Quick note on Old Testament law (leprosy, etc.)

Old Testament law (like what you read in the book of Leviticus) existed in the times before the coming of Christ as a means to drive people to faith in the coming Messiah. Nobody could 'do' the law, let alone save themselves by doing the law. So the law existed (the ceremonial, and civic, and moral laws given at Sinai to Moses) to be types and shadows of, for instance, the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, or to make people realize they couldn't be righteous by doing the law (as Adam couldn't and didn't) and to show them they needed a saviour. The law also existed to restrain people somewhat and give them some direction in how to behave (don't have sex with your family members type basic instruction, or don't eat animals that are nature's scanvengers like buzzards, etc.).

So as I read Leviticus for the umpteenth time I get this feeling that God is even being somewhat mischievous in going on and on about, for instance, leprosy. It's like He's saying: you are unclean, unclean, unclean! See it. Then He even talks about lebrosy in the very homes of His people. The walls. The clothes. He talks about bald men and He talks about women becoming unclean after birth. And the intent is also to instill a sense of fear and apprehension about our state (who as a child didn't get a sense of horror when you saw your first movie or first learned about leprosy? it makes you feel vulnerable and frightened). Maybe we don't have leprosy now, but we could get it. We are really pathetic, unclean nothings. This is what the law is trying to teach. It is trying to drive people to Christ.

I think this is a practical way one can look at the long passages on things such as leprosy (also, all those various maladies have correspondence in inner features too, like leprosy can be seen as identification, or something like that). Also, all the little laws about things like not mixing fabrics in clothes and so on. Even some wholly, seemingly, non-sensical ones. They are all there, and in such prominence (they take up SO much of the early books of the Bible) to instill in you that (a) you can't be righteous by doing all these laws, i.e. you will fail, and it says explicitly if you fail in one small thing you fail totally; and (b) you are a wretch in need of a Saviour. I.e. you are a fallen being and you can only be saved by faith in the (for O.T. people) coming Christ, or in the already-come Christ. He is your righteousness. He followed the law to a 't'. He accomplished what Adam couldn't (he is called the second Adam). And just as you fell 'in Adam' you rise to life 'in Christ' if Christ becomes your federal head (as Adam was), i.e. if you have saving faith in Christ and His work on the cross.

What makes this seem more real, and less bizarre, is when you see - really see - that this world is dark and violent and fallen, and your own being is in not such a good state, either now or in the future. Age, disease, accident, death. Fallen flesh bodies in a fallen natural world. Yes, the body and the natural world still give 'some' impressions of their pre-fall glory, but not much. Nature certainly can, and youthful humanity can, but...just a little.

The ten commandments make up the moral law, and they are for all generations. The ceremonial laws and the civic, or penal, laws were for the Israelites and their theocracy which ended and don't apply to us. But the fact that they take up such a large amount of space in the Bible is for a reason, and I think it's to drill into us our current state as fallen beings in a fallen world. They are definitely the number one stumblingblock for people who first read the Bible and reject it as nonsense because of the laws in books like Leviticus. They don't understand that they don't apply to people today, first of all, then they are just too weird beyond that. I think that weirdness is intentional by God to let us know we are in a weird, vulnerable, unclean, unholy, powerless state. And we have to be driven to Christ.

Animal sacrifice (a quick note) was instituted by God when he first killed animals to clothe Adam and Eve just after they fell. That was Jesus acting in his office of priest for them. Animal sacrifice then became known in all times and cultures, but the reason for it wasn't known. It is a type of the Great Sacrifice which is the sacrifice of God on the cross. That sacrifice satisfies God's justice against fallen Adam and all who fell in Adam. It is Jesus both following the law (doing what Adam didn't do) and ALSO paying the penalty Adam accrued -- death. God's justice HAS to be satisfied, one way or another, and Jesus does it on our behalf. Because Jesus is God Himself when he was put to death - and innocent man - it released enough cosmic 'payment' for all of creation to be regenerated (not that all being will be, but that is something God is in control of). Everything must be paid for, as the Work says. Of course the whole process of being created above, falling, then re-connecting via faith and being drawn (and climbing) back up is the process of God's created beings developing real essential living being (understanding, conscience, will). Otherwise his created beings would just remain 'things.' But the whole process also demonstrates God's glory, His mercy and justice. But the goal is to develop His creation in a real way rather than by mere fiat.