Leviticus 15, Purification from Bodily Discharges

Is this a chapter and subject that is unpleasant to think about?  Yes!  But is it also a common issue of life?  Absolutely!  Is there a health issue involved here?  Again, yes!  Is there also an uncleanness, and thus something that concerns God and His relationship with Israel?  Yes! 

Just on the basis of these thoughts we should be able to see God’s love for Israel, that He would give them wise instruction in dealing with this subject.  Not all the nations had this insight.  As a matter of fact, at the time of the Exodus, there were likely very few nations that had this insight.  We have noted previously the way the Jews were somewhat protected from the major plagues of the Middle Ages.  Cleanliness was a part of their religion.  My limited experience has been that nations that are rooted in Biblical truth tend to be cleaner societies than those that are not.  I do believe there is sense in the adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Lev. 15 deals with both normal and abnormal discharges.  15:1-18 deals with a man’s discharges, v19-30 a woman’s.  15:31-33 is a summary and conclusion.  15:31 makes it clear yet again that this issue is related to the presence of God in Israel.  Failure to live by these rules would lead to disease which would eventually make its way into the tabernacle.  The disease could, in fact, be deadly.

The NT speaks of cleansing, and in some of the cases we might see the OT teaching in the background.  Consider these few passages:

Mark 7:20-23: And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’

Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. 

Eph. 5:25-27: … Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

1 John 1:7,9: … the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.