“One Year Bible” Old Testament History Passage
Leviticus 14:1-57
“Then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed for the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field.” Leviticus 14:4-7 (NKJV)
The beauty of Old Testament symbolism is never more clear and poignant that in the verses we read here. This is a vivid picture of redemption. The Old Testament disease called leprosy was a bitter reality, but it speaks to the deeper condition of man. While the physical disease is certainly bad, the spiritual disease of sin and death is far worse. Lepers in Bible times were outcasts who lived in hopelessness. So, sinners today may seem outwardly full of life, but inwardly they are deeply diseased. Only the power of God can set them free.
The two birds here are Jesus and you. The cedar wood is the cross. The scarlet symbolizes the blood of the sacrifice. The hyssop, a bitter herb, symbolizes the pain endured by Christ for you. The running water is the sovereign, life-giving will of God!
Jesus, represented by the first bird, was killed according to sovereign, life-giving will of the Father. When the second bird was dipped into the blood, it was along with those other items that symbolize the entire story of what Jesus did for us. This represents you and me accepting in full all that Jesus did!
The result is amazing. The Bible says that the second bird is then set free in the open field. This is a picture of jusfication. This is a picture of freedom. This is a picture of triumph in Christ.
Today, as a person who has received the sacrifice of Jesus, you are like a bird “set free in a field.” We are free to live our lives to the glory of God. Free to escape our leprosy. Free to fly into the open skies of God’s goodness.