Leviticus 18 ~ The Sanctity of Sex

God told Moses to instruct the Israelites that they were not be sexual immoral as were the Egyptians. He was bringing them into Canaan and He wanted Moses to impress upon them that they were not to behave as the Canaanites either. They were not to have sexual relations with relatives, spouses of relatives or family members of any relatives, nor were they to sleep with their neighbor or a member of their own sex. 

God was very clear in His instructions to be given to the Israelites as to the sanctity of sex wanting them to respect themselves and one another. 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.

Leviticus 17 ~ Bloodshedding

The Lord told Moses to speak to Aaron and his sons regarding the sacrifice of ox, sheep or goats advising that anyone who slaughters an animal without first bringing it to the temple and first offering it for sacrifice at the temple is guilty of blood shedding. If anyone was out hunting and caught a bird or other animal the blood should be buried before the animal was prepared for eating. Blood of animals as well as humans was considered to be sacred and not disposed of in a careless fashion. There also was protocol to follow in cleaning the garments and bodies of those who came in contact with the shed blood.  

Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.

Leviticus 16 ~ The Scapegoat

In chapter ten of Leviticus, Aaron's two sons were consumed with fire for incorrectly approaching the Lord. God referred to this when speaking to Moses about protocol in approaching the sanctuary. God asked Moses to instruct Aaron in the appropriate fashion of not only entering the temple but preparing sin offering. He advised him also that a young bullock was to be given for offering and how the sins were to be placed upon the head of a goat and the goat led out into the desert. This is where the term "scapegoat" appears to have originated as the goat bore the sins of the people and then was sacrificed. 

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Leviticus 15 ~ Running issues and cleanliness

Two Squatter Pigeons

Much as a father would speak to his children and give him or her proper training to teach them how to safeguard their health, our heavenly father spoke to Moses about running issues and cleanliness. He instructed Moses how to speak to the people about cleanliness of both male and females and how after being cleansed of the issue they were to take two turtles or pigeons to the priestat the door of the synagogue. The priest then would offer a burnt offering for their atonement but when they were still with their issue, they were to take caution not to cause anyone else to be infected and to limit their contact. These instructions were given for the protection of all.

 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.


Photo borrowed from Wikipedia.

Leviticus 14 ~ Cleansing of Lepers

hyssop

The 14th chapter of Leviticus has 55 verses which cover an extremely detailed instructional for priests regarding the purification of lepers. The priest was assigned the responsibility of examining the leper and determining whether she or he was healed and able to join the others. He also performed the offering for forgiveness of sin and purification of the leper. Two birds were required, hyssop, and cedar wood for only one part of the ceremony. There were days of instructions to follow involving other sacrifices and precise steps which had to be maintained such as:

"And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that it is be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot;"

While reading this chapter it struck me that all the specific instructions required obedience and faith.      Perhaps, and I do not claim to be a Bible scholar, but just perhaps the Lord was testing the Priests and the people, creating step after step to follow creating a closer bond to Himself with the people while maintaining cleanliness and protection from disease because their faith and obedience would help them to regain their health?

Note: Hyssop is a herb which is anti-viral and also used as an expectorant, found in many natural cough remedies. Chemicals and nutrients found in hyssop are diosmine, essential oils, flavonoids, marrubin and tannins. Poultices were created which sped up the healing of wounds. 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.

Leviticus 13 ~ Being Clean and Respectful

Lepers shouted unclean!

In this chapter God describes how lepers are to be examined by the priests and how they are to be quarantined from the rest of the population until considered clean again. In those days people who had highly contagious diseases such as leprosy understood the importance of keeping their distance and maintaining it for the safety of others. It was a sign of respect. 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.

Leviticus 12 - The Purification of a Woman after Childbirth

 

God gave Moses very specific instructions for the purification of the mother after birth of her child. He compared the issue of blood resulting from childbirth to a woman's menstrual cycle which is used to purify her and designated how long she was not to touch anything holy with a designated amount of days for a son of 41 days and for a daughter of 66 days. During this time she was not allowed to attend temple. At the end of the time she was advised to bring her offering to the entrance of the tent and the ritual would be performed to take away her impurity and allow her to be "ritually" cleaned. A different offering was allowed for the mother who could not afford a lamb; she could substitute two pigeons or doves.

 
Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.

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