“And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; [38] Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:” Leviticus 14:37-38
Imagine discovering leprosy in your home. Not just a sickness that affects the body, but an affliction that invades your place of safety and comfort.
In the Old Testament, this scenario was not just a health crisis; it symbolized something deeper and more disturbing.
The presence of leprosy in a house caused not only fear and emotional turmoil but also required immediate and drastic action. The fear stemmed from what leprosy represented: impurity, contagion, and the potential for widespread death with no hope. Sin, when left unchecked, can corrupt and destroy our lives, just like leprosy.
The process outlined in Leviticus 14 for dealing with leprosy in a house is rigorous and multifaceted. It begins with an inspection by a priest, followed by quarantine, and, if necessary, tearing down and disposing of contaminated materials. This procedure is a spiritual playbook for dealing with sin in our lives.
Why Sin is Like Leprosy
Sin, much like leprosy, is contagious, painful, and ultimately leads to death. It wreaks havoc on our bodies, affects those around us, and, without intervention, can destroy our homes and our lives. Just as leprosy could spread through a house, sin spreads through our actions, thoughts, and interactions.
So how do we fix leprosy in our homes?
Initial Inspection and Action
“And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:” Leviticus 14:35
The first step in fixing leprosy requires an honest and thorough examination, inviting the divine Inspector into our homes, or our hearts. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
This introspection lays bare the areas tainted by sin, necessitating a willingness to be emptied, making room for cleansing and renewal.
“And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;” Leviticus 14:39
As we quarantine ourselves, reflecting on the exposed sins, it’s a time for solitude and prayer, seeking the strength to remove what’s unclean. The act of removal is drastic yet necessary, akin to cutting off a diseased limb to save the body.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
Leviticus 14:41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:
We scrape away the old, sinful habits and thoughts, replacing them with new, godly ones. “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24
Secondary Measures
“And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house.” Leviticus 14:42
This process might require a second, deeper process, ensuring our actions align with our newfound purity. It’s a continuous cycle of assessment, ensuring the sin does not find its way back into the cracks of our lives. The determination to live a life pleasing to God is renewed, fortified by the wisdom and guidance found in His word.
Final Action (If Unsuccessful)
“Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. [45] And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.” Leviticus 14:44-45
Sometimes, despite our efforts, we prove stubborn because sin is embedded deeply within our lives. In these cases, more radical measures are called for, signaling a need for a complete overhaul of our environment or relationships.
This tearing down of the home is symbolic of the end of sin. – “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
The journey of removing sin is arduous, requiring vigilance, prayer, and the willingness to be transformed by God’s grace. Just as the cleansing of a leprous house was a sign of hope and renewal, so too is our spiritual cleansing a testament to God’s endless mercy and love. By following this divine playbook, we allow ourselves to be vessels of His light, examples of His power to heal and renew the most broken of places.
