In reading Leviticus 14:33-57, I've always been very confused and unable to figure out what God was teaching me through this passage.  I'd never heard of a house being infected with leprosy and the whole concept seemed so strange to me.  God revealed some parallels in the text recently that make a lot of sense to my mind and seem to fit within a systematic theology.  I just wanted to share a few things and would love to hear what others think on this passage as I continue to study it and pray for revelation from God.  If you've not recently read this passage, you may want to look over it before proceeding through this blog.  It's far to long for me to quote here.  Throughout the passage, I will discuss how leprosy represents sin, how God deals with sin, and how He is sovereign over it, though not responsible for it.

v. 34  In the very beginning of the text, God places the 'mark of leprosy' on the house.  We know that even though God does not commit sin Himself, there is much reference throughout Scripture to the fact that God ordains that sin take place and even hands certain people over to increased sinfulness.  Examples of this would be in the beginning when God ordained that Adam and Eve sin so that He might glorify Himself by sending Jesus to die on behalf of His elect.  We know it was ordained because Jesus is called the "Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world".  His death was planned from the beginning and would have never been necessary without sin having entered in the garden.  Also, in Romans 1, God hands people over to gross sins because they worship creation rather than Him as Creator.

I'm seeing the house in this passage as representing the church.  From that foundational premise, it would be logical to assign the home-owner as the Pastor, the Priest as Jesus, and the leprosy as sin.  In v. 35, the owner of the house (Pastor) comes to the Priest (Jesus) to let him know that there is a visible infection of leprosy (sin) in the house.   The Priest (Jesus) quarantines the house for 7 days to see if the infection will go away.  This could be Jesus giving time for repentance on the part of the sinner(s) in the church.   In v. 39, after the time for repentance has been allowed, if the infection is still present, the infected stones were to be removed.  We know from 1 Peter 2:4 that Christians are referred to as 'living stones' which make up the church.  We also know that false converts are to be removed from the church according to 1 Cor. 5:11-13.   So, this removal of infected stones, I believe, is the removal of false converts or 'so-called brethren' who have crept into the church and disguised themselves as sheep, bringing with them a deadly and contagious infection. 

In v. 41, the Priest (Jesus) orders the owner (Pastor) of the house to scrape the inside of the house and then replaster it.  This could represent the Pastor's open reproof and/or rebuke (scraping) to the church about the sin which was present and the Scriptural teaching (replastering) which would edify and build up, guiding the members away from such sin and toward righteous, holy living. Also, in v. 42, there are new stones brought in to replace the ones which were removed.  This could be  new members that God has added to the congregation...new "living stones", if you will. 

According to v. 44-46, if the malignancy (sin) still infected the church after all these measures had been taken, the house (church) was to be torn down.  "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands:  the seven stars are the angels (preachers) of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches...Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand (church) out of its place -- unless you repent."  (Revelation 1:20 and 2:5)  If a church refuses to submit to the godly leadership of the Pastor and refuses to submit to Christ in repentance, that church will be removed by Jesus Himself.  In v. 46, there is a warning that anyone who enters the house full of leprosy (sin) will be infected and unclean themselves.  We know this is true, because bad company corrupts good morals, according to 1 Cor. 15:33. 

But, glory be to God, if the church responds to the purge of infected stones (church members), scraping (reproof and rebuke), and replastering (Biblical teaching) with repentance and holy living, then the Priest (Jesus) pronounces it clean!  Hallelujah!  The house (church) is then cleansed with 2 birds, cedarwood, a scarlet string, and hyssop.  The house (church) is "sprinkled" with the hyssop and cedar wood dipped in the bird's blood and running water, just as we are washed by Jesus' blood and regenerated by the Holy Spirit (living water).  This brings to mind Hebrews 10:21-22, which says, "Since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

We are told in v. 54-57 that this process should be performed for any kind of infection: leprous garment or house, swelling, scab, or bright spot (which could represent a variety of kinds of sin that could infect a house [or church]).  We are also admonished to be subject to teaching on these things so that we know the protocol for dealing with sin. 

We, as the church, are to be members of a local body of believers, in submission to a loving, caring, and obedient Pastor who is aware of our sins.  He is to hold us accountable, evaluating our behavior and words so that He is able to reprove and rebuke when needed, or even remove us if we prove to be false converts.  Sadly, there are many houses (churches) that are infected with leprosy (sin) and there is no loving owner (Pastor) who is willing to take the concern to the Priest (Jesus) and to deal with it according to the law of leprosy (Biblically).  This is why we have hundreds of churches bearing false witness of Christ to the world.  This is why our nation doesn't have any comprehension of what a real "Christian" looks like.  I fear that many lampstands (churches) need removing in this country and wonder when our Priest (Jesus) will come and take them away. 

Oh God, I don't want to be a stone in an infected house that needs to be removed.  Lord, grant me persevering faith, that I may be a repentant living stone in a house that brings you much glory.  Please bring our family to a church where we may be shepherded Biblically, where the infection of leprosy is scraped and replastered,  and where infected stones (unbelievers) are removed for the sake and preservation of the other stones (believers).  As we search for a church home, I pray that You would bring us to such a place.  May that kind of bold leadership be sought alongside solid, exegetical preaching of Scripture and a loving, Christ-exalting body of believers.