Well, onto lepers, impure discharges, and atonement! The Levites job was certainly — er — interesting. As usual, there’s a lot of commands and procedures that we could comment on here, but within chapter 16, as God delineates the work of the high priest during the day of atonement, we discover, v. 16.

Before any real atonement takes place for the people, the Tabernacle itself had to be purified through sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood. Why? Because of the people’s impurity. Remember that passage in Exodus 33:5, when God almost withdrew His presence from Israel, because they were obstinate? He wasn’t just indulging in hyperbole; traveling with men, even His chosen people, is difficult for the holy God we serve. Indded, this may have been the very thing that Paul was thinking about as he warned those engaged in sexual impurity in Corinth that they must avoid offending the Spirit of God dwelling in them. And it made me think about the Holy Spirit indwelling me.

Have I been easy to “travel” with? Has my heart been sometimes obstinate? Incorrigible? Stubborn and unyielding to the Lord’s commands and the Spirit’s guidance? Has yours?

It underscores for me the necessity to cultivate a heart of repentance. To go to the Father in prayer to ask for His cleansing through His Son’s blood.

How about you?