The material regarding leprosy may well seem quite difficult to our modern sensibilities. We will perhaps react with shock at the apparent cruelty of banishing lepers to the wilderness outside the camp, cut off from contact with the rest of the community, requiring them to wear rags, cover their faces, and cry out “unclean, unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45).

In our present era we also carefully restrict the term “leprosy” to mean specifically Hansen’s Disease. In Bible times it covered many kinds of infectious situations: itches, rashes, and even mildew all fell under the category of leprosy. There was a reason for this, as we will see; but we surely must lament that there were many instances where people with other skin infections were misdiagnosed as being leprous, and suffered greatly as they were cast out of society.

Still, in a time where health and illness were not well understood, the prescribed process of inspection shows a cautious method of testing to try to discern whether the symptoms were innocuous or infectious (Leviticus 13:29-37). It’s important to notice the twofold goal of this effort. As long as the disease was present, there was quarantine to keep the disease from spreading to others; and if and when healing took place, there was a process so that the afflicted person could be restored to normal life with their family. The text recognizes that “healing” required both curing the disease and also reintegration into society; this is reflected in Jesus’ ministry of healing lepers, and then sending them to the priest so that they could go home once again (Mark 1:44, Luke 17:14, and elsewhere).

Leprosy also functions as a symbol for the power of sin. Something might look to us as if it’s just a very minor blemish, almost invisible; but it has this terrible tendency to spread into other areas of our life, and to infect others as well.

* * * * *

It is our desire to live in your presence, O Lord: pure of heart, uninfected by the ravages of sin. But we are unclean, infected with sin. Help us, Lord. Cleanse our hearts. Grant us the wisdom to see the dangerous and spreading diseases in our souls, and the grace to wash them from our lives.