READ LEVITICUS 14
How are skin rashes and moldy houses connected to God? Aren't these personal issues that individuals or families who own homes have to address? In contemporary American society, yes, but what lessons can we draw from this ancient Jewish text that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us today?
To start, it is evident that God values cleanliness. This goes beyond just a mother telling her child to tidy their room before guests arrive. This pertains to ceremonial cleanliness. This kind of cleanliness would be something that would keep someone from community life if they were deemed unclean. While isolating someone with a skin ailment may be understandable to prevent its spread, why would an entire house need to be destroyed due to mold? We now know that certain types of mold and fungi can pose serious health risks to individuals. This highlights that God cares about the physical well-being of His people and the cohesion of the community.
Nevertheless, this may not seem particularly spiritual in the conventional sense. Yet, we observe that God is concerned about the daily struggles of His people. He is attentive when someone is hospitalized or has to miss school or work. He is mindful when the stigma of having a particular illness arises, insinuating that no one wishes to be in their company... and Jesus had words on this matter.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan recounted in Luke 10, is it not puzzling that neither the priest nor the Levite stopped to help the dying man? Not really, as in our present context lacking the distinction between clean and unclean cherished by ancient Jews, we may misperceive them as arrogant individuals when they were upholding the Law. According to Jewish Law, touching anything deceased rendered a person unclean, risking their ability to serve in the Temple. Jesus clarifies with this parable that God does not prioritize external ceremonial cleanliness but the purity of the heart. This purity is akin to the compassion of Christ, which would prompt one to aid a dying individual regardless of the consequences.
QUESTIONS
1. Have you experienced a time in your life when you felt morally compromised? How did you cope with it?
2. Was there a person who reached out to support you during that challenging time?
3. Is there someone currently in your life who you can offer support to in a similar way?