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LEVITICUS 14:l-2

"THE LAW OF THE LEPER"

Intro: Chap. 13 deals with the diagnosis and separation of the leper.

I. LEPROSY IS A TYPE OF SIN.
        A. It is a loathsome disease.
                1. Beginning at the extremities of the body it slowly rots away the flesh.
                        a. Beginning at the fingers, then hand.
                        b. Within the bones also rot away.
                2. It is practically painless.
                        a. Eats away nerves also.
                        b. Thus person not always conscious of the horrible, deadly plague
                           eating away.
        B. It is progressive.
                1. Continues until it hits a vital organ.
        C. Everything the leper touched became unclean.
                1. If he drank from cup, it was to be destroyed.
                2. If he sat in a chair.
                3. If he lay in a bed.
                4. The polluting influence of a sinful life.
        D. It is incurable.
                1. Dr. Hanson finally successful in isolating Baccilus.
                        a. Medication can now arrest it.
                2. Leprosy meant sure death.
        E. There is a mystery in the origin of leprosy.
                1. Not as contagious as originally supposed.
                2. How transmitted still a mystery today.
        F. The leper was separated from the congregation of God.

II. GOD'S GRACE IN THE LAW.
        A. He made provision for His work.
                1. "The law of the leper in the day of his cleansing."
                        a. This sounds like a contradiction of terms.
                        b. God left room for His work.
                        c. Only God could cleanse the leper.
        B. Here sits the leper outside the village.
                1. Should anyone approach, he must cry "unclean, unclean."
                2. He watches the skin as it turns white and scaly.
                3. One morning when he looks at the stub at the end of his arm.
                        a. the whiteness and scale is gone.
                        b. Flesh is pink and healthy.
                        c. He is cleansed!

Ill. THE LAW OF THE LEPER IN THE DAY OF HIS CLEANSING."
        A. He calls for the priest who comes out and examines him.
                1. The priest requires him to bring two birds, cedar wood, scarlet thread
                   and hyssop.
                2. The one bird tied to cedar wood with scarlet thread and dipped into
                   bloody water.
                3. The other bird killed in "fresh" water.
                4. With the hyssop leper sprinkled seven times with bloody water. 
                5. Live bird released.
                6. Can you imagine lepers emotions as he watches that bird fly heavenward
                   with the blood splattering from wings.
                7. Birds are type of Christ in death and resurrection.
        B. In seven days he must bring a trespass, sin and peace offering.
                1. Blood from lamb of sin offering placed on ear, thumb, right toe.
                2. Oil from peace offering on ear, thumb, big toe and right foot.