Leviticus 15:19-23: a reflection

19“‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20“‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.

This passage is part of a body of laws about ceremonial uncleanness, which rendered a person unable to approach the sanctuary until they were cleansed. These laws, in their many details, taught Israel a deep lesson: that one could not simply come into God's presence casually, as one was; that there was such a thing as being unclean, unfit to draw near, and that cleansing was needed to approach the holy God. The uncleanness that separated was pervasive, touching ordinary life; and it kept the people mindful that drawing near to God required being made clean.

Notice what these laws of uncleanness taught: that we cannot approach God casually, but need cleansing to draw near. The point was not that ordinary human life was shameful, but that God is holy, and that to come near him requires being clean; and the pervasiveness of the uncleanness kept this always before the people. One could not simply stroll into God's presence as one was; cleansing was needed. The laws taught, through many details, a deep truth: that we need to be made clean to approach the holy God.

That need for cleansing, which the laws taught, is fully answered in Christ. What these laws marked, our need to be cleansed before we can draw near to the holy God, points beyond itself to Christ, who cleanses us fully and gives us access to God. We are, in ourselves, unfit to draw near to the holy God; but Christ has cleansed us, so that we may come. Do not imagine you can approach God casually, in your own uncleanness, as though nothing were needed; but do not despair either, as though the uncleanness kept you out. The cleansing you need to draw near, which these laws marked, Christ has provided; through him, the unclean are made clean and given access to God. Come to the holy God not in your own uncleanness, nor kept away by it, but cleansed by Christ, who provides the cleansing these laws pointed toward, so that you, made clean by him, may draw near to the God whose holiness the laws of uncleanness taught you to reverence.

Lord, this passage is part of a body of laws about ceremonial uncleanness, which rendered a person unable to approach the sanctuary until they were cleansed. These laws taught Israel a deep lesson: that one could not simply come into your presence casually, as one was; that there was such a thing as being unfit to draw near, and that cleansing was needed to approach the holy God. Show me what these laws taught: that I cannot approach you casually, but need cleansing to draw near. The point was not that ordinary human life was shameful, but that you are holy, and that to come near you requires being clean. One could not simply stroll into your presence as one was; cleansing was needed. The laws taught, through many details, a deep truth: that I need to be made clean to approach the holy God. And that need for cleansing is fully answered in Christ. What these laws marked, my need to be cleansed before I can draw near to you, points beyond itself to Christ, who cleanses me fully and gives me access to you. I am, in myself, unfit to draw near to you; but Christ has cleansed me, so that I may come. Keep me from imagining I can approach you casually, in my own uncleanness; but keep me also from despairing, as though the uncleanness kept me out. The cleansing I need, Christ has provided. Help me come to you, Lord, not in my own uncleanness, nor kept away by it, but cleansed by Christ, so that I, made clean by him, may draw near to you.