Lesson&#8& For&unto&you&a&child&is&born&.&.&. & (Levi&cus*12:*1.8)* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 1$

Transcription

1 Lesson&#8& For&unto&you&a&child&is&born&.&.&. & (Levi&cus*12:*1.8)* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 1$

2 Lessons*1.6*focused*on*Levi&cus,*Part*1:**Sacrifice,*the*means*by*which*a* sinful*people*gain*access*to*an*infinitely*holy*god.**with*lesson*#7*we* entered*levi&cus,*part*2:*sanc:fica:on,*the*means*by*which*a*covenant* people*live*an*in&mate*rela&onship*with*god.**chapters*11 22*address*the* greater*topic*of* holiness *in*daily*life,*while*chapter*11*focuses*specifically* on*what*animals*god*permits*his*covenant*people*to*eat.**in*lesson*7*we* learned*that*god*limits*the*flesh*his*people*may*eat*to*four*categories:** land*animals,*fish,*birds,*and*insects.**and*within*each*of*these*four* categories*god*severely*limits*even*those*to*a*very*few.** One*may*argue*that*these*laws*were*understandable*in*ancient*&mes*in*a* hot,*unhygienic*environment,*but*they*are*clearly*irrelevant*today.* To*the*contrary,*we*learned*that*careful*aRen&on*to*what*one*eats*has* nothing*whatsoever*to*do*with*physical*cleanliness,*hygiene*or*nutri&on;* rather,*in*levi&cus*11*god*introduces*a*set*of*moral*and*ethical*principles* that*advances*his*plan*of*redemp&on*and*leads*one*on*a*path*to*holiness.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 2$

3 BoWcelli.**Madonna&of&the&Book&(oil*on* panel),*1480.**museo*poldi*pezzoli,*milan.* Few*things*are*more*basic*to* the*human*condi&on*than* food*and*sex.**and*with*sex* comes*childbirth.**as*we* discovered*a*deeper*meaning* in*the*dietary*laws*of*chapter* 11,*so*in*chapter*12*we*shall* discover*a*deeper*meaning*in* the*birth*of*a*child,*as*well*as* in*the*rela&onship*between*a* woman*and*her*son*or* daughter.** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 3$

4 Before*moving*into*the*brief*eight* verses*of*levi&cus*12*and*the*topic*of* childbirth,*we*need*to*address*a* lingering*ques&on*from*lesson*8.*** With*all*the*aRen&on*paid*to*the* dietary*laws*in*lesson*8*(levi&cus*11),* a*chris&an*reader*may*well*ask,* I* know*these* food *laws*introduce*a* moral*and*ethical*paradigm*in*god s* plan*of*redemp&on,*but*with*the* coming*of*christ*aren t*all*these*laws* null*and*void?**aaer*all,*we*are*saved* by*grace*through*faith*in*christ,*not*by* anything*we*eat*or*don t*eat,*do*or* don t*do. * For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 4$

5 That s*a*very*good* point!**i*was*thinking* same*thing*myself*as* we*went*through*all* Not*me.** those* food *details.* Not*me.**I* got*hungry!* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 5$

6 If*we*take*a*look*at*the*New* Testament,*we*find*four*instances* that*address*this*very*topic:* 1. Jesus *heated*encounter*with*the*scribes* and*pharisees*regarding* clean *and* unclean *behavior*in*mark*7:*1.23.* 2. St.*Peter s*reverie*at*simon*the*tanner s* home*in*acts*10:*1.49,*the*story*of* Cornelius,*the*first*Gen&le*convert.* 3. The*decision*at*the*Jerusalem*Council*of* A.D.*50*in*Acts*15.* 4. St.*Paul s*formal*argument*in*romans* (A.D.*57)*that*we*are* saved*by*grace* through*faith, *and*the*prac&cal* implica&ons*of*that*argument*in*romans* 14:*13.23.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 6$

7 Let s*take*a*look*at*each* one*in*turn:* 1. Jesus *heated*encounter*with*the* Scribes*and*Pharisees*regarding* clean *and* unclean *behavior*in* Mark*7:*1.23.* 2. St.*Peter s*reverie*at*simon*the* tanner s*home*in*acts*10:*1.49,*the* story*of*cornelius,*the*first*gen&le* convert.* 3. The*decision*at*the*Jerusalem*Council* of*a.d.*50*in*acts*15.* 4. St.*Paul s*formal*argument*in*romans* (A.D.*57)*that*we*are* saved*by*grace* through*faith, *and*the*prac&cal* implica&ons*of*that*argument*in* Romans*14:*13.23.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 7$

8 James*Tissot.**Woe&Unto&You&Scribes&and&Pharisees&(opaque*watercolor*over*graphite*on*gray* woven*paper),*c.* **brooklyn*museum,*new*york.*** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 8$

9 Let s*take*a*look*at*each*one*in* turn:* 1. Jesus *heated*encounter*with*the* Scribes*and*Pharisees*regarding* clean *and* unclean *behavior*in* Mark*7:*1.23.* 2. St.*Peter s*reverie*at*simon*the* tanner s*home*in*acts*10:*1.49,*the* story*of*cornelius,*the*first*gen&le* convert.* 3. The*decision*at*the*Jerusalem*Council* of*a.d.*50*in*acts*15.* 4. St.*Paul s*formal*argument*in*romans* (A.D.*57)*that*we*are* saved*by*grace* through*faith, *and*the*prac&cal* implica&ons*of*that*argument*in* Romans*14:*13.23.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 9$

10 Domenico*FeW.**Vision&of&St.&Peter&(oil*on*canvas),*c.*1619.*** Museum*of*Art*History,*Vienna.*** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 10$

11 Let s*take*a*look*at*each*one*in* turn:* 1. Jesus *heated*encounter*with*the* Scribes*and*Pharisees*regarding* clean *and* unclean *behavior*in* Mark*7:*1.23.* 2. St.*Peter s*reverie*at*simon*the* tanner s*home*in*acts*10:*1.49,*the* story*of*cornelius,*the*first*gen&le* convert.* 3. The*decision*at*the*Jerusalem*Council* of*a.d.*50*in*acts*15.* 4. St.*Paul s*formal*argument*in*romans* (A.D.*57)*that*we*are* saved*by*grace* through*faith, *and*the*prac&cal* implica&ons*of*that*argument*in* Romans*14:*13.23.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 11$

12 St.&James&the&Just&(Russian*Orthodox*Icon),*contemporary.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 12$

13 Let s*take*a*look*at*each*one*in* turn:* 1. Jesus *heated*encounter*with*the* Scribes*and*Pharisees*regarding* clean *and* unclean *behavior*in* Mark*7:*1.23.* 2. St.*Peter s*reverie*at*simon*the* tanner s*home*in*acts*10:*1.49,*the* story*of*cornelius,*the*first*gen&le* convert.* 3. Decision*at*the*Jerusalem*Council*of* A.D.*50*in*Acts*15.* 4. St.*Paul s*formal*argument*in*romans* (A.D.*57)*that*we*are* saved*by*grace* through*faith, *and*the*prac&cal* implica&ons*of*that*argument*in* Romans*14:*13.23.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 13$

14 Rembrandt.**The&Apostle&Paul&(oil*on*canvas),*c.*1657.*** Na&onal*Gallery*of*Art,*Washington*D.C.*** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 14$

15 So,*what*do* we*conclude* from*all** Not*me* this?* Ooooh,**** I*know!* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 15$

16 As*Jacob*Milgrom*so* insighnully*points*out:* The&food&prohibi:ons&are&the&Torah s& personal&recommenda:on&as&the&best&way&of& achieving&[a]*higher&ethical&life.&&together&the& food&prohibi:ons,&the&blood&prohibi:on,&and& ritual&slaughter&reveal&an&intricate&ethical& web&of&dietary&restric:ons&that&teaches&the& Israelites&to&have&reverence&for&life&.&.&.&[and]* that&bringing&death&to&living&things&is&a& concession&of&god s&grace&and&not&a&privilege& of&humanity s&whim. & ********(Levi:cus,&a&Con:nental&Commentary,*p.*107.)* Excuse$me,$is$this$kosher?$ 16$

17 Thus,*by*respec&ng*life*in*all*its* forms,*the*israelites*aspire*to*a* higher*moral*and*ethical*plane,*a* life*of*what*levi&cus*calls** qadosh,*or* holiness. * Jesus*and*the*early*church*do*not* cri&cize*the*dietary*laws*per&se;* rather,*they*cri&cize*the*misuse*of* the*dietary*laws*in*the*dynamic*of* redemp&on,*seeing*them*as*the* vehicles*for*araining*redemp&on,* rather*than*as*a*means*of*living*a* redeemed*life.* Excuse$me,$is$this$kosher?$ 17$

18 Got*it!* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 18$

19 Now,*on*to*our*topic* at*hand,*levi&cus*12* and*childbirth!* And$he$said$.$.$.$$ 19$

20 As*we*move*into*Lesson*#8* we*address*the*2 nd *of*the* seven*sec&ons*in*the* sanc&fica&on *chapters*of* Levi&cus:* 1. Food*of*God s*people*(11:*1.47)* 2. Children*of*God s*people*(12:*1.8)* 3. Cleansing*of* leprosy *(13:*1* *14:*57)* 4. Cleansing*of*bodily*emissions*(15:*1.32)* 5. The*Day*of*Atonement*(16:*1.34)* 6. The*sanc&ty*of*life*(17:*1.16)* 7. Applica&ons*of*the*laws*(18:*1.20:*27)* *Addendum:**Addi&onal*commands*for* God s*priests*(21:*1* *22:*33)** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 20$

21 Children of God s People Leviticus 12: 1-8 The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: When a woman has a child, giving birth to a boy, she shall be unclean [impure] for seven days, with the same uncleanness as during her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy s foreskin shall be circumcised, and then she shall spend thirty-three days more in a state of blood purity; she shall not touch anything sacred nor enter the sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled. If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as during her menstrual period, after which she shall spend sixty-six days in a state of blood purity. For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 21$

22 With*the*birth*of*a*son,*a*woman:* 1. Is* unclean *[ impure ]*for*seven&days,*as* during*her*menstrual*period;* 2. On*the*eighth&day*her*son*is*circumcised;* 3. For*thirtyRthree&days*she*is*in*a*state*of* blood*purity. * This*totals*40*days* With*the*birth*of*a*daughter,*a*woman:* 1. Is* unclean *[ impure ]*for*fourteen&days,* as*during*her*menstrual*period;* 2. For*sixtyRsix&days*she*is*in*a*state*of** * blood*purity. * This*totals*80*days* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 22$

23 I*think*we*need*to*look* very*carefully*at*these* eight*verses,*if*we re* to*understand*them* properly.$ We*sure*do!* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 23$

24 As*we*learned*previously*blood*is*sacred,*for* the*life*of*all*flesh*is*its*blood *(Levi&cus*17:* 14),*and*hence*the*blood*of*the*sacrificial* animals*is*given*back*to*god*on*the*altar,*and* in*the*dietary*laws*god*forbids*ea&ng*blood.*** Blood*is*the*arch.symbol*of*life.* Consequently,*when*a*woman*gives*birth * when*she*brings*life*into*the*world the*loss* of*her*blood the*loss*of*life represents*the* intricate,*primal*dance*between*life*and* death.**thus*for*seven*days,*during*the*&me* of*her*heaviest*blood*flow,*she*is*ritually* impure, *as*during*her*menstrual*cycle.** With*the*principal*of*sanctum&contagion,* anything*she*touches*becomes*ritually* impure,*as*well.**during*this*&me*her* husband*must*recognize*this*profound* reality,*and*he*must*not*have*intercourse* with*her.* Excuse$me,$is$this$kosher?$ 24$

25 If*she*gives*birth*to*a*boy,*he*is* circumcised*on*the*eighth*day,*as*god* commanded*abraham*in*genesis*17.* Circumcision*was*widely*prac&ced*in*the* ancient*near*east*in*biblical*&mes,*as*it*is* today.**in*most*cultures*it*was*(and*is)*a* boy s*rite*of*passage*into*manhood,*a* prepara&on*for*marriage.**only*among* Jews*was*circumcision*done*on*the* eighth*day*of*a*boy s*life.* For*a*Jew,*circumcision*is*a*sign*of*God s* covenant*with*his*people,*and*the* circumcision*of*a*boy*on*the*eighth*day* incorporates*him*into*the*covenant* community*at*this*very*early*age.** Circumcision*is*to*a*Jew*what*bap&sm*is* to*a*chris&an.* Excuse$me,$is$this$kosher?$ 25$

26 Aaer*the*boy s*circumcision,*the* woman*waits*an*addi&onal*thirty. three*days,*and*as*her*bleeding* subsides,*she*is*in*a*state*of* blood*purity. *** This*is*different*from*her* impurity *during*the*first*seven* days*aaer*giving*birth*or*during* her*menstrual*period.**in*a*state* of* blood*purity *she*is*only* restricted*from*the*sacred;*she* has*unrestricted*access*to*the* common*sphere,*including*sexual* rela&ons*with*her*husband.* Excuse$me,$is$this$kosher?$ 26$

27 But*if*a*woman*gives* birth*to*a*girl,*all* those*&mes*are* doubled!**i*wonder* why?* Not*me* She s* cute!* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 27$

28 Many*claim*that*the*longer* period*of* impurity * associated*with*the*birth*of* a*girl*suggests*that*a*girl*is* of*less*worth*than*a*boy,* somehow*causing*a*longer* period*of* impurity *for*her* mother.*** I d*suggest*quite*the* opposite.* And$he$said$.$.$.$$ 28$

29 It*is,*indeed,*true*that*Psalm*127* tells*us:* * * * * * * **** Truly&sons&are&a&giT&from&the&Lord,& a&blessing,&the&fruit&of&the&womb.&& Indeed,&the&sons&of&youth&& are&like&arrows&in&the&hand&of&a&warrior.&& O&the&happiness&of&the&man&& who&has&filled&his&quiver&with&these&arrows!&& He&will&have&no&cause&for&shame&& when&he&disputes&with&his&foes&in&the&gateways. & * * * * *(Psalm*127:*3.5)** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 29$

30 From*a*biblical*perspec&ve and*from*the* perspec&ve*of*the*near*east*in*both*ancient* &mes*and*today a*woman*giving*birth*to*a* boy*is*a*great*blessing,*for*a*boy*carries*on* the*family*name*and*line;*a*son*both*protects* and*provides*for*his*family;*and*the*eldest* son*becomes*his*father s*heir,*the*new*family* patriarch,*ensuring*the*family s*survival*and* prosperity.*** Conversely,*a*girl*marries*outside*the*family* and*carries*on*someone&else s&family*line,* producing*children*for*someone&else s&family,* ensuring*their&their*survival*and*prosperity.*** Hence,*the*desire*for*sons*in*Scripture.*** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 30$

31 But*that*in*no*way*diminishes*the* value*of*a*daughter*in*the*eyes*of* God*or*her*mother.* Perhaps*the*extended*&me*of* impurity *gives*a*mother* addi&onal* bonding *&me*with* her*daughter,*recognizing*the* unique*nature*of*their*mother/ daughter*rela&onship.* If*that s*the*case,*the*extended* &me*implies*nothing*nega&ve;* rather,*it*is*a*blessing.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 31$

32 Children of God s People, cont. Leviticus 12: 1-8 When the days of her purification for a son or for a daughter are fulfilled, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering. The priest shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her flow of blood. Such is the ritual for the woman who gives birth to a child, male or female. If, however, she cannot afford a lamb, she may take two turtledoves or two pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a purification offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and thus she will again be clean. For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 32$

33 Hans*Holbein*the*Elder.**The&Presenta:on&of&Christ&in&the&Temple&(Tempera*and*oil*on*fir),*c.*1500.** Kunsthalle*Hamburg,*Germany.*** For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 33$

34 1. Why*does*Jesus*cri&cizes*the*scribes*and* Pharisees*for*their*me&culous*observance*of* the*mosaic*law?* 2. St.*Paul*tells*us*that*as*Chris&ans*we*are* saved*by*grace*through*faith. **If*that*is*true,* what*role*do* good*works *play*in*our* rela&onship*with*christ,*if*any?* 3. Why*is*an*Israelite*boy*circumcised*on*the* eighth*day*aaer*his*birth?* 4. Why*is*there*no*parallel*rite*for*a*girl?* 5. Mary*follows*the*law*in*Levi&cus*12* me&culously*aaer*the*birth*of*jesus.**is*she* correct*in*doing*so?* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 34$

35 Copyright* *2015*by*William*C.*Creasy* * All* rights* reserved.* No* part* of* this* course audio,* video,* photography,* maps,* &melines* or* other* media may* be* reproduced*or*transmired*in*any*form*by*any*means,*electronic* or* mechanical,* including* photocopying,* recording* or* by* any* informa&on* storage* or* retrieval* devices* without* permission* in* wri&ng*or*a*licensing*agreement*from*the*copyright*holder.* For$unto$you$a$child$is$born$.$.$.$ 35$