Leviticus 14:36-45
We have been speaking of the plague of leprosy in a house, and would like to add a few more remarks as to this solemn matter. May we who are fathers be more careful what we allow in our homes! Let us never suppose that because our children want to do something in the home, we can escape our responsibility before God if we allow it. God will hold every Christian father responsible for what takes place in his home. It is not enough to speak against it (Eli did that), but we must put a stop to it. In fact, the matter was so serious, as we see in our chapter, that everything was to be carried out of the house while the plague was carefully looked into. The plagued “stones” were pulled out, and the plaster of the house scraped off, and all, even the very dust of it, was put in an unclean place. Then new stones were to be put in place of the leprous ones, and the house was to be replastered. If doing all this did not check the spread of the leprosy, then the house was to be completely torn down, and the timber, the plaster, and the stones, were to be carried to an unclean place. Surely this has a deep lesson for us, for it is a type of what has happened in so many Christian homes even in our day. Little things were allowed, until at last the whole home became completely for the world, and no one could go into it without being defiled. No one could eat or sleep in this leprous house, of which we read here, without having to wash his clothes, and even then he was unclean until the evening. If the enemy of our souls cannot lead us to personal unfaithfulness, he will use every effort to ruin our homes, thus breaking our hearts and closing our mouths (1 Timothy 3:5). Many of our readers are young people, and we need to remember that we reap what we sow. If we go into worldliness, then God in His government may allow us to get the wrong partner who will be a hindrance, instead of a help, in maintaining godliness in the home (1 Kings 11:4). There is no sweeter place on earth than a home where the Lord is given His rightful place, but no sadder place than one where He is not (Deuteronomy 11:18-28).
Sin in the Assembly
Now there is also the application of what we have in our chapter, to sin in the assembly. There is a great responsibility upon those who are leaders in the assembly. We need faithful men, those who are true “doorkeeper[s] in the house of ... God” (Psalm 84:10). Sometimes, in order to save hard feelings and misunderstandings, we are liable to receive those into the assembly who cause the “red and greenish streaks” of leprosy which defile the whole assembly. Faithfulness in receiving to the Lord’s table, as well as faithfulness with those who are already there, is not an easy thing; but it is most necessary, though always in love. Alas, how often we see the modern “red streaks!” of worldliness with some, even while sitting at the Lord’s table, and our hearts are made sad. May we watch against these early beginnings of departure from the Lord, for one thing soon leads to another when we start on a wrong path.
Of course, priestly discernment was necessary, as we see in our chapter; and each case is different, but there was to be no negligence. If the leprosy was checked in time, the house could be cleansed, but if not, it had to be torn down.
For Further Meditation
1. What is one thing the Lord may allow in our lives if we go on with worldliness?
2. How was an Israelite to deal with the green and red streaks that might appear in the walls of their home? How can a Christian father apply this picture to his own home?
3. Leprosy in the House, and Its Cleansing from the Bible Treasury Volume N4 found at bibletruthlibrary.org will give you more teaching on these conscience-stirring types from Scripture.