More Than Skin Deep - Leviticus 13

There are many practical guidelines for skin diseases and mold/mildew in Leviticus 13 that ensured both the individual's health and the health of the community. If a person had a sore on their head they had to shave their head. This makes sense if the sore was from lice. Someone with an infectious disease was isolated from the community; thus instituting a quarantine protecting the community from disease. If there is mold or mildew found in clothing the clothing is either destroyed or the mold cut out to prevent further contamination.  Leviticus 13 is filled with practical guidelines for the care of skin and clothing.

What's interesting to me in this chapter is the role of the Priest. The Priest had to act as the doctor. This is not all that unusual within the history of man. Many ancient cultures combined the jobs of spiritual overseer and health provider within communities. In fact, there are cultures in existence today that still combine this role. Therefore, it is not surprising that the ancient Israelites also followed this paradigm. However, what I see as different in this ancient culture is this priestly figurehead does not rely on magic or incantations to protect the health of the people. Instead, it is common sense. Yes, plain common sense. He provided medicinal advice that, surprisingly, still applies to the human physical condition to this very day.

The relationship between God and Priest, Priest and Man and Man and God gives credence to God as creator and it maintained the proper place of the priest. In this paradigm, God is not presented as a magical being without access to us. Priests and prophets alike worked hard in ancient Hebrew history to help the average person understand God and connect man to Him. I think this is very significant. You see, if a person were brought to a priest with an illness and there are incantations and magical sayings said over them, then the faith for healing could be falsely placed in the priest. Instead, this culture takes an approach that is practical and known by all in the community (by way of publishing it into the law). In this manner, God is presented as someone who knows how the human body is put together and because of this he knows how to treat our ailments.