Leprosy in the Scriptures is a type of the sinful nature of man. It is not a type of sinful acts but of the sinful nature of man. That is what we have struggled with for so long. We know that the presence of the Lord has moved through us at times, yet we are ever aware of the corruption of our human fallen nature. We have repented but our repentance seems to fall short. Something more is needed.
Repenting for leprosy was unheard of in the Scriptures. The leper would cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” In the Old Testament the High Priest would examine the one thought leprous and would proclaim him clean or unclean. If he was leprous he had to dwell outside the camp. There was no treatment for leprosy; he could not be cured by man. Only God could cleanse the leper! Our human nature is unclean – The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Isaiah 1:5-6. This seems to describe our leprous nature quite well.
We do not only need forgiveness for our nature; we need it cleansed, purified by the Lord. We need His purifying blood flowing through us. We could continue repenting for the rest of our lives and never receive what we are looking for. We have been going through the deepest agonizing before God since the last Gathering, and have set our hearts for full deliverance. We refuse to accept the co-existence of a leprous nature while trying to be and do the will of God. I know His grace has enabled us to minister while in a corrupt state, but that is not what God promised and we refuse to accept it as a blessing. We must not accept anything less than a total redemption. I believe the covenant we spoke of is a step toward our cleansing. We don’t have the proper understanding of it yet, but the process has begun. The Messenger of the covenant is coming to begin the purification. Behold, I will send My Messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3.
The arrogant mountain of our flesh is coming down. The Lord Jesus is coming into the mountain of our flesh saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heavens. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:3-8. The creation of these beatitudes in us is the work of the Messenger of the Covenant as He purifies the sons of Levi.
Copyright © 2006 by Henry DuBose