Читать книгу The Grand Sweep - Large Print - J. Ellsworth Kalas - Страница 51

LEVITICUS 12–13; PSALM 35

Week 6, Day 7

Religion at its best involves all of life: a healthy spirit fed by a healthy mind dwelling in a healthy body. The New Testament tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The laws of Leviticus teach us the same thing in another way by their often intricate rules for care of the body and for sanitation. These rules tell us, tacitly yet forcefully, that our bodies are holy.

In the ancient world the term leprosy covered a wide range of diseases, from simple and curable to the most fearful. Many of these skin diseases were infectious, so extreme precautions were taken. These Jewish sanitary rules were far in advance of the rest of the world. Some western medical practices didn’t catch up with them until the middle of the last century.

We are coming increasingly to understand that a profound tie exists between the health of the soul and the health of the body. It is significant that the tribe of Levi was responsible for both. They led the nation in worship and they watched over its health. “Glorify God in your body,” Paul said (1 Corinthians 6:20). Other things being equal, our bodies have their best chance for health when our spiritual lives are healthy. The Sunday morning jogger would do better to join in the adoration of God, and the worshiper should celebrate divine adoration with a body that has been treated with holy respect.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to treat my body as your temple, so that it may be blessed with your fullness of health; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What connection do you find, in these chapters, between ritual and sanitary cleansing and inner personal purity?