Ear, Thumb, Toe
What a beautiful January day here in Colorado with temperatures in the high 50’s. Debbie and I attended the 11:30 a.m. service this morning at Timberline Church. Today was the annual “U-Count” focus, which brings awareness and support to combat sex trafficking in our community and around the world. Congratulations to Bonnie Northrop for her vision and Beth Bruno for her efforts (along with a host of volunteers) to bring focused support to what is becoming a growing awareness of need in our state and local communities. (www.ucountcampaign.org/)
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “He [the Priest] shall take some of the oil that is in the palm of his hand and some of the blood of the lamb and put them on the lobe of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one of you to be declared ritually clean.He shall put the rest of the oil that is in the palm of his hand on your head. In this way he shall perform the ritual of purification.” (Leviticus 14:14,17,18)
The Book of Leviticus is not the source of a lot of sermons. I recall a missionary friend who said he, “loved preaching Leviticus.” He is the only minister that I have heard say that. Often Leviticus is a Book the many stumble over in their commitment to read through the Bible.
But it is an important Book in understanding God’s holiness and rituals that would form acceptable worship and relationship to God; as well as practical guidelines to protect the health and well being of the people. The verses above come from instructions on how an individual with a “skin disease”, who has been excluded from the temple and isolated from others, becomes recognized as clean and prepared to enter back into the community.
In the past of my reading through the Bible I recall, but glossed over the reference to the blood and oil being applied to the right ear, thumb and toe. But this time it caught my attention. What is the significance?
What is of interest is that this is not a common form of “ritual cleansing” for violating other laws or for ritualistic cleansing. It is, interestingly, mentioned as part of the ordination of Aaron and his sons as Priests.
“Then he [Moses] brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet.” Leviticus 8:24
I did find one commentary source that confirmed my thoughts on why these three parts of the body were of significance. The brief summary was, “These actions symbolize the consecration of the priests’ hearing from God, the work (of their hands) for God, and their walk with God.”
Leprosy was viewed as a judgment from God. We see that when Miriam opposed Moses she was struck with Leprosy. When Elisha’s servant lied to Naaman and took gifts he was not suppose to, he was stricken with leprosy. Leprosy resulted in people being outcasts and came to represent the outward evidence of the inward mark of sin in a person’s life.
As a result, when the “curse” was removed the individual went through a ritualistic cleansing that involved the blood the the sacrifice and anointing oil being applied to the right ear, thumb and toe. This person was not only acceptable to God and received back into the congregation, but it seems that they were commissioned with a special call for their life. What they heard and allowed into their mind, what they did and how they lived was to honor God. From this day on they were dedicated to the Lord.
That application to the life of follower of Christ is significant. Peter put it in these words, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Paul admonished those who follow Christ, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light..” (Eph. 5:) The command and practical words of Paul’s that show true change in a life are these, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” (Eph. 4:28)
The blood of the lamb represented cleansing and the oil represented consecration. That is what our life represents when our sins are forgiven and we follow Christ in a new life. Forgiven and consecrated. Clean and filled with purpose. “The old is gone and the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
May what is graphically and ritualistically pictured in the Old Testament, become the reality in your life today. A new life; incorporated into the community of faith all because of the sacrifice of Christ (the Lamb of God) and the mark of the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the oil of consecration). Remember,
“… he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)