He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field… Leviticus 14:6,7 (ESV)
I have to admit that I don’t draw too much inspiration from the Book of Leviticus. It shows the Lord’s precision in determining the conduct of sacrifices and what is acceptable to eat. God’s people were reminded that they were not determining what was and was not acceptable to God – God was!
I remember the man who told me how he had lived a good, honest life and done his best, and if that was not good enough for God, it was “too bad.” That is man determining what God should accept instead of us submitting to what God says.
Leprosy was a dreaded disease in both the Old and New Testaments. The condition gave the image of death. Paul the Apostle wrote, “You were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Eph. 2:1) So each of us has a case of “spiritual leprosy.”
In Leviticus 14 are the instructions on how a leper who has recovered from his disease can be redeemed and enter again into the congregation of God’s people. What is striking is the ritual of these two birds.
One is killed over fresh water. The other bird, along with cedar, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, is dipped in the blood of the sacrificed bird. That bird that has been covered in the blood of the sacrifice is let go and flies away.
What a significant image of what Christ accomplished on the cross when you look at this process. A sacrifice in which blood and water serve as the two cleansing agents. Then there is a bird covered in the blood of the sacrifice, set free to fly away into the country.
The one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the One who came by water and blood.He did not come by water only, but by water and blood…” (1 John 5:5,6)
When I picture the bird flying out of sight, I think of Psalms 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed your transgressions from you.”
I am also reminded of the words of hymns from the past. Ones that say things like, “Keep me safe from day to day under the blood…” “The blood of Jesus is washes white as snow.” “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” “Are you washed in the blood, the soul cleansing blood of the lamb?” “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the lamb!” While it may seem morbid in natural eyes, spiritually we see the lifeblood of Jesus shed for us is what gives us spiritual life.
John 5:39, we see the word of Jesus to the rule-keeping, Torah-focused Pharisees and read, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Do you think He was referring to Leviticus? I believe he could have. Especially since Jesus was willing to touch the leper. He told those He had healed to go show themselves to the priest and offer the required sacrifices.
Here is the rest of Ephesians 2 that I referenced at the beginning:…ButGod, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph. 2:4-6)
In scripture, we see these pictures from death to life. From lost to being found. In prison and set free. Outcasts, but brought near by the blood of Christ.
Just when you don’t believe a Book of the Bible has any application or inspiration, sometimes the Holy Spirit surprises you.