Leviticus 12:1-8


God has a zeal for the cleansing of His people and the holiness of sacred places and articles that had been set aside for worship.  Sin has polluted and infected humanity to the point that entering the presence of God would be impossible apart from the sacrifice of Christ.  It is important to remember that the Law was given in order to help man have an understanding of his own sinfulness and God’s holiness.  The fall of man was so severe that even the glorious event of child birth was tainted by it.

THE CONSECRATION OF CHILDREN: The act of bringing a child into the world is a wonderful miracle that God ordained.  The mother was considered ceremonially unclean meaning that she could not participate in the public ceremonies at the tabernacle.  Every child that has been born since the fall was born in sin, with the exception of Jesus.  Mothers were required to stay home during the first weeks of the child’s life.  This was a means of her being able to provide special care for her children during the first days after giving birth, protecting the child from excessive exposure and illustrating the consequences of the fall.  At the end of this period the mother was to take a sacrifice to the temple as a means of her own cleansing but also as a presentation of this new child before the Lord.  It is important that we realize that all of our children belong to the Lord and that they should be dedicated to Him.  We must pray that our children and help them to recognize their own sinfulness and the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf and then train them to fulfill their purpose in life of worshiping God.

THE CIRCUMCISION OF SONS: There were differences between sons and daughters born in the Jewish family.  God has always made clear distinctions between the roles and responsibilities of men and women.  One is not superior to the other, but they are different from one another.  Jewish boys were to be circumcised on the eighth day.  This was God’s means of setting apart His people from the other nations.  It was a visible reminder that they were to be different from the other nations around them.  Conformity to our surroundings is the natural tendency of men.  As followers of our Lord, we must never give in to this tendency.  We must be separate and live in holiness before Him. 

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