Daily Bible Portion (Friday)
Daily Bible Portion – 6 of 7
"INFECTED ONES"
(Weekly Reading>>Leviticus 14:1-15:33, 2 Kings 7:3-20, Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 9:20-26, Luke 17:1-37)
Niddah
(The Laws of Separation for Blessings)
Two realms are in the woman's monthly flow: life and death. God says that the woman is to be separated from intimate relations with her husband for a full seven days during her time. This time is called niddah in Hebrew. Niddah is as much for the man as it is for the woman and carries prophetic imagery of the millennial Kingdom, as seven days also represents 7000 years. As the woman dedicates her separation time to Yahweh, the man's honoring of the woman during her week is equally important. This is not legalism, for salvation purposes or from man's theology but is a commandment from God and instructions for our health and blessing.
Just as we learned about clean and unclean foods, the niddah time has a clean and an unclean side to it also. The blood carries life-giving properties to the womb. If fertilization does not take place, the egg will be flushed out, along with the lining of the uterus. The woman's monthly flow is that flushing and cleansing process to keep her reproductive system clean and healthy. God commands the man and woman not to have marital relations during the seven days of cleansing. This is a consecration time. In marriage, if this process is violated it can lead to contamination that can spread not only through the woman's reproductive system but also into the man's reproductive system. Breaking this commandment may result in such diseases as ovarian, breast and prostate cancers (Deuteronomy 28).
At the completion of the woman's flow and after she has bathed, she is to have an immersion in water for a change of status that brings her from a time of separation (unclean) to the clean realm. By applying the ritual application of God's instructions in her life, the cleansing process is complete and her monthly cycle begins all over again. The majority of couples who follow this wonderful time of blessing have very strong marriages. If you have never entered into a time of niddah, may we encourage you to do so; the blessings are worth it!
The Leper and the Rite of Purification
(Leviticus 14)
In the law of the infected one(metzora), the doorway leading back to God is through repentance and forgiveness. The trespass (guilt) offering is required to atone for any sin of dishonor. Lashon hara is the Hebrew term for gossip and slander against others and is one of the main roots behind skin afflictions. To be restored, the person was to bring two clean birds to the priest in the temple. One bird was killed in an earthen vessel under running water. The living bird was then dipped into the blood of the first bird along with cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. The blood was sprinkled seven times on the one coming for cleansing. The living bird was then set free over an open field. After, the person's body was shaved, he entered into a ritual water cleansing, called mikvah(baptism). For the next seven days he was to stay outside his tent. On the eighth day he returned to the priest with an offering of two male lambs, one ewe (a female lamb), the grain offering and a log of oil (less than two cups). The priest took one male lamb as a wave offering and then it was killed as the trespass offering. Some of the blood of the lamb was placed on top of the person's right ear, the right thumb and the right big toe. Then the oil was placed directly on top of the blood - on the right ear, right thumb and big right toe, and sprinkled before God seven times. The oil that remained was poured over the head of the one presenting the offering.
continues tomorrow...
"INFECTED ONES"
(Weekly Reading>>Leviticus 14:1-15:33, 2 Kings 7:3-20, Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 9:20-26, Luke 17:1-37)
Niddah
(The Laws of Separation for Blessings)
Two realms are in the woman's monthly flow: life and death. God says that the woman is to be separated from intimate relations with her husband for a full seven days during her time. This time is called niddah in Hebrew. Niddah is as much for the man as it is for the woman and carries prophetic imagery of the millennial Kingdom, as seven days also represents 7000 years. As the woman dedicates her separation time to Yahweh, the man's honoring of the woman during her week is equally important. This is not legalism, for salvation purposes or from man's theology but is a commandment from God and instructions for our health and blessing.
Just as we learned about clean and unclean foods, the niddah time has a clean and an unclean side to it also. The blood carries life-giving properties to the womb. If fertilization does not take place, the egg will be flushed out, along with the lining of the uterus. The woman's monthly flow is that flushing and cleansing process to keep her reproductive system clean and healthy. God commands the man and woman not to have marital relations during the seven days of cleansing. This is a consecration time. In marriage, if this process is violated it can lead to contamination that can spread not only through the woman's reproductive system but also into the man's reproductive system. Breaking this commandment may result in such diseases as ovarian, breast and prostate cancers (Deuteronomy 28).
At the completion of the woman's flow and after she has bathed, she is to have an immersion in water for a change of status that brings her from a time of separation (unclean) to the clean realm. By applying the ritual application of God's instructions in her life, the cleansing process is complete and her monthly cycle begins all over again. The majority of couples who follow this wonderful time of blessing have very strong marriages. If you have never entered into a time of niddah, may we encourage you to do so; the blessings are worth it!
The Leper and the Rite of Purification
(Leviticus 14)
In the law of the infected one(metzora), the doorway leading back to God is through repentance and forgiveness. The trespass (guilt) offering is required to atone for any sin of dishonor. Lashon hara is the Hebrew term for gossip and slander against others and is one of the main roots behind skin afflictions. To be restored, the person was to bring two clean birds to the priest in the temple. One bird was killed in an earthen vessel under running water. The living bird was then dipped into the blood of the first bird along with cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. The blood was sprinkled seven times on the one coming for cleansing. The living bird was then set free over an open field. After, the person's body was shaved, he entered into a ritual water cleansing, called mikvah(baptism). For the next seven days he was to stay outside his tent. On the eighth day he returned to the priest with an offering of two male lambs, one ewe (a female lamb), the grain offering and a log of oil (less than two cups). The priest took one male lamb as a wave offering and then it was killed as the trespass offering. Some of the blood of the lamb was placed on top of the person's right ear, the right thumb and the right big toe. Then the oil was placed directly on top of the blood - on the right ear, right thumb and big right toe, and sprinkled before God seven times. The oil that remained was poured over the head of the one presenting the offering.
continues tomorrow...
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