Believers agree that the Bible is the Word of our Heavenly Father and Yeshua/Jesus was and is the Word made flesh. This means the Word is alive, i.e. the Bible is a Living book. This explains why even when we read the scriptures daily and think we remember what it says, we can suddenly see/read something we never saw before. Fathers Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes and reveals a nugget of wisdom and a depth of understanding into a portion of His Word that enhances our faith and increases our knowledge of Who He is; and in turn adds to the development and intimacy of our loving relationship with Him.
If we are following the weekly Parashat in the annual reading through Torah, included below are some crusts, crumbs and nuggets we may have missed on our initial reading of these verses in Leviticus chapters 14 and 15. The Torah portion is called Metzora = cleansing of infected ones.
The theme of Leviticus is how sinful man draws near to a Holy God. We know of course that because Messiah came, He has made the Way for us to approach our Heavenly Holy Father; however it is helpful to know and see how the instructions given to the children of Israel were a foreshadowing of Messiah Himself. These instructions and Ways were known in detail to the Israelites and when Messiah came, those alive at the time saw these prophetic fore-shadowings fulfilled.
In Lev. 14:1-7, we read about the process.
The meaning of the cleansing process:
Two live birds = two birds represent Yeshua/Jesus and a sinner.
One bird is to be slaughtered = the bird that is killed represents Yeshua/Jesus Who died to set us free of the bondage of sin.
Earthen vessel = The earthen vessel is not a vessel of brass, shows that this is not a judgment against the sinner. (In the Bible brass represents judgment.)
Living water = living water represents His Holy Spirit/Ruach haKodesh Who would be given in more fullness after Messiah’s death. He shows us our need to be saved.
Live bird = The live bird having been set free after having the blood and living water applied, displays the freedom from the bondage of sin, through the blood of Yeshua/Jesus and the Taval/baptism (where His Holy Spirit descended). He died so that we can live.
Cedar Wood = Cedar wood is not affected by attacks of insects, they are repelled by it. The adversary cannot take us out of the protective hand of our Heavenly Father, he is repelled by His presence.
Hyssop = Hyssop was used to put the blood on the door posts and lintel at the first Passover. It was also used to give Messiah when He was on the tree/cross. Both of these events saved us from death. David says in Psalm 51:7 purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Crimson thread = the crimson thread saved the physical lives of Rahab and her whole family, Joshua 2:18-19. This, points to the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Crimson thread was made using a dye from a worm. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh Me to scorn they shoot out the lip they shake the head saying He trusted on Yahweh that He would deliver Him let Him deliver Him seeing He delighted in Him.
Immerse his clothing shave off all his hair and immerse himself in water and become pure. = This act of removing hair from the body is an indication of the removing of pride and arrogance from our lives. Many have never had their heads shaved and some experience this when entering the military and it has a profound effect on individuals attitude. This was the practice against the Jews during the holocaust.
He must live outside his tent for seven days. This possibly indicates that the fullness of inclusion into the Kingdom of the Heavens is after the thousand-year reign when the new heavens and a new earth are established.
Why did they have to do this strange ritual? For us looking back, we see the meaning but for them it was a ‘chok’, beyond the range of human reason. Some of the sages speculated that the cedar represents pride, as it is one of the grandest of trees, (Cedars of Lebanaon). whereas the hyssop represents humility, as it is one of the most common and lowest lying of branches. The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests at the Mishkan, which indicate the full restoration of the metzora back to the community. The scarlet thread represents Jesus/Yeshua because His blood holds everything together and makes atonement possible.
In verse 5, and the priest shall command that one of the birds is to be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.
Running water = living water. Water that is not still and prone to become stagnant but a spring of water that continually flows fresh with life giving benefits. This is significant because Yeshua spoke of Himself as Living Water in John 4:7—10 She would have known the scriptures well, and understood that He was the long awaited Messiah and why she immediately rushed to tell everyone in her town that He had come.
The third stage of purification in Lev. 8:24,
instructs the applying of blood
to the right ear,
thumb of the right hand
he big toe of the right foot;
it is the same process as the inauguration of the priests.
This shows us that the one being cleansed is committing to
hear only wholesome talk,
perform and be occupied with only righteous deeds and
only go to places where our Heavenly Father, Yeshua/Jesus and His Holy Spirit are honored.
The next scriptures in Leviticus speak of the cleansing from Tzaraat and the need to call for a Temple Priest to come and examine the individual. The priest was to prescribe the remedy and also be the one to declare the person clean. Now, when we read in Luke 17:11-19; of the 10 men with Leprosy/tzaraat and Yeshua/Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest. This had never happened before without the prescribed process. Verse 32. Only Messiah our High Priest, can cleanse this condition.
When the 10 men with Tzaraat went to the Temple after Messiah had cleansed them, it was a proclamation to the Priesthood that Messiah had come. Never before had 10 men with tzaraat been cleansed at one time. It is possible that no one had been cleansed before without the precise instructions being followed. This may also have been a sign that the uncleanness of the 10 tribes had been forgiven, and they were being called back to Messiah. We have known of the need to say thank you for what the Lord has done for us yet we sometimes miss another meaning from the Torah which Messiah came to complete.
One last point to ponder.
Lev. 15:19-28 speaks about a woman’s ‘niddah’, the time of separation each month. There is a related scripture and event described in Mark 5:21-43.
We have heard many sermons on these verses The woman was healed of the plague of an unending time of impurity having had this condition for 12 years; and it could point to what Messiah came to do for the 12 Tribes of Israel (His Bride). He came to end their time of separation (niddah) from the Father and bring healing for their relationship with their Creator. The little girl who was 12 years old, who was brought back to life; could point to the fact that the 12 tribes (bride), were separated from the Heavenly bridegroom Yahweh and had a judgment of death on them. Yeshua/Jesus death would allow them to be brought back under the renewed covenant as Paul talks about inRomans chapters 6 &7.
It was the prerogative of the Lord God of Yisrael to touch those afflicted with tzaraat and heal them based on their teshuvah/repentance; and in like manner Messiah came into the leper colony of humanity, to heal those who cried out to Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His love reaches down to those who are afflicted and oppressed because of their uncleanness. If we call upon Him He will touch us and restore us to fellowship with our Heavenly Father. He is just waiting….
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen
