin is to ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness and to depend on HIS strength to cut away the habits and the hold of sin in our lives.
Reflection:
What is one part of your life that repeatedly causes you to sin? Matthew 18:8-9 teaches us cut away the cause of our sin and to throw them away, even if it’s our own hand, foot, or eye. Romans 10:13 says, to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. So today, when you are faced with temptation, call upon Jesus and ask him for strength to cut that infectious part of your life completely off.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, have mercy on us, who are faced with constant temptations from the world outside and from within ourselves. We do not want to continue sinning. Help us to treat sin as it should be treated, and give us strength to cut it away, even if it hurts, even if it feels like we’re missing out. Forgive and cleanse us. We want to live purely and obediently unto you, enjoying the blessings of living in your holy presence. Restore us into connection with you once again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Click to Read
Although we now know it isn’t easily transmitted, leprosy (known today as Hansen’s Disease) was dealt with so seriously because it was such a horrible sickness. It begins on the skin as small, red spots that soon get bigger and turn white, appearing shiny or scaly. As the spots spread over the entire body, the victim’s hair begins to fall out, gangrenous ulcers start to form, and that disease attacks the nerves endings, causing the victim to lose sensation in his body. Because the victim can’t feel when he’s injured, he loses fingers and toes, even limbs. Leprosy keeps eating at the body until the nose, face, and even eyes rot away. The victim of this incurable disease eventually comes to exist in a state of living dead, just slowly waiting to die.
The “leprous disease” could also infect garments of wool, linen, and leather in the form of mould or mildew (v.47-59). It might sound weird to bring mouldy clothes to the priest for inspection, but all of us know how stubborn mould and fungus can be, especially in this humid climate in Singapore. It is indeed like a contagious disease, not easily eradicated, and its presence can cause serious health issues. So it is understandable that it is treated as such to prevent it from spreading farther. Leprosy is like sin in many ways. It begin as nothing, small and unnoticeable spots in its early stages. It grows slowly, even insidiously. When left unchecked, its effects numb the senses of the conscience. Eventually it causes the decay, deformity, and death in the soul of the sinner. As James 1:15 says, “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”The sinner becomes “incapable of fellowship with God’s people, and utterly and entirely shut out by his sin from the presence and acceptance of God” (Spurgeon).
In the olden times, those with leprosy were made to live outside the camp and to keep at least 2 meters away from other people. Garments infected with fungal “leprosy” were burned up in the fire. This perhaps is an illustration of how we should react to sin in our lives and within our community. Once we’ve confirmed the presence of sin through inspection and examination in God’s presence, we must do our best to distance ourselves from it, even to the extent of cutting out that part of our lives, whether it be a habit, a group of enabling friends, a certain time or place or a particular state of mind that drives us toward that sin time and time again. Like mould, this may take repeated tries to completely eradicate. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, it may still come back, we may still fall back at any time if we allow ourselves to slacken our vigilance. We can’t do this on our own.
The only sure way to be completely healed of this plague of sin is to ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness and to depend on HIS strength to cut away the habits and the hold of sin in our lives.
Reflection:
What is one part of your life that repeatedly causes you to sin? Matthew 18:8-9 teaches us cut away the cause of our sin and to throw them away, even if it’s our own hand, foot, or eye. Romans 10:13 says, to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. So today, when you are faced with temptation, call upon Jesus and ask him for strength to cut that infectious part of your life completely off.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, have mercy on us, who are faced with constant temptations from the world outside and from within ourselves. We do not want to continue sinning. Help us to treat sin as it should be treated, and give us strength to cut it away, even if it hurts, even if it feels like we’re missing out. Forgive and cleanse us. We want to live purely and obediently unto you, enjoying the blessings of living in your holy presence. Restore us into connection with you once again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!