Leviticus 13:18-39 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Leviticus 13:18-39. With a humble heart, see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Leviticus 13:18-39 (NIV)
18 “When someone has a boil on his skin and it heals,
19 and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, he must present himself to the priest.
20 The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious skin disease that has broken out where the boil was.
21 But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to put him in isolation for seven days.
22 If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is infectious.
23 But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
24 “When someone has a burn on his skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn,
25 the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious skin disease.
26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to put him in isolation for seven days.
27 On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious skin disease.
28 If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scar from the burn.
29 “If a man or woman has a sore on the head or on the chin,
30 the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean; it is an itch, an infectious disease of the head or chin.
31 But if, when the priest examines this kind of sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to put the infected person in isolation for seven days.
32 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if the itch has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep,
33 he must be shaved except for the diseased area, and the priest is to keep him in isolation another seven days.
34 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the itch, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce him clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean.
35 But if the itch does spread in the skin after he is pronounced clean,
36 the priest is to examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.
37 If, however, in his judgment it is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
38 “When a man or woman has white spots on the skin,
39 the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; that person is clean.
On verses 18-39: When it came to unusual appearances on people’s skin, ancient Mesopotamian cultures like the Babylonians and Assyrians often viewed such appearances as punishment from the gods. For example, in the Diagnostic Handbook called the Sakikkû by Esagil-kin-apli (c. 11th century BCE), a description of skin diseases was often accompanied by a statement like “If a man has spots on his skin and they are white, it is the hand of the god.”
In Exodus the widespread appearance of boils on the Egyptians was described as a plague from God. Also, in Numbers 12 when Miriam challenges Moses’ authority, Miriam’s skin looks leprous, like snow, and the implication is that God made that happen. However, notice that in Leviticus 13, there is no mention of unusual appearances on the skin being punishment from God. Remember that the labels “unclean” and “clean” in Leviticus don’t necessarily mean “sinful” and “without sin”. Rather Leviticus 13 is focused more on how to check if such appearances on the skin are an illness or not.
Also, here we read that it was the priest’s responsibility to examine certain issues people would have with their skin and to make certain pronouncements concerning their condition. In fact in these verses the word “examine” appears no less than 11 times and the word “pronounce” no less than 10 times.
This reminds me that, like a priest in Leviticus, God examines not just our physical condition, but our spiritual condition as well. For example, check out the following verses:
Psalm 11:4 (NLT2)
4 But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
Psalm 26:2 (NIV)
2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 20:12 (NIV)
12 O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind…
God examines our hearts and minds. The amazing thing is that though God examines our hearts and minds and is fully aware of the brokenness inside, God nonetheless is able to pronounce us righteous and clean in His sight. This is all because Jesus Christ, our great high priest, died on the cross for us and His blood covers our sins. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we have become righteous and clean in God’s sight.
Thank You Lord that not only do You examine our imperfect condition, but through Christ’s shed blood You pronounce us clean, righteous and acceptable in Your sight. We also pray today for You to heal every sickness, disease and ailment in our midst. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
