Finding Christ in Leviticus

I am reading through the 2-Year Bible, which includes a section of the Old and New Testaments, Psalms, and Proverbs for each day. Currently the Old Testament is in Leviticus, a book I have always struggled through in the past. I have had a hard time connecting with all of these old-covenant laws for the Israelites, wondering how those passages were relevant to me. During this read, though, I have been struck with some very striking application from several different passages, so I thought I'd share about it here.

"Those who suffer from any contagious skin disease must tear their clothing and allow their hair to hang loose. Then, as they go from place to place, they must cover their mouth and call out, 'Unclean, Unclean!' As long as the skin disease lasts, they will beceremoniously unclean and must live in isolation outside the camp." Lev. 13:45-46

I am struck in reading this, that apart from Christ's work on my behalf, this is a description of me. I would be this unclean person, with no hope of salvation.

"If the priest finds that someone has been healed of the skin disease, he will perform a purification ceremony, using two wild birds of a kind permitted for food...The priest will order one of the birds to be slaughtered over a clay pot that is filled with fresh spring water...The priest will also sprinkle the dead bird's blood seven times over the person being purified, and the priest will pronounce that person to be ceremoniously clean."

Lev. 14:3-7

A fresh reminder that the only way to be declared clean and be justified before a Holy God is by blood sacrifice...and here is where I was struck by the reality of what Christ has done on my behalf. I thought about a song that has the line, "We've been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, we've been washed in the blood, of the precious Lamb of God."

"When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, and the alter, he must bring the living goat forward. He is to lay both of his hands on the goat's head and confess over it all the sins and rebellion of the Israelites. In this way, he will lay the people's sins on the head of the goat; then he will send it out into the wilderness...the goat will carry all the people's sins upon itself into a desolate land."

Lev. 16:21-22

Thank you, Jesus, for being the ultimate Scapegoat, taking my sin upon yourself at the Cross! What joy this brings to my soul, that I am pronounced clean! Thank you for a new-found joy in this amazing Good News. Thank you for your Word, your Holy Word that is sweeter than honey to my lips.