Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 13:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 13:2-3

"When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean."

This chapter deals with the priest identifying someone with leprosy. Great detail is given on how to make that determination. The length of time to check the skin again. How the person is to be dealt with that is unclean. When they can be considered clean or unclean. In all these details I notice it never tells them now to cure them or heal them. Why is that I wondered?

First, I notice they are priests. They have the Aaronic priesthood, not the Melchizedek priesthood. It is the higher Melchizedek priesthood that administers to the sick or the afflicted. The priests appear to be performing a role of the Aaronic priesthood, watching over the congregation. That is why they are examining and identifying by the instructions given them those clean or unclean. They are performing outward ordinances. With what the Aaronic priesthood gives them all they can do is control the spreading of such a dreaded disease as leprosy.

As I read this I kept seeing in my mind the Savior going about healing the lepers. The people long understood the role the priest could play in helping them. The only way they were healed is if it went away on its own. How much greater then it was to see Jesus actually heal them. Afterwards telling them to go and show themselves to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded. That would have been an amazing thing to witness. This also made me ponder on the role of the lesser and the high priesthoods. How grateful I am that the Melchizedek priesthood is once again upon the earth.

Day 678