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The Sanctity of Motherhood
Read Leviticus 12:1-8
In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' Leviticus 12:8
Our text today raises a few questions on motherhood. In Genesis 1:17-18 God commands us to be fruitful and multiply. But then a woman became unclean after giving birth. Does it mean that sex and procreation are unclean? Her period of being unclean and her waiting period to be purified from bleeding depended on the gender of the baby. Is a male more favoured than a female?
God was aware that the Israelites lived among nations that practised the fertility cult in their worship. His people had to be different from the others, so their worship had to be free from any sexual connotations. The woman's state of being ceremonially unclean did not mean that she was sinful or dirty. The pure surroundings of the Tent of Meeting made a purification ceremony necessary before she could participate in worship.
God regards the state of woman highly for He desires her to achieve His purposes. In the books of Kings and Chronicles the names of the mothers of the different kings of Israel are recorded. Their influence seemed to determine whether the kings were good or evil. He chose a teenage girl from Nazareth to be the mother of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
During His ministry on earth, Jesus raised the lowly position of women. He talked to them, and He received their partnership in the ministry graciously. After His resurrection He appointed Mary Magdalene as His first messenger of the Good News. Paul states clearly that: 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.' (Galatians 3:28)
Children, thank God for your mother and do not 'forsake her teaching' (Proverbs 1:8).
Read Leviticus 12:1-8
In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' Leviticus 12:8
Our text today raises a few questions on motherhood. In Genesis 1:17-18 God commands us to be fruitful and multiply. But then a woman became unclean after giving birth. Does it mean that sex and procreation are unclean? Her period of being unclean and her waiting period to be purified from bleeding depended on the gender of the baby. Is a male more favoured than a female?
God was aware that the Israelites lived among nations that practised the fertility cult in their worship. His people had to be different from the others, so their worship had to be free from any sexual connotations. The woman's state of being ceremonially unclean did not mean that she was sinful or dirty. The pure surroundings of the Tent of Meeting made a purification ceremony necessary before she could participate in worship.
God regards the state of woman highly for He desires her to achieve His purposes. In the books of Kings and Chronicles the names of the mothers of the different kings of Israel are recorded. Their influence seemed to determine whether the kings were good or evil. He chose a teenage girl from Nazareth to be the mother of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
During His ministry on earth, Jesus raised the lowly position of women. He talked to them, and He received their partnership in the ministry graciously. After His resurrection He appointed Mary Magdalene as His first messenger of the Good News. Paul states clearly that: 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.' (Galatians 3:28)
Children, thank God for your mother and do not 'forsake her teaching' (Proverbs 1:8).
Scripture
About this Plan
Scripture Union Peninsular Malaysia's Bible reflections are devotional readings from the thoughts and insights of Asian writers. Consisting of 8 volumes, they cover the whole Bible in four years. Each volume contains books from the Old and New Testaments, and has a mix of historical, poetic and prophetic books, the gospels and epistles. Using this you can cultivate the discipline of a regular, systematic engagement with Scripture and gain an understanding of its magnificent story.
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