Purity

O. T. #339  "Purity"
August 8, 2014
Numbers 19
...it is a purification for sin.  Numbers 19:9d

LET IT GLOW

Purity is not a popular subject anymore. A person must determine that they will stay pure before marriage. It is hard in our society to keep pure thoughts. Immorality is so often portrayed on television as the norm. It is a difficult thing for a Christian to remain pure throughout the day and night. So we must teach our younger generation the pure way of God's Word. Israel had a problem with purity, only a different kind.

As the result of almost 18,000 Israelites dying due to their rebellion and God's judgment of such, those bodies had to be touched for burial. During the next period of 38 years, (2 had passed with the 40 year discipline), more than 1,200,000 would die so the Israelites would continually be in contact with dead bodies. This lead to ceremonial uncleanness. So the Lord provided a way of purification, cleansing those who came in contact with dead bodies.

The rite of the red heifer was God's solution to the problem. It involved:

• A reddish, brown young cow (heifer) without spot, blemish, and not a yoke upon it was to be offered. (verse 2)
• Eleazar, son of Aaron and deputy high priest, was in charge of slaughtering the red cow outside the camp, with its owner watching. Its ashes were stored there as well.(verse 3)
• The heifer's blood was to be sprinkled toward the tabernacle 7 times. (verse 4)
• It was to be burned along with cedar, wood, hyssop, and some scarlet cloth material. (verses 5-6)
• Water was to be added to the ashes of the heifer and sprinkled upon the defiles Israelite. (verse 17-19)
• This was the purification for sin.

Webster's Dictionary defines purify as to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish.

Aren't we glad that we don't have to keep those laws as a New Testament believer? Jesus became our sacrifice for our sins.

LET IT GROW

An unclean person:

•  would be unclean for 7 days.
• If the unclean person does not purify himself with that water on the third and seventh days, he would be unclean.  
• Touching a dead body and not purifying himself defiles the LORD's tabernacle.
• That unclean person must be cut off from Israel; his uncleanness remains on him.

Others considered unclean include:

• those in a tent when one dies there;
• touching one killed with a sword or died a natural death out in the open;
• anyone who touches a human bone or a grave.

Verses 17-20 tells how to purify such an unclean person. Any person, not just a priest, could sprinkle the unclean with the purification water.
The man who sprinkled the water of cleansing must wash his clothes. If a person touched the water of cleansing would be unclean till evening. Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean and anyone who touches it becomes unclean until evening.

Perhaps we need to consider who we hang around.

In Titus 2, it says, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

When we ask forgiveness of our sins, Jesus purifies our heart. Have you asked Him to purify your heart?

LET IT GO

Purify my heart, Lord. Cleanse me from my sins, deep within.