An Unusual List

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Category: General | Aug 1987

That is the conclusion reached after reading the list of physical disabilities preventing some in the priestly family of Israel from functioning at the altar and in the holy place (Lev. 21:1624). It includes blindness, lameness, having a flat nose, a broken foot, a broken hand, and being a hunchback. If things written aforetime are for our instruction (Rom. 15:4), perhaps some helpful spiritual lessons can be learned by us from these disabilities.

The miracles of the Lord Jesus were not only manifestations of His divine power, but indications to Israel of its spiritual need as a nation, which He alone could meet. The man born blind, for instance, was suggestive of spiritual darkness, and that He came to "shine upon them that sit in darkness" (Luke 1:79); the man at Bethesda's pool was an example of their helplessness, and His longing to give them the strength to walk and follow Him (John 5:1-9); the man's withered right hand was evidence of their lack of power in godly service, and the need could only be met by their response of faith to His word - "stretch forth thy hand" (Luke 6:10). The feeding of the five thousand denoted national hunger which He could satisfy as the Bread of life; the leper illustrated Israel's uncleanness which required the touch of His eternal power; the wine failing at the Cana wedding indicated lack of heavenly joy which He came to impart (John 2); and the raising of Lazarus revealed their need of life in Him, the Resurrection and the Life (John 11).

It can come as a shock to us as Christians to be told we are blind. Peter tells us we are if we lack diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, and love. "For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins" (2

Pet. 1:5-9). The Lord told the Laodicean Christians they were blind (Rev. 3:17). He did not impose this condition on them, so it must have been self-imposed. Not necessarily purposefully but rather in an imperceptible way; a creeping process as with cataracts on natural eyes. The Greek word for "blind" in Revelation 3:17, is tuphios, suggesting opaqueness, as with film over the eyeball, or seeing through a cloud of smoke. Is this how the Laodiceans came to view spiritual things? Had they become proud, highminded, terms which are also from the same Greek root? If so, could it have contributed to their misery, wretchedness, poverty and nakedness (3:17)? The divine Physician, whose eyes at this time of examination and judgement, are "like a flame of fife" (2:18), diagnoses the condition of blindness among them, and prescribes divine eyesalve. These people comprised a church of God, a divine lampstand (1:20).

The golden lampstand was a thing of beauty in the holy place of the Tabernacle, and the Laodicean church is likened to it. No size is given for the lampstand, and numbers do not define a church of God. Its weight, a talent (approx. 75 lb), and its quality, pure gold, are given, and could signify spiritual solidity and divine glory. Each lamp on the lampstand was of pure gold too, and gave light through being fed with pure olive oil. Each one in a church of God is a divine light giver, or bearer, by virtue of being indwelt

by the Holy Spirit. Had the Laodicean saints become blind spiritually to the place of honour and privilege bestowed on them? Had they become blind to that which is divine because they were dazzled by earthly gold? or had they preferred the weight of earthly prosperity to the burden of divine testimony? So we see the validity of the Lord's declaration that they are poor, blind, naked. Their priestly garments appear to have been replaced by those of worldly apparel, and they were neglectful of their communion with Him. He demanded repentance, and the anointing of their eyes with divine eyesalve containing the curative powers of the word of Chi,1st dwelling richly in them, to enlighten the eyes of their understanding (Eph. 1:18). All this would be necessary so that they could see again spiritually, and also respond to the Lord's knocking on their hearts' doors for communion to be restored.

Deafness is also a factor here - stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and He with Me" (Rev. 3:20). The responsibility was theirs, as it is ours today, to have their sight corrected by Him when it was necessary. Sight plus light equals vision!

In conclusion, a broken foot, hand, and being a hunchback, were also disabilities. The first relates to walk, with the possibility of stumbling; certainly steadiness would be involved. There is a striking contrast between those in Hebrews 11 who walked by faith, and are examples of how we should walk (and run), and early Christians in Hebrews 12 who needed exhortation to do something about their palsied knees which would cause the feet to drag and create a slow, halting walk (v.12). These latter symptoms were not manifested by faithful Enoch, Noah, and David, who walked before God in faith, truth, and integrity. Nor were they seen in some early Christians who walked in faith's steps (Rom. 4:12), in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), in love (Eph. 5:2), in wisdom (Col. 4:5). These are the examples we should follow; also that of John the Baptist. "And he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:36)! With our eyes upon Him there will be less risk of our stumbling. in our walk, too.

Service for God demands steadiness and dedication. The stedfastness of early Christians was 'characteristic of them; it indicated they were firm, sure. This would apply to hands as well as feet, and so a priest with a broken hand was penalized in Israel. Among other things the hands are associated with consecrated service, as with Aaron and his sons - filling their hand (Ex. 28:41 RYM). Hands have to do with the rod of authority and power (Ex. 4:2); the sword of the Lord (Judg. 7:20); and with prayer (Ps. 28:2). Each has its counterpart in our spiritual lives as we serve the Lord Christ with devotion and in His might and all authority, using unfailingly the great provision of the word of God and prayer.

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Aug 1987
General