Leviticus 14
VISIT THE SICK

Generally, if people wanted to see a priest, they would go to the entrance of the tabernacle and meet a priest there. At the tabernacle the services for whatever needed doing would be performed. But in the case of a person with an infectious skin disease it was different. The person with an infectious skin disease had to live in isolation until the disease was cured. In that condition they could not come into or even near the tabernacle because the tabernacle was right in the center of the camp of Israel. It was the busiest and most peopled place – like going into the central city. So on the occasions of infectious skin diseases, the priest had to do a home or isolation visit.

“These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them.” (Leviticus 14 v 2 – 3).

Throughout the Bible, infectious skin diseases (otherwise known as leprosy) represent sin. Whether by choice or by disfellowship, there are people who should be attending our churches, but are not because sin has kept them away. Like the priests, we should be making the effort to go out to them and to do what we can to help cleanse them from their sin so that they can come back and be part of our community again.

May the compassion we have been shown flow on to others this weekend.

With love in our Lord,
Robert

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Robert Prins
  www.thinkythings.com