February 20

Leviticus 12:1-14

Leviticus 10:10 defines two types of conditions, holy and common. Holy was God and everything set apart for him. Common was the normal everyday state of affairs. However, common was divided into clean and unclean; not clean and sinful. In today’s passage, unclean was a ceremonial or religious quarantine due to an issue of blood, multiple skin diseases, and mildew. The unclean were isolated outside the camp, because God was present in the Israelite camp and he is holy. The unclean were defiled and some conditions were highly communicable. They were to have unkempt hair, torn clothes, and a covered face as if they were mourning; mourning their separation from others, but most of all from God’s presence. These “laws actually reflect God’s gracious protection of the Israelite community from the spread of disease. The laws stressed the personal responsibility and concern for the welfare of the community as a whole”. (NIV Quest Study Bible Notes).

Our uncleanness may not be a skin disease or mold, but jealousy, greed, bitterness, and trivial lies. Regardless of how petty an uncleanness these sins may appear, they do separate us from God. So let us confess these sins and return back to intimate fellowship with our holy God.

Heavenly Father, I long to constantly be in your presence and I seek your forgiveness. Amen.

Is there an uncleanness separating you from God’s holy presence?

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