When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising; It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean. And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. (Lev. 13:9-13)
God is very concerned with His people, that they separated themselves from the rest of the world and be clean, especially from leprosy. Leprosy, like other plagues since, had to be stopped before it spread to the whole camp and decimated the people. It was very aggressive and contagious and those who were diagnosed by the priest were to be isolated from the rest of the nation and quarantined. God knew how devastating a plague could be and installed steps of disease control in His Law that His people might be preserved.
There are several pictures and instructions even for today here in this passage as well as an application during Jesus ministry as He cleansed a leper who had to show himself to the priest. Not only is leprosy a picture in the Bible of sin, in its corruption of everything, and in its management, but as a type of all plagues we see the importance of isolation and quarantine. Because the unregenerate man is still lost in his sins, everything he does is corrupted and unclean, as filthy rags God says. Just as leprosy was to be isolated and controlled so must sin be rejected until the ultimate cure, the blood of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him, cleanses us from all sin. Even then the temptation to sin again, for the true Christian, must be watched for and resisted that it may be overcome by the Word of His power.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet