Leviticus 14 – 15
Yesterday’s reading had to do with the priest monitoring various skin diseases and mildew. Chapter 14 deals with ceremonial purification of those who have been healed of skin diseases or whose homes are contaminated by mildew.
Once it was determined that a skin disease has been healed, the priest was to perform a purification ceremony. The tools for this ceremony included two live, ceremonially clean birds, a stick of cedar, scarlet yarn and a hyssop branch. One bird was slaughtered and one was allowed to fly away.
I don[‘t think I would have enjoyed this ceremony very much because the priest was to sprinkle blood from the dead bird seven times over the person being purified. At that point, the priest released the live bird.
People being purified had to wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe themselves in water. They were then ceremonially clean and could return to camp. But it didn’t end there. They couldn’t go back in their tents for seven days. On the seventh day, they once again had to shave all the hair from their heads, including their beard and eyebrows. They had to wash their clothes and bathe again. The next day, each one being purified had to bring two male lambs and a one-year old female lamb with no defects along with a grain offering of six quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil, and a cup of olive oil.
The priest would take one of the male lambs and the olive oil and present them as a guilt offering, “lifting them up as a special offering before the Lord.” This offering went to the priest – a most holy offering. Blood from this offering was applied to the right ear lobe, the thumb of the right hand and to the big toe of the right foot of the person being purified.
Some of the olive oil was poured into the priest’s left hand and then the priest used his right finger to dip oil from his palm and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord then apply it to the right ear lobe, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot. The rest of the oil in the priest’s left hand was applied to the head of the person being purified.
The priest then slaughters the burnt offering and offers it on the altar along with the grain offering. No mention is made of the female lamb, but then I’m assuming it’s the second male lamb that is used for the burnt offering..
If a person was too poor to be able to offer the lambs, they could bring one male lamb together with two turtledoves or two young pigeons. Instead of the six quarts of choice flour, they could bring two quarts.
A few instructions are also given for dealing with mildew-contaminated houses.
Chapter 15 deals with male discharges, with the emission of semen and with a woman who has her menstrual discharges. Eight days after a man’s discharge was healed he was required to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest as sin offering and a burnt offering to purify him before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity. Eight days after her period stopped, a woman was required to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest as sin offering and a burnt offering to purify her before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity.
These instructions were so a person could be ceremonially clean, but I’m sure they also prevented a lot of diseases and stopped some diseases from spreading.
Aren’t you glad we don’t have to go through all of these ceremonies? Through Jesus, God made us clean and we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” where… “we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16.
Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 16 – 18.
State Preambles
Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people o f Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..
Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.< span class="Apple-converted-space">
Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution. < /span>
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance.....
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing....
South Carolina , 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties .
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility....
Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state Constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!
If you found this to be 'Food for thought' send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I hope you were.
(Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)
Let us bring God back into America !
GOD BLESS AMERICA !
Until next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment