Leprosy: Outbreak of Sin

He is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be (Lev. 13:46).
The hindrances to communion which we have been gathering from Scripture thus far, have been defilements contracted from without, by the influence of unclean things, or dead things. We have gone over several varieties, but they have all been from what is outside us; for the cleansing of which, God graciously made provision according to the nature of the cases, and suited to His presence who was dwelling among them. Thus a man who touched a dead dog, or even the carcass of a clean animal, or creeping thing, was unclean only till even, and needed only to wash his clothes; whereas, the man who touched
a bone of a man (Num. 19:16)
was unclean for no less than seven days, and it necessitated his having the water of purification sprinkled upon him, both on the third day and on the seventh day. Moreover, on the seventh day it is said he shall
wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even (Lev. 11:28; Num. 19:19).
Now why this difference? Because by man came sin, and death by sin. To touch a dead body, or a bone of a man, therefore, is being brought into contact with death, which came by man’s sin. It consequently needed that
the ashes of an heifer {Heb. 9:13},
typical of Christ’s sacrifice, should be applied by
the water of separation {Num. 19:13, 20, 21}
to the man, before he could possibly be clean. And this is why it is also said, if he does not purify himself, he would be
cut off {Num. 19:13, 20}.
How terrible to be “cut off” by God. How impossible it is for Spirit-taught souls not to see the divine stamp on these wondrous Scriptures!
Besides our getting defiled by the influence of things without, there is the uncleanness which arises from within, and is of a far more serious character. Leprosy sets this forth. Two long chapters are devoted to it. It is looked at most gravely from different points of view; but wherever it was found, it imperatively called for immediate excision, as wholly insufferable in the place where God was dwelling. Ah, could we, as God’s children, but have the abiding consciousness of his dwelling in us, and that the church is His habitation, with what holy fear and trembling should we speak and act! In all of these instances of uncleanness washing was indispensable for cleansing; washing thus typifying the washing of water by the Word. In some cases, particularly those connected with man in death, if only a touch of a bone of a man, it required the sprinkling of the ashes of the slain heifer to purify them, so as to restore such to God’s presence. In cases of leprosy, however, whether in a man or in a house, it needed that the full typical value of the death and blood-shedding of the sacrifice, and that which set forth the resurrection of the Lord, as well as a personal sense of the value of the blood, and the anointing oil, should be known, and the whole case judged and dealt with in the presence of the Lord, before the one who had been defiled with leprosy could be fully restored. How blessed to trace these wondrous ways of God in restoring such as have become unclean! and how the instances we have considered admonish us to be watchful, not only as to what we have communion with, but even what we “touch!”
Leprosy is a loathsome disease. It is set before us in Scripture as an illustration of the workings of fleshly lusts; for it is
deeper than the skin {Lev. 13:3}.
Like sin, its ravages are frightful; and it shows how unfit for communion, or the place of God’s presence, those are in such uncleanness. In this way the instructions concerning leprosy become illustrative of that which affects “fellowship.” Leprosy has been described by a popular writer as “a loathsome and infectious disease, still prevalent throughout all Syria, and corresponding in its general characteristics with that of former ages. It is called distinctively by some people, “The stroke or wound of the Lord.” It commences internally, and often lies concealed for years, or is secretly spreading, before there is any outward indication of it; and after it breaks out, the sufferer often lingers for years before it reaches a crisis, and then years sometimes elapse before the leper is released by death. The bones and the marrow are pervaded with the disease, so that the joints of the hands and feet lose their power, the limbs of the body fall together, and the whole system assumes a most deformed and loathsome appearance.” (Pop. Cyclop.) Mungo Park says: “It appears at the beginning in scurfy spots . . . at length, the ends of the fingers swell and ulcerate . . . the nails drop off, and the bones of the fingers become carious, and separate at the joints. In this manner the disease continues to spread, frequently until the patient loses all his fingers and toes. Even the hands and feet are sometimes destroyed by this inveterate malady.”
It was because God was dwelling among a people on earth, whom He had chosen, and redeemed out of Egypt to Himself, that He would have them discern, and put a difference between clean and unclean, and be practically suited to His own presence. Leprosy was the most serious state in which an Israelite could be found; for until he was pronounced clean, and had cleansed himself, and offered certain offerings, he could never be fully restored. According to the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Leviticus, leprosy might be personal, affecting only an individual; or it might be
in a garment {Lev. 13:59},
affecting his personal surroundings and associations; or it might be
in a house {Lev. 14:34},
the place where several are located, which might possibly necessitate its being pulled down, and carried out of the city into an unclean place.
Leprosy serves to illustrate either bad doctrine, concerning which it is said,
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal. 5:9);
or immoral practice, about which it is said,
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6).
Scripture is most decided in dealing with evil doctrine. Of those who were undermining the truth of justification by faith, the apostle says,
I would they were even cut off which trouble you (Gal. 5:12).
Another apostle charges an
elect lady and her children {2 John 1},
not to receive into her house, or even to salute, one who did not bring
the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9, 10).