【Bible Study Sharing】
Leviticus Bible Study List
Introduction
Good day to everyone. Let’s delve into Leviticus Chapter 12. This is a short chapter detailing the regulations concerning childbirth. Childbirth is a natural event, but after giving birth, the woman is considered unclean. This chapter addresses how to manage this state. Why is childbirth considered unclean in the eyes of God? Some records in the Bible cannot be judged by human logic, but we can use our discernment to ponder God's intentions.
One of the fascinating aspects of humanity is our reproductive system. Men have their reproductive systems, and women have theirs. Menstruation and bleeding disorders in women lead to uncleanness, and continued bleeding after childbirth also results in uncleanness. Regarding the male reproductive system, there is only a brief mention of not being intimate with a woman, as this causes uncleanness. Nocturnal emissions or seminal discharge in boys also result in uncleanness, which may be difficult to understand. This suggests that the reproductive system is closely linked to the issue of uncleanness.
Chapter 11 primarily discusses eating and touching, which can bring about uncleanness. We must not eat unclean things, and touching dead animals or livestock also causes uncleanness (dying on their own means these animals were not killed for food but died naturally). These matters are fundamentally spiritual. If we are to observe and follow these rules diligently, can we discern the underlying reasons?
In other words, the matter of cleanliness and uncleanness is closely related to several key systems of our bodies.
When a woman has a child, if she bears a male, she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch any holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean. (Leviticus 12:2-8)
The Affairs of Living are Carnal
Reading this passage, we find clear stipulations in the Bible that there is a difference in uncleanness between bearing a son and bearing a daughter. We need to carefully consider this. We have always thought that getting married, starting a family, and having children are significant events in life! How does raising children become unclean? This is quite interesting! As we carefully read these words in the Bible, we discover that these everyday matters, such as eating and touching in the previous chapter, and childbirth in this chapter, are all affairs of living.
It turns out that these matters closely related to human life are carnal. Only in the New Testament do we understand this logical system: to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. It turns out that marrying, having children, and living life are carnal matters. Are you saying we should not live life? No, it’s not that we shouldn’t live life, but we must understand how we should live it in God.
The Bible clearly states: after having children, whether male or female, one must offer a sin offering and a burnt offering. This means that in our lives, in the process of indulging in the flesh, we still need to offer sacrifices for atonement. These, as legal provisions, have been passed down, and the Israelites and Jews continue to observe these rules today. But the issue is that this is merely a shadow of the New Testament. What is sacrificed in the New Testament? Not oxen, sheep, pigeons, or turtledoves, but ourselves.
Originally, we were running on a path to destruction in the process of indulging in the flesh, only to discover later that living is a very spiritual matter. We marry, have children, and live life, but this becomes unclean. What does unclean mean? It means it is easy to attract demons! Thus, we need to learn to dedicate ourselves. Sacrifice and dedication are a mindset, and this mindset can cleanse us.
The Key to Dealing with Satan is to No Longer Take Living Seriously
Recently, I have been gradually understanding what it means to strike at Satan. Satan's presence in the Bible, especially in the accounts of Jesus, is not heavily documented. Satan tempted Jesus, saying: If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread, which relates to eating. Jesus replied: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. This clearly states the purpose and means of human life. Since man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God, what has God said? He has said much about the problems of human indulgence in the flesh, and indulging in the flesh is death. If we examine it carefully today, can any person who indulges in the flesh live well? No!
In examining the Old Testament, we can see the shadow of the New Testament. Sacrifice is Jesus opening up a path for us to dedicate ourselves. It is not that because Jesus dedicated Himself, we no longer need to dedicate ourselves; because Jesus dedicated Himself, we also need to imitate Jesus in dedicating ourselves. This is the essence of imitating Jesus. It is hard for people to understand imitating Jesus, and some of His words even sound anti-human.
Jesus said: Man shall not live on bread alone. Man does not live on merely living life, not just on marrying and having children, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. This clearly states the purpose and means of our lives. However, if man lives for every word that comes from the mouth of God, what has God spoken? God has spoken a great deal about the problems of human indulgence in the flesh. Indulging in the flesh is death. If we look, can any person who indulges in the flesh live well?
In pondering these matters, we can see the shadow of the New Testament in the Old Testament. Sacrifice is Jesus opening up a path for us to dedicate ourselves. Because Jesus dedicated Himself, we also need to dedicate ourselves. This is the essence of imitating Jesus. Imitating Jesus is difficult to understand, and the words of Jesus are even somewhat anti-human. If you read carefully, such as abandoning wives and children for the sake of Jesus, how does one abandon them? Isn't that anti-human? Jesus did not marry or have children. Jesus established His ministry, but He did not start a family. Some might say: If that's the case, wouldn't humanity become extinct? It sounds difficult to justify, but that is indeed what Jesus did.
If you read 1 Corinthians regarding marriage, you will encounter Paul's arguments, which are also difficult to accept. He says it is better for people not to marry, but marrying is not a sin, it is just living life. We see this attitude in Jesus and Paul, which is to live a God-centered life. Some may wonder, if all of humanity followed what they said, wouldn't humanity be finished? Humanity will not be finished, rest assured, because there will always be those who live ordinary lives.
Today, if we want to strike at the devil Satan, you will not succeed if you have a mindset focused on living life. All those who live according to human desires, indulging human intentions, farming, building, marrying, buying, and selling. When Jesus comes, He will destroy this world. We don't need to explain for God; God does what He does. Now, you and I need to know that we are individuals, not God. We cannot say: God, you can't do that. How can you say that marrying and having children are unclean? But that is how God accounts it.
A woman giving birth is a very sacred thing, but it is also a very carnal thing. Someone once mentioned to me, can women be pastors, can they preach? Actually, there are many examples in the Bible. Many were men who served as judges, but there was also Deborah, a woman who served as a judge. This is very interesting. Why are there so few? Because women are more focused on living ordinary lives. We see many negative examples of this in the Bible, and we really need to consider it.
Consecrate Yourselves Fully As Living Sacrifices
As in the days of Noah when Jesus returns, reflect on Lot's wife. Lot's wife was adept at managing life, skilled in investment, expanding their household. She thrived in Sodom, an economically booming city, unlike Abraham's nomadic life in the wilderness. Common sense dictates—real estate in Shenzhen differs vastly from that in third- or fourth-tier cities.
Lot and his wife gradually moved to Sodom, where land prices were exorbitant. They lived well, but God rained fire, destroying Sodom. God instructed them not to look back, but Lot's wife, concerned about her assets, turned and became a pillar of salt, dying instantly.
We must carefully consider: Men find it easier to let go of worldly pursuits, but not women. Children are a part of a woman’s flesh, a carnal connection. A piece of the mother becomes the child. Whether liked or not, a mother carries the child for ten months, deeply affecting her. Therefore, if a mother loves God, there's a chance the child will too; but if she doesn't, the child's chances are slim.
Today, we discuss a woman becoming unclean after childbirth and needing to offer a sacrifice when her days are complete. Mothers often lead children to faith; a mother's love for God increases the child's chances of loving God. Conversely, a mother's lack of love diminishes those chances. After childbirth and the days of impurity, a sacrifice is required. In the New Testament, unsure how to sacrifice, how do we become clean? By fully consecrating ourselves. Men or women must offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy, pure, and acceptable. This may seem unfair to women, but it is God's design.
While many women love God, overcoming worldly desires may require more effort. Women are indeed somewhat weaker than men, especially with unbelieving and oppressive husbands. Leviticus 12 addresses childbirth sacrifices and circumcision, particularly for boys. The impurity days differ: seven days for boys, with thirty-three days at home; fourteen days for girls, with sixty-six days at home. Childbirth is both physical and profoundly spiritual. What is impurity? Impurity invites evil spirits. Childbirth is high-risk; some die in labor, others suffer depression or pain, blaming poor postnatal care.
It's not just poor postnatal care but the vulnerability to evil spirits. Anger during childbirth, combined with knowledge of good and evil, can easily lead to postpartum depression. Why depression after childbirth? It's a spiritual process; impurity allows evil spirits to disturb. The solution? Sacrifice. Dedication to God brings holiness, preventing demonic influence. I urge you repeatedly: do not center your lives on worldly pursuits. Life isn't good just because you wish it so; only living in holiness protects against spiritual disturbances.
Sanctification and Holiness
What is blessing? God's care in all you do; curse is demonic interference. How do people attract demons? Through unholiness, failing to obey God's word, and lack of offering. Hence, the Bible speaks of sanctification, setting apart for the Lord, making us holy in God's eyes, deterring demonic interference. Offer yourselves after childbirth to live in purity. Without purity, can there be holiness? Holiness implies purity.
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-4)
Newborns are vulnerable, prone to early death. In the past, women often lost many children in infancy. My grandmother bore eleven children, only three survived, including my mother. Small things need God's blessing. Once this concept is established, it becomes a spiritual matter, highlighting our need for God and therefore our need for sacrifice.
Parents must clearly understand: walking a spiritual path guarantees blessings for you and your children. If we're consumed by worldly concerns, we easily succumb to demonic interference, which is their goal. Demons have killed many; infant deaths are their doing.
Conclusion
Regardless, learn to live a sanctified life, offering sacrifices, being purified. The burnt offering in Leviticus is a total offering to God; the sin offering atones for sins. Today, our Lord Jesus has paved the way for offering. Jesus’s sacrifice does not negate our need to offer. Has our Lord Jesus opened a path of dedication, from now, whether we are willing to live for God? Are we willing to fully offer ourselves, foregoing a mundane life?
A mundane life attracts demons, who easily destroy. You might dismiss this. If so, you have not lived long enough. In our Chinese Mingding Destiny theology, it's not about God paying the price but whether we emulate Jesus, sacrificing our lives to God, becoming completely holy. With such resolve, demons struggle to touch you. But if worldly desires weigh heavily, you'll see people's reactions to life's problems are dire.
In my past ministry, I saw older sisters with children burdened by anxieties for their children, causing much distress. Each service, these sisters worry about their children or parents. These anxieties serve little. Concern for worldly matters is inherently a mundane existence. While this may seem normal, it's precisely how demonic influence pervasive in our lives.
If we give ourselves fully to God, will we still worry about worldly matters? Anxiety about this life, about mundane existence, appears normal. For instance, Christmas celebrations often revolve around family and children, mundane things, instead of total consecration. Though it's Christmas, I've poured cold water, representing God's sobering truth.
May God bless you all!