We are currently in the middle of a mass of “Laws of Purity,” each prescribed (commanded) by God for the Israelites’ lives.
These are strategically positioned between two references (the only two in Leviticus) of the presumptuous/rebellious sins of Aaron’s two sons (Nadab and Abihu) … specifically chapter 10:1-20 and again in chapter 16:1-2. They defiled the Tabernacle. Now God is emphasizing that all who come to the Tabernacle MUST BE pure/clean! Lest that sacred Place somehow be defiled yet again!
In that line of thought … today we notice Leviticus chapter 12, though I seriously thought about “skipping” it. It is hard to explain!
It concerns the bodily discharges a woman experiences when she gives birth. (By the way, this is the shortest chapter in the whole Book of Leviticus, with only 8 verses.)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.” Leviticus 12:1-4
Women lose blood at childbirth. Blood that is so “special” to God. (“For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” Leviticus 17:11) This loss of blood (which specifically occurs at childbirth but can also continue seeping for days afterward) is the opposite of the “life” principle. It is the “loss of life” principle. God is LIFE! Sin brings death! Hence (at least this is one reason often given) … the new Mother needs purification!
Furthermore, Psalm 51:5 links childbirth (even the little newborn one) to sin, original sin! “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me,” David confesses, writes under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Hints of sin, a baby child (a little sinner, via Adam’s and Eve’s sin passed down to us all) at the time of birth even! (Though those little folks are “innocent” in God’s Eyes as far as eternity is concerned, until they reach an age of accountability, of understanding right from wrong. An age where they can accept Jesus as Saviour.)
So … there’s another possible reason for the Mother needing to be cleansed from her impurity. (Though those bloody discharges are likely the main reason, granted.)
Anyway, she is unclean (cannot go to the Tabernacle, for example) until two things happen. He child’s circumcision (we’re talking boys here) on the eighth (8th) day of his life. (A “picture” of the “putting off” of sinful flesh, thus “purification.”) Then for 33 more days (bringing the total up to 40 days or thereabouts) she is impure!
Then … she can go to the Tabernacle, present blood sacrifice, and be clean, pure once again! (Why does the man not have to do these things, when he becomes a Father? He shed no blood, maybe that’s the reason. He did not sin first, Eve did. Maybe that’s the reason. By the way, there were purity laws concerning any discharges from a man’s body, too.) In 1st Timothy 2:14 Paul reminds us: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
Purity Laws!
All designed to help people stay in fellowship/communion with God!
Then the chapter continues … with laws for the birth of a girl child! And waiting times for purification twice as long as that of a newborn son! (Not due to a patriarchal culture, I think. But to the fact of Eve’s sin again, likely. A little girl who will some day have children of her own, (Genesis 3:16, God to Eve: “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” The curse of that terrible sin!)
But again .. either way … verse 6 … “And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest.” SHE GETS TO BRING THIS OFFERING! A woman worshipping God at the Door of the Tabernacle! Quite an honor! Presenting “blood” (a picture of life, the life of that innocent lamb) at that wide open Door … before an Almighty God!
And, regardless of the “wait times” … the very same blood sacrifices apply to either boys or girls … no difference now.
All ground is level at the foot of the Cross! And the (brass) altar where she was standing is a Symbol of just that, the Cross of Calvary!
Another touching fact … if the Mother was “poor,” and she could not afford to bring a “lamb” … she could substitute with “doves” or “pigeons.” Much less expensive sacrifices! “Whosoever will may come!”
(By the way … Mary and Joseph were that poor when they brought baby Jesus to the Temple, when He was forty days old!)
God is so very Holy! (Angels in Heaven right now are crying loudly … “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.” According to Isaiah 6:3 anyway. That’s why the old Preachers used to call our God “thrice holy!”)
He thus demands purity in our lives, too.
We today do not religiously circumcise our babies … not offer literal blood sacrificed down at our Churches … but we DO seek to live clean lives unto the glory of God!
They sought to be ritually pure. We seek to be morally pure.
Maybe I should NOT have written on this chapter, after all!
God’s Laws … always … were designed to put us into the place of enjoying His Company, His Presence, His Delight!
And for that fact, we should all be grateful!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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