clean and unclean – Be Still…

Read Leviticus 21:1-22:16

The priests were called on by God and set apart for God’s purposes. So that a priest could be as holy as possible, God gave them these instructions and expectations. The priests receiving these decrees are in the line of Aaron, and they held their positions until the temple was destroyed and the sacrificial system came to an end. What wisdom can we glean from these rules?

For hundreds of years, these instructions would have been followed to the letter by priests wanting to be deemed holy in God’s eyes. It was in their job description to be holy. Because priests were also human, the tendency toward sin and selfishness was probably also very much real for them. Can you imagine the mindset of a priest in those days called to be a representative of God? Continue reading “Leviticus 21:1-22:16 – The Holiness of Priests”

Read Leviticus 12:1-8

Continuing in our discussion about clean and unclean, we have the discussion on what happens after a baby is born. If you’ve ever been around someone giving birth, it’s messy, yet very sterile if you happen to be in a hospital setting. The people first hearing these words would not have had any idea what a hospital was, but it doesn’t matter. Being unclean starts with birth but lasts for days with the purification process lasting for more than a month.

Childbirth is a beautiful part of life. Yet, in those days, there was a lot of pressure to be ritually cleansed so you’d be ready to be around people, attend church, etc. Can you imagine? While we have maternity leave from work these days, the focus is getting accustomed to the new human entering your family. Caring for the child’s every need consumes the parent’s time in that very delicate time. Imagine having to add the realities of being unclean to that mix! Continue reading “Leviticus 12:1-8 – What Happens After Childbirth?”