Leviticus 14:2 "This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest."

Every effort should be made to bring the one who is in sin, to the spiritual for counsel and help.

Leviticus 14:3 "And the priest shall go out of the camp ..."

There needs to be a careful seeking out, by the spiritual, of the ones in need.

Luke 15:4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"

No cleansing apart from the sacrifice.

Leviticus 14:4-6 "Then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water."

This sacrifice points to Christ's death and resurrection. The killing of the one bird and the cedar wood represents the cross. The dipping of the other bird in blood, and letting it fly to the heavens is representative of Christ's resurrection and ascension - presenting the perfect sacrifice to the Father. Fellowship can only be restored in Christ. The hyssop was used to apply the blood.

Leviticus 14:7 "And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, ..."

There must be personal acceptance and personal application of the blood for cleansing.

Leviticus 14:7 "... and shall pronounce him clean, ..."

There is need to pronounce the cleansed one clean before the body of Christ - so that service may be resumed.

Leviticus 14:8 "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days."

Conduct must now come in line with the cleansing received by the blood. The hair representing natural strength must be abandoned and utter dependance on Christ lived out. The daily walk must be continually washed in the Word.

Ephesians 5:26 "that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,"

Time at home, living the cleansed life fits for total acceptance in service. The total abandonment of self-dependance ceremonially repeated on the seventh day (Leviticus 14:9 ). Followed by worship in bringing the sin and burnt offerings (Leviticus 14:10-13 ). The restored worker glories in the cross.

Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

And lives a life of complete surrender to the Lord as a burnt offering.

Romans 12:1 "... present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

The ceremonies described in Leviticus 14:14-32 resemble those for the consecration of the priest (See Leviticus 8:23 to 9:24 ). The cleansed are loosed from sin by the blood applied, and anointed by the oil, the Holy Spirit. Through this applied blood and oil to thumb, toe, foot, head (Leviticus 14:14-18 ) indicate the Spirit comes on the life for service.

This may have been a kind of mould or rot (Leviticus 14:34 ). The cleansing ceremony was the same as the first stage of cleansing a person (Leviticus 13:4-7; Leviticus 14:34-53 ). It may speak to us of homes where there has been a departure from the faith, that needs to be restored. Or churches that allowed false teaching and practice, that need to repent.

Revelation 2:15-16 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."

Houses and Churches can be restored to His use, by repentance.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Can you see your wonderful cleansing and victory in the cleansing rite of the two birds (Leviticus 14:4-6 )?

2. What significance does the rite of the applied blood and oil have, for you (Leviticus 14:14-18 )?

3. How can homes and churches be plagued, and what is the remedy (Leviticus 14:34-55 )?