LEVITICUS 15

I.   Introduction - Verse 32,33.

A.     Verse 32 - For the issue of a man.

1.       For the natural man.

2.       For the issue caused by sickness

B.     Verse 33 - For the issue of a woman.

1.       For the natural issue.

2.       For the issue caused by sickness.

II.   Verse 1-18 - The issue of the man.

A.     V. 1-15 - An issue caused by sickness.

1.       V. 2 - He is unclean - unable to go into the sanctuary  or worship in the tabernacle.

2.       Verse 4-12 - Who he makes unclean.

a.      V. 4 - Every bed

b.      V. 5 - And chair or other article of furniture.

c.      V. 7 - His flesh.

d.      V. 8 - If he spits on anybody.

e.      V. 9 - Every saddle.

f.       V. 12 - Any vessel he touches.

3.       How the one touched is made clean.

a.      V. 5 - The one that touches the bed shall wash his  clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean  until the evening.

b.      Verse 6-11 - These verses explain that the  cleansing process is the same regardless of how a  person is made unclean.

c.      This teaches us that regardless of how a persons  uncleanness is revealed, he must be cleansed the  same as everybody else - through the shed blood of  Jesus Christ.

4.       How the one that is unclean cleanses himself.

a.      V. 13 - He is considered clean only after the  issue has been stopped for seven days.

b.      He is to wash his clothes and bathe in running  (living) water and then be declared clean.

5.       The method of cleansing so as to worship in the  tabernacle again.

a.      He must bring two turtledoves or two young  pigeons.

b.      One is for a sin offering, the other is for a  burnt offering.

B.     V. 16-18 - A natural issue, his seed of copulation.

1.       This is a natural part of living, but nevertheless  makes the man unclean.

2.       The woman is also unclean for the seed of copulation  touches her.

3.       The cleansing.

a.      He must wash his flesh in water, and be unclean  until the evening.

b.      This is also true of the woman.

c.      Note, there is no sacrifice given.  This is a  natural event, not caused by sickness.

III.   V. 19-31 - The issue of the woman.

A.     The issue of blood in the monthly cycle.

1.       V. 19 - God allows a seven day period for this  uncleanness.

2.       Those made unclean by the unclean woman.

a.      V. 20 - Everything she touches.

b.      V. 21 - All those that touch the things she  touches.

c.      V. 24 - Any man who lies with her.

3.       How the one touched is made clean.

a.      V. 27 - Wash his clothes and bathe himself in  water, and be unclean until the evening.

b.      There is no sacrifice given for the person made  unclean.

4.       How the one unclean cleanses herself.

a.      She shall be unclean until the issue of blood  ceases.

b.      If the period goes beyond the seven days allotted,  she shall number seven days more and then she  shall be clean.

5.       The method of cleansing so as to worship in the  tabernacle again.

a.      Two turtledoves or two young pigeons.

b.      One for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt  offering.

IV.   the reasons for these laws.  (To show the sacredness of blood.)

A.     A.            II Sam. 3:29 - This is a very severe condemnation, for David  cursed the entire family of Joab for the murder of Abner.            (This curse surely came to pass.)

B.     V. 31 - In order to separate the children of Israel.

1.       Other nations who worshipped other gods might go into  worship with all sorts of uncleanness upon them.

2.       But God is the true God!  There shall no uncleanness come near His dwelling place.

a.      The tabernacle of God was with men.  This is His  dwelling place and it must not be defiled with the  sin of men.

b.      To define the tabernacle was the same as defiling  God Himself!

3.       With the tabernacle dwelling among them, they  might become used to it being there and begin to  take the presence of God for granted, coming to  God with sins He can't stand to look upon.  He  would have to kill them for coming to him like  that.  So this was for their own protection, not  for God's protection.

C.     To help us see that God thinks of our sins.

1.       Our "natural" sins.

a.      We might say that we can't help but sin because we  have a sinful nature.

b.      But God says that He hates all sin.

c.      We tend to excuse our sinfulness, expecting God to  overlook it, but He doesn't.  He must judge all  sin and disobedience.

2.       Our "unnatural" sins.  (Those caused by sickness (sin  sickness)

a.      These are the things we do that we know are wrong  and know that God considers to be sin.

b.      If God hates what we consider sin, how much does  He hate that which we consider "excusable" sin?

D.     Why aren't these things in effect today?

1.       The tabernacle of God is not with men today.  The  tabernacle of Moses was built after the model in  heaven.  When God dwelt in the tabernacle on this  earth, no uncleanness was allowed near it.

2.       The tabernacle of God will be with men one day.  In  Rev. 21, the Bible says that God will again dwell with  men.  Rev. 21:8 states that all sorts of uncleanness  and sinners will not dwell anywhere near God in that  day, they will dwell in the Lake of Fire forever away  from the presence of God.

3.       Mark 5:25-34 - The woman with the issue of blood for 12  years.  Jesus has paid our healing.  Note: the girl  that died was 12 years old.  (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43).      The uncleanness and separation from God is the same  length of time.  Christ paid all that for us.