Her Sweet Touch

O. T. #282  "Her Sweet Touch"
May 5, 2014
Leviticus 15
And Jesus said, "Who touched me?" 
" Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Luke 8:45, 48

LET IT GLOW

Each Sunday, if possible, Mrs. Bess and I hug each other at church. She is the mother of our song director and about the age my own mother would have been. I cherish her sweet touch, the motherly touch that I miss from my own mother. I feel her loving heart. What a blessing and uplifting her touch gives me. I hope my touch can do that to others.
Do you have a Mrs. Bess in your life? Are you a Mrs. Bess to someone?

So far in this Book of Leviticus, we have read about Israel's access to God maintained through ceremonial purity, with ceremonial laws:

• regulating diet (11:1-47),
• regarding delivery of children (12:1-8),
• regarding diseases (13:1-14:57). (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Today's chapter gives ceremonial laws relating to discharges (verses 1-33). Whether the issue of discharge is that of a man or woman, sexual or not, blood, pus, lesion, boil, from a wound, etc., the individual was considered unclean. Personal contact, a touch, with an object such as a bed or chair, or people, would make those unclean, also. There was a ritual of washing, a ceremonial bathing to be performed.

After the issue was healed, 7 days were counted; and then the ceremonial bathing performed. The next day 2 birds were offered to make an atonement, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. (verses 13-15) These are no longer in force in the New Testament. (Falwell)

I noticed the word toucheth occurred often in this chapter; in Hebrew, it means lay the hand upon (for any purpose).

Has your life been touching, involved with things that God forbids or is not pleased with-another's spouse, or another man or woman, or someone's money, or defaming another's character. Our lives touch so many people each day. Are we touching them in a God-honoring way, a loving way, a serving way? Or is our touch self-centered?

When one considers that God was training a people to live in His presence, it becomes apparent that these rules for the maintenance of personal purity, pointing to the necessity of purity in the heart, were neither too stringent nor too minute.  (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

Jesus touched several people mentioned in the New Testament and healed them:

• the leper (Matt. 8:3)
• Peter's mother in law (Matt. 8:14-15)
• two blind men (Matt. 9:29)
• Peter, James, John of fear (Matt. 17:7)
• blind men (Matt. 20:34).

A woman touched the hem of Jesus' garment, and her faith made her well.
Do we have that much faith?
Do we want a touch from Jesus?

LET IT GO

Beware and be aware of whom I touch and who touches me.

Seek a touch from Jesus.

Have faith for His healing touch upon my sinful heart and life.