Leviticus 12
Birth of a boyverses 1-4
And the LORD spoke unto Moses – saying
Speak to the children of Israel – saying
IF a woman have conceived seed and born a MAN child
THEN she shall be UNCLEAN seven days
according to the days of the separation for her
infirmity shall she be UNCLEAN
And in the EIGHTH day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised
and she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying
three and thirty days (33)
she shall touch no hallowed thing
nor come into the sanctuary
until the days of her purifying be fulfilled
Birth of a girlverse 5
BUT IF she bear a MAID child
THEN she shall be UNCLEAN two weeks – as in her separation
and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying
threescore and six days (66)
After purification of motherverses 6-7
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled – for a son
or for a daughter – she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a
burnt offering – and a young pigeon – or a turtledove
for a sin offering – unto the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation unto the priest
who shall offer it before the LORD
and make an ATONEMENT
for her
and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood
This is the law for her that has born a male or female
After purification of mother sacrifice to the LORD: birdsverse 8
And IF she be not able to bring a lamb – THEN she shall bring
two turtles – or two young pigeons
the one for the burnt offering
the other for the sin offering
and the priest shall make an ATONEMENT for her
and she shall be CLEAN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days: according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. (1738 “infirmity” [davah] means to be sick, to be ill, menstruation, flow of illness or to be unwell)
DEVOTION: The LORD leaves no details out regarding the daily life of HIS people. The relationship between a man and his wife is sacred. In marriage between a man and a woman is the only place that children should be brought into this world. That is not true today. Many children are brought into this world outside of marriage. God’s command is given to HIS standard of marriage.
When a child was born to a household there were rules to be followed by the mother of the child. If she had a male child she was to be considered unclean for seven days. On the eighth day she was to have the child circumcised. This was a sign between God and the children of Israel that they were HIS children.
Here we find that a woman having a baby is considered ill because of her emptying of all of the afterbirth. There was menstruation after birth. This made her unclean, as far as, entering into the area of the Tabernacle.
The LORD plans for birth and healing after birth. The woman has to have rest after having a baby. The time of her healing is different for a male or a female. The male child had to be circumcised on the eighth day as the LORD commanded to show that the child was part of the covenant promise to HIS people. This shows the LORD’S concern for the new baby and mother.
HE also required a sacrifice. As we read the chapter we see that HE gives instructions to both the rich and the poor. The rich could afford a lamb but the poor could not. Each were to bring their respective sacrifices to the priest as an atonement.
She has brought a child into the world and the LORD said that she would bring forth in pain. There is a lot of pain in childbirth but each mother knows that it is a blessing as well. God wants there to be a healing time period after pain.
There was a lot of pain on the cross for us to become the children of the KING. We need to appreciate our mothers, but even more, we need to appreciate what the LORD has done for us. HE removed the pain of our sin forever. Christ took our sin upon HIMSELF on the cross for us. When we face God one day, we have an advocate in Christ, if we have become a follower of HIM. Are we all following HIM? If anyone has any questions on how to become a follower of the LORD please write!!!
CHALLENGE: Are we bringing forth children of the KING on a regular basis. It is believed that only five percent of the followers of Christ ever bring someone to Christ. Please be included in the five percent. HE wants us to be witnesses to all in our world of HIS saving power.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of the foreskin shall be circumcised. (4135 “circumcised” [muwl] means cut down, removal of the foreskin on penis of a male, or physical act of removal)
DEVOTION: There is the physical act of removing the skin from a male organ. This is done for health reasons but more importantly it is done to show the covenant relationship that the children of Israel had with the LORD.
Abraham was the first to establish this relationship as the LORD commanded it of him. It was practiced to show a continued relationship of covenant with the LORD.
It didn’t seem to be the practice of most of the people of the day as when the children of Israel met individuals from other nations it was not their practice to circumcise their male children.
To show that they wanted to worship the God of the Hebrews they were required to be circumcised. Again this is showing the difference between those who were followers of the LORD and those who were not.
Today we are living under the New Testament covenant. Circumcision is not required to show that we are followers of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament as well as in the Old the LORD used circumcision in relationship to the heart rather than to the male organ.
HE wants us to show our separation from the world by a heart change or a circumcision of the heart to rut out sin in our hearts against the LORD. HE wants us to bring HIM a pure heart that is willing to worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
External obedience without internal obedience was not pleasing to the LORD. The children of Israel were willing to do the external but the internal was a real struggle.
CHALLENGE: We can look good on the outside but the LORD is more concerned with what is going on in our hearts. We need to circumcise our hearts to worship the LORD genuinely.
: 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (2892 “purifying” [tohar] means clearness, purification, a ceremonial cleansing from defilement or uncleanness by the performance of appropriate rites, or brightness)
DEVOTION: After the birth of a child a woman was not allowed to enter the Tabernacle area because she was considered unclean in the eyes of the LORD while she was recovering from the birth of the child whether male or female.
The reason she was unclean was because of the after effects of the birth of a child. She would continue bleeding for a time period and the touching of blood was not to happen.
So a mother of a newborn was not allowed to worship until her bleeding stopped and she offered an offering to the LORD to make herself pure again.
God had many rules in the Old Testament to prevent health issues to arise in the woman. HE was concerned for the health of all of HIS children during many different events that took place in the lives of both men and women.
We need to be active in purifying our lives of anything that might cause us to sin against the LORD. We learned that the priest couldn’t drink strong drink when they were doing their duty to the LORD in the Tabernacle. There are going to be other things that might prevent proper worship of the LORD given throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament.
CHALLENGE: God wants us to confess our sins before we come to worship HIM. HE wants us to continually examine our lives to see if there is anything that is hindering proper worship of HIM when we come together to worship HIM in our local churches.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:7 Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. (3722 “make an atonement” [kaphar] means 1 to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch. 1a (Qal) to coat or cover with pitch. 1b (Piel). 1b1 to cover over, pacify, propitiate. 1b2 to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for. 1b3 to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites. 1c (Pual). 1c1 to be covered over. 1c2 to make atonement for. 1d (Hithpael) to be covered. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Anyone who has ever witness a human birth realizes what a phenomenal event it is. God has created a new life! There is excitement in the air most of the time. Yet, this passage suggests that the mere act of giving birth to a child is to remind us of our sinful natures (inherited as a result of Adam’s Fall). Therefore, the woman was required to offer a sacrifice after having had a child, and was considered ceremonially unclean for a period of time after the child was born. Was this to give her time to recover from the rigors of childbirth as well as heal from it? Was it supposed to give her the time to devote to her newborn and its needs?
At the proper time, the woman was to come before the priest and offer a sacrifice which would make atonement for her (and perhaps for her newborn as well). This was to indicate that she was now able and willing to worship the LORD publicly again. This atonement amounted to the blood of an animal sacrifice which was to cover over the woman’s sins and sinfulness. It was an acknowledgement that there would to be something about pregnancy which would make her unable to publicly go about worshipping God and make her needful of restoring a right relationship with God.
This should remind us that every day we are in need of God’s new mercies and need to seek His forgiveness. We tend to forget our own sinfulness and lack of holiness, and rationalize what we do. However, God desires our intimate fellowship and wants us to get right with Him (on His terms!) throughout the day when we sin.
CHALLENGE: Thank God today for the atonement which came as a result of Jesus shedding His blood for us on the cross. He is alive and He has risen!
: 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean. (3722 “atonement” [kaphar] means to smear, to pitch, to appease, make amends, to cleanse from sin or the defilement of sin, most often by sacrifice)
DEVOTION: Jesus made a statement to HIS disciples that there would always be poor people in our world. God made provision for those who were poor in the nation of Israel. HE allowed different sacrifices for the different monetary classes in Israel.
Those who had wealth were supposed to bring a lamb for an offering for the purification of a woman after child birth. Those who had the ability to bring a lamb had to bring a lamb. It was not wrong to be poor. It was wrong not to bring an offering to the LORD.
If someone with wealth tried to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons it was not an acceptable offering to the LORD. The priest might not know the monetary condition of the person bringing the offering but the LORD did. That individual would be judged.
God wants us to give to HIM according to our ability. HE doesn’t require the poor to give more than ten percent. HE makes HIS standards according to our ability. HE also added in the New Testament that we are to be cheerful givers to the LORD.
Too often we give with the wrong attitude or we don’t give at all because of a wrong attitude. God knows our hearts when we come to give to HIM. Attitude is very important to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Remember that you can never out give God. There are some people who have given ninety percent of their income and only lived on ten percent. That is not expected of all but only of those who the LORD convicts and gives ability.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sanctuaryverse 4
Tabernacle of the congregationverse 6
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 7
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONEGod)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Birth of Male childverses 1-4
Days of purifyingverses 4-6
Birth of Female childverse 5
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Uncleanverses 2, 5
Touch hallowed thing before 33 days upverse 4
Come into sanctuary before 33 days upverse 4
Sinverses 6, 8
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Atonementverses 7, 8
Cleanverse 8
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverse 1
Children of Israelverse 2
Circumcision the eighth dayverse 3
Burnt offeringverses 6, 8
Sin offeringverses 6, 8
Tabernacle of the congregationverse 6
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
12:6–8. Having a baby was not a sin but instead was the fulfillment of a divine command (Gen. 1:28). Thus the need of a sin offering … to make atonement was only a matter of ritual purification. In order to be pronounced ceremonially clean (12:7), the new mother offered a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering (v. 6). If she was a poor person, she brought two birds, one each for a burnt offering and a sin offering. Mary, the mother of Jesus, qualified for this concession (Luke 2:22–24). (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 192). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Sacrifice (vv. 4–8). Forty days after the birth of a son, or eighty days after the birth of a daughter, the mother and father were required to go to the sanctuary and offer the sacrifices for the mother’s cleansing; a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. The burnt offering symbolized her dedication to God as she returned to her normal life, and the sin offering took care of the defilement involved in the birth process. It also reminded them that every child, no matter how beautiful or delightful he or she might be, is born in sin and must one day trust the Lord for salvation (Pss. 51:5; 58:3).
How gracious of God to make allowances for the poor who couldn’t afford a lamb! Mary and Joseph took advantage of this provision when they brought Jesus to the temple (Luke 2:21–24).
This entire chapter, brief as it is, shows God’s loving concern for the family, especially mother and child. We aren’t at all surprised to hear Jesus say, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14, NIV). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Holy (p. 54). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
12:6 burnt offering … sin offering. Though the occasion was joyous, the sacrifices required were to impress upon the mind of the parent the reality of original sin and that the child had inherited a sin nature. The circumcision involved a cutting away of the male foreskin, which could carry infections and diseases in its folds. This cleansing of the physical organ so as not to pass on disease (Jewish women have historically had the lowest incidence of cervical cancer), was a picture of the deep need for cleansing from depravity, which is most clearly revealed by procreation, as men produce sinners and only sinners. Circumcision points to the fact that cleansing is needed at the very core of a human being, a cleansing God offers to the faithful and penitent through the sacrifice of Christ to come. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Le 12:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 6. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, &c.] For a son 40 days, and for a daughter 80; but the ancient Jews formerly, that they might not break it, ordered, that the offering enjoined as follows should not be brought until the next day after the time was up: their canon runs thus, “a lying-in woman does not bring her offering on the 40th day for a male, nor on the 80th day for a female, but after her sun is set; and she brings her offering on the morrow, which is the 41st for a male, and the 81st for a female; and this is the day of which it is said, when the days, &c. Lev. 11:6.” She shall bring a lamb of the first year; the Septuagint adds, without blemish, as all sacrifices should be, if not expressed; or the son of his year; some distinguish between the son of a year, as the phrase sometimes is, and the son of his year, as here; the latter denoting a lamb in its first year, though something wanting of it, the former a full year old, neither more nor less: for a burnt-offering; in gratitude, and by way of thanksgiving for the mercies she had received in child-bearing: and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering; either the one or the other. With the Persians, it is incumbent on a lying-in woman, in Abam (the 12th month), to bring twelve oblations for the sin which proceedeth from child-birth, that so she might be purified from her sins. It is an observation of the Misnic doctorsx, that turtles precede pigeons in all places; upon which they ask this question, is it because they are choicer or more excellent than they? observe what is said, Lev. 12:6 from whence may be learned, that they are both alike, or of equal value. But why a sin-offering for child-bearing? is it sinful to bear and bring forth children in lawful marriage, where the bed is undefiled? The Jews commonly refer this to some sin or another, that the childbearing woman has been guilty of in relation to child-birth, or whilst in her labour; and it is not unlikely that she may sometimes be guilty of sin in some way or other, either through an immoderate desire after children, or through impatience and breaking out into rash expressions in the midst of her pains; so Aben Ezra suggests, perhaps some thought rose up in her mind in the hour of child-birth because of pain, or perhaps spoke with her mouth; meaning what was unbecoming, rash, and sinful. Some take the sin to be a rash and false oath: but there seems to be something more than all this, because though one or other of these might be the case of some women, yet not all; whereas this law is general, and reached every lying-in woman, and has respect not so much to any particular sin of her’s, as of her first parent Eve, who was first in the transgression; and on account of which transgression pains are endured by every child-bearing woman; and who also conceives in sin, and is the instrument of propagating the corruption of nature to her offspring; and therefore was to bring a sin-offering typical of the sin-offering Christ is made to take away that, and all other sin; whereby she shall be saved, even in child-bearing, and that by the birth of a child, the child Jesus, if she continues in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety, 1 Tim. 2:15 these offerings were to be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest; to offer them up for her. When the temple was built, these were brought to the eastern gate, the gate Nicanor, where the lepers were cleansed, and lying-in women purified. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 597). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
12: 6-8 Whether a mother gave birth to a boy or a girl, she was to offer a yearling lamb as a symbol of her dedication to God. Such a sacrifice underscored her status in the covenant community. Like any male, she too could relate to God personally and find acceptance in His presence. Modern readers may find such limitations for access into God’s presence unfathomable. Revelation 21: 27, however, states that the unclean and impure will not enter God’s presence in the future. This seems to reflect those passages in Leviticus where God revealed what His holiness requires.
(p.196, The Moody Bible Commentary by Faculty of Moody Bible Institute)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
BELIEVING
by Anne R. C. Neale
We hardly think of Him as a small child,
But Jesus was just as we were once too,
He teethed, He walked, He giggled and played,
He went through all the stages that children do.
At age 12 He was in the Holy Temple,
He was amazing as He taught there everything,
He was so knowledgeable , and ” old ” for His age,
And He was unknowingly to them, the Almighty King.
You know the rest, it’s all in the Bible,
His life, His death, His Resurrection,
He showed us the way to eternity too,
Whatever the Lord did way back then and even now was and is pure perfection.
We celebrate each year, the day He was born,
He’s Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent too,
Believers have a treasure worth more than gold,
Believing forever in Him is a great Blessing to me and to you.
Romans 3
The world stands guilty before God, and can only be forgiven through Christ.
INSIGHT
There are several commonly held misconceptions about how God evaluates the deeds of men. One idea is that as long as we don’t do anything “terrible,” God will overlook our “little” sins. Another is that God weighs all our good works on one side of a scale and all our bad works on the other. If the good outweighs the bad, we’re okay. A third incorrect notion is that God lines up all the people who have ever lived from the best to the worst and then divides them in half. If you make the cut, you’re okay. The truth the Bible teaches is that God demands sinlessness. And since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all people are condemned. There is only one way out: Receive Jesus as your personal Savior. Through Him, all your sins can be forgiven.
(Quiet Walk)
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
The Christian experience is a definite and a certain experience–“that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” Now if people do not know what they have, how can they wish for others to share it with them? So that is the starting point”that the Christian experience is not a vague one; it is not indefinite or uncertain. Rather, it is a ell-defined experience, and true Christians know what they have; they are aware of what they possess. They are in no uncertainty themselves as to what has happened to them as to their personal position. “These things write we unto you,” says John, “that your joy may be full”–that you may share what we have. You cannot invite someone to share something with you unless you know exactly what you are asking him to share.
We are dealing with what may be called the great New Testament doctrine of the assurance of salvation, which has been subjected to considerable criticism. People have regarded it as presumption. They have said this is something that is impossible, and that no one should be able to claim such a thing.
But John is a man who tells us that he knows, and it is because he knows and because of what he has experienced that he is writing. Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it. They have it; there is no uncertainty. They “know whom [they] have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12); and it is because John has possessed this that he writes about it.
A Thought to Ponder: Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it.
(From Fellowship with God, pp. 57-58, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Mercy from the Word
“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:41)
The Hebrew word hesed, used here for “mercy,” has a breadth of meaning. Its basic connotation is “kindness” and is most often used in God’s patient dealing with the nation of Israel through their long, and often rebellious, history. The most frequent contextual use focuses on God’s withholding judgment during specific times or events rather than executing the just sentence demanded by disobedience to His laws.
It is in that sense that “salvation” is often connected to mercy. God “rescues” a person or nation from the consequences of foolish or rebellious actions because He is merciful: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
This section of Psalm 119 clearly states that these mercies are according to the Word of God. No event dilutes the holiness of God. No judgment withheld violates the innate nature of the thrice-holy Creator. Mercy may delay judgment for the sinner, and justification through redemption will eliminate judgment for the sinner, but God’s holiness does not abrogate the law. The sentence is carried out—either on the sinner or on the Lord Jesus Christ in the place of the sinner (Proverbs 11:21).
The psalmist thus praised the basis for God’s mercies, told of his trust and hope in the Scriptures, and then gave a series of promises to the Lord that marked his own commitment for obedience (vv. 44-48). As the stanza closes, the psalmist promised he would lift up his hands in public praise of the Word and meditate in private as well.
Would God that all of God’s children emulate the heart of this dear brother from the past.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
While there may be truth to this assertion, a more likely explanation would be that it was the contact with the blood of childbirth that defiled. The latter explanation is supported by the fact that being in the menstrual state rendered one unclean (Lev 15:19–24). The similarity of this condition to giving birth is explicitly made in the text (12:2). (Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus (Vol. 3A, pp. 181–182). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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