Clean For True Worship
To most people, being clean simply means to be free from dirt or contamination. In the Bible, however, the idea of being clean is denoted by a number of Hebrew and Greek words that describe cleaness not just in the physical sense but more often in the moral and spiritual sense. Thus, one Bible encyclopedia states: " ' clean' and 'unclean' are terms seldom related to mere questions of hygene, but are mainly religious concepts. As such the principle of 'cleaness' affects almost every aspect of life."

Indeed, the Mosaic Law included rules and regulations on practically every aspect of the Israelite's life, outlining what was clean and acceptable and what was not. For example, in Leviticus chapters 11 to 15, we find detailed instructions relative to cleaness and uncleaness. Certain animals were unclean and the Israelites were not to eat them. Childbirth would cause a woman to be unclean for a specified period of time. Certain skin diseases, particularly leprosy, and discharges of the male and female organs would likewise cause a person to be unclean. The Law also specified what should be done in situations involving uncleaness. For example, at Numbers 5:2, we read: " Command the sons of Israel that they send out of the camp every leprous person and everyone having a running discharge and everyone unclean by a deceased soul."
Next time: Contination of this subject.