Metzora “Infected One”

Leviticus 14:1-15:33

We are continuing to see God unfold directions to Moses regarding purification of not only people, but of their garments and homes. Many of us today, understand that there are some viruses that continue to live on certain surfaces until the virus is destroyed by liquids that contain chemicals that destroy the viruses. As a momma of three, if any of my kiddos were sick when they were little, it was always a ritual to wash their bedding, stuffed animals and anything else I thought they had come in contact with while they were sick. If my hubby or I are sick, I completely cleanse and sanitize our bed sheets & bathroom, to keep from the virus spreading. When we read this in Leviticus, it doesn’t seem so far off as to things we still do to this day to stop the spread of certain things. Things might have seemed a little more aggressive for the ancient Israelites in what they did with clothing and even houses, but we have to keep in mind, they didn’t yet have the things we have today to kill certain viruses. My personal opinion is, if we followed some of these instructions more closely, we would probably cut down even more on sicknesses spreading. One of the sicknesses that is described in this reading is “gossip” or in Hebrew, “Lashon Hara”. And we all know an evil virus can spread and seeks to destroy relationships with each other and with God. It is a kind of sin, that can most certainly be repented of and healing will come!

As we read through the scriptures, we come to the sacrifice and offering. We read, "the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in a clay pot. And he is to take the live bird, together with the cedarwood, the scarlet yarn, and the hyssop, and dip them all into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the skin disease, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird into the open field."

I came across two signifiant symbolic reasons for the two birds….This ritual symbolizes purification and atonement. The slaughtered bird represents the sacrifice necessary for cleansing, while the release of the live bird signifies the removal of impurity and the restoration of the individual to the community.

We read that, the bird that died was killed over running water. Here is an interesting significance. When Jesus was on the cross and other men were also being crucified, “The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been put on a stake beside Jesus…but they didn’t break his legs. We know that one of the soldiers stabbed Jesus’ side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out of His side. Water and blood are meaningful because blood covers and water cleanses and you cannot get clean by sitting in a pool of water that doesn’t move. This is why, many baptisms and especially Mikveh’s are done in “a body of living water” ‘water that is moving’. We wash our hands with running water because that takes the dirt away. God cleanses our spiritual illness as well as our sin, because it is a sickness too. There is nothing in the NT that directly mentions “the two birds and that ritual written in Leviticus”; however, the ideas of cleansing, sacrifice, and restoration are echoed in the life and work of Jesus Christ. Many of us today, understand that the sacrificial system of the OT, including the ritual of the two birds, is seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who provides purification and redemption for humanity - Hallelujah!! Hebrews 9:13-14 reflects on this, stating, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!"

The ritual involving two birds in Leviticus serves as a beautiful picture of the principles of sacrifice, cleansing, and restoration that permeate the biblical narrative. Through these ancient practices, believers today can gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual truths fulfilled in the NT through Jesus Christ/Yeshua and how He entered the Holiest Place once and for all. And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever~Amen! For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself unblemished to God.

Yeshua our High Priest saw our need and went outside the camp of Heaven to be with us on earth to examine us and teach us how to live a healthy sin free life because of the blood he shed in our place. But like the hyssop dipped in blood it is Jesus/Yeshua’s blood that gives us the power to obey. It is important to remember that not only was the living bird covered in blood, but the cedar wood, scarlet cord, and hyssop were too. We cannot obey God with our own efforts, a works based attitude will get us no where! The cord of faith by which we hold onto God, and the urge that we need to stand against temptation, and stay faithful to God are all gifts that come from God through the blood of Yeshua that we must accept by faith. Being good is not something we can accomplish on our own. It is all faith, we cannot be cleansed by our own efforts we must allow God to do it for us and submit our lives to Him.

I encourage you to read through the entire reading. It isn’t very long. The Holy Spirit led me to the point about the “two birds”. There really in truly, is so much to learn from the Torah (book of instruction). So many churches today only stay in the NT, and the sad part is, if you don’t study the OT for yourself, you will miss so much. Like the significance of the water that poured out of Jesus side when a spear was stuck through Him.

I didn’t grow up around anyone that I knew was Jewish. The community I live in, does not have many Jewish folks. So I missed the richness of learning about The Torah and the Biblical Feasts (God’s appointed times). But, God has my full attention and I am hungry to learn and grow deeper in His word every day! I hope this encourages you to do the same and that is exactly what our ministry does!

Shalom & Blessings ~ Deena