SCRIPTURE
Leviticus 5:1-5 - If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible. If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.
OBSERVATION
Leviticus can be a difficult read, mainly because it is basically a long list of instructions and also so much of it seems (to me) incongruent with our current society. However, when I was reading this passage it really stands out as relevant. Obviously the whole Bible is relevant as God’s Word for us, but since culturally we are very different from the ancient Hebrews, it’s a little difficult to comprehend the descriptions of what kind of animals to sacrifice for which sins, the technical details about the building of the tabernacle, and so on. What I like about the passage I have chosen is that this illustrates the principle of individual responsibility. Each statement says “when they learn of it and realize their guilt” then they are responsible to confess the sin and take steps to atone for it.
APPLICATION
We all do thoughtless things every day, and when we become aware of the inappropriateness of what we’ve done (either by having someone point it out or by self-realization) we are under obligation to do something about it. When we raise our kids, and we witness some wrong they have done, we ask “What did you just do?” and once they figure out what part of what they’d done was wrong, then we apply the punishment for it. The significance is in realizing what we’ve done – this is God’s way of teaching us to be better the same way we teach our kids to be better. All scripture is pertinent and full of God’s truth and this passage illustrates that humanity is humanity, little has changed in the thousands of years since this was written as far as the way we behave; it’s just the context of the behavior that is different. Truth is eternal!
PRAYER
Lord, let me be always aware of my own wrongdoing. Help me to prevent it when possible but if I thoughtlessly sin, let me recognize it and repent. To get closer to You, God, is my desire, and only by refuting my sinful nature and following your teaching can I learn more about Your goodness and how to be more like You meant me to be. God, please give me courage to confess my sins and bring them to the light so that I can be redeemed from them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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