Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 16:17 (New Living Translation)

17 No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with the Lord.

The words “purify” and “made right with God” appear half a dozen times in various forms in this chapter. The words describe animal sacrifices conducted by Priests at the Tabernacle.

These things can become complicated with lengthy descriptions of “do this exactly this way and do that exactly that way.” Things were messy—they brought in animals and slaughtered them. There was blood everywhere. It was something that we just don’t do and can’t really imagine.

And these horrible messy things purified people and made them right with God (for a while at least).

God sent the Son to earth to live with us sinners and be executed by sinners. There was blood everywhere. That was horrible and messy and worse than I can imagine. That happened one time and settled everything for all times. That purified us and made us right with God.

Me? I only need to accept it. Then I can live without all the filth that we have when we are not pure and right with God. No fun? That depends on the perspective. Is impurity fun? That depends on the perspective. Is being wrong with God no fun? I think it is. Let’s be right with God.