Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
One of the great purposes of the tabernacle was to be a place where God could dwell. As Israel progressed toward the Holy of Holies, they were taught about their progression towards the Celestial kingdom. This progression and the symbolism of the tabernacle apply to us today and testify of Christ. Even though it is not a part of the Come, Follow Me reading, we look at the physical and emotional costs of being 'stricken' with leprosy. Isaiah applied being 'stricken' to Christ, and we can look for how 'our sorrows' and our 'griefs' help us today reach out to someone else who is 'stricken.'
EXODUS 21 THE LAW OF MOSES
The purpose of the law of carnal commandments was to help the children of Israel focus on the basic fundamentals of the gospel. These two elements, then—the preparatory gospel and the law of carnal commandments—are what we commonly call the law of Moses.
Law of Moses.
1. Preparatory Gospel
a. Burnt offering
b. Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism
c. The Ten Commandments
d. The law of the covenant
2. Law of Carnal Commandments
a. Ordinances—Offerings
b. Performances—including dietary and purification laws
To accurately describe the law of Moses, we would have to say that it contained the basic part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was never intended to be something apart, separated, or even lower than the gospel of Christ. It was simply to help the people in their focus and understanding.(The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Old Testament, 20.) Ed Brandt
Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “On this occasion I had sought the Lord, … and that night I received a wonderful manifestation and impression which has never left me. I was carried to this place [the Salt Lake Temple]—into this room. … I was told there was another privilege that was to be mine; and I was led into a room where I was informed I was to meet someone. As I entered the room I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being I have ever conceived of, and was taken forward to be introduced to Him. As I approached He smiled, called my name, and stretched out His hands toward me. If I live to be a million years old I shall never forget that smile. He put His arms around me and kissed me, as He took me into His bosom, and He blessed me until my whole being was thrilled. As He finished I fell at His feet, and there saw the marks of the nails; and as I kissed them, with deep joy swelling through my whole being, I felt that I was in heaven indeed. The feeling that came to my heart then was: Oh! if I could live worthy, though it would require four-score years, so that in the end when I have finished I could go into His presence and receive the feeling that I then had in His presence, I would give everything that I am and ever hope to be!" (Crusader for Righteousness [1966], 66)
"[The world] room depicts the world in which we live and die. Here instruction is given regarding man's second estate and the manner in which he may overcome the obstacles of mortality.
"The terrestrial room is symbolic of the peace that may be attained by men as they overcome their fallen condition through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
"The celestial room symbolizes the eternal joy and peace found in the presence of God. Something of the spirit of God's infinite promises to the obedient has been captured in the design of this beautiful room.” (https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-25-30-35-40-the-house-of-the-lord-in-the-wilderness?)
The book of Leviticus contains direct revelation from God through Moses to Israel. It was the priesthood handbook of that generation. This fact makes the book of great interest, for whenever God speaks to man He reveals Himself. Through the pages of Leviticus one can come to understand Him and His purpose better. The modern reader may feel the contents of the book are outdated, especially those that deal with blood sacrifice, yet all were designed, as Amulek said, to point to the infinite Atonement of Christ (see Alma 34:14).
As offerer, we see Him made under the law, standing our substitute, for us to fulfil all righteousness. As priest, we have Him presented as the mediator, God’s messenger between Himself and Israel. While as the offering He is seen the innocent victim, a sweet savour to God, yet bearing the sin and dying for it
“Priesthood authority comes through ordination, but priesthood power requires personal righteousness, faithfulness, obedience, and diligence. Even if we receive priesthood authority by the laying on of hands, we will have no priesthood power if we are disobedient, unworthy, or unwilling to serve.” (churchofjesuschrist.org/study/youth/learn/ap/priesthood-keys/worthiness?)
The cause of Leprosy was not discovered until 1873 by a Norwegian scientist named G.H Armauer Hansen. Until that time, most experts on the subject considered leprosy to be a hereditary disease. However, Hansen suspected its cause to be a specific, contagious agent and, with this in mind, set out to study individual leprosy patients. He decided to first look for variations in the blood of his patients. Finding nothing, he moved on to examine his patients skin cells. Here, he discovered a foreign bacterium not found in uninfected skin cells. After prolonged studies, these were found to be the cause of Leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease.
“The leper in the story acted contrary to the instructions, stipulated in Leviticus 13-14, of how persons with such skin diseases should act. Being contagious and unclean persons, lepers were supposed to isolate themselves from others, demonstrate their impurity and warn people of their illness. They had to wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their faces and shout 'Unclean! Unclean!' (tame' we-tame’; Lev 13:45).” (Francois P. Viljoen,” Jesus healing the leper and the Purity Law in the Gospel of Matthew http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2305-08532014000200004
Social/emotional costs of being a leper:
נֶגַע negaʻ
Isaiah 53:3-5
The Priest served as the official representative of the Lord, and he was authorized to cleanse the leper and bring him back into full fellowship
As the only living objects used in the ritual, the birds symbolized the candidate. Because of the two truths to be taught, two birds were required.
The first bird was killed by the shedding of its blood, signifying that the leper had to give up his life. The second bird, after being bound was released. This signified that the man had been freed from the bondage of sin.
The wood from cedar trees is still used today because of it ability to preserve surrounding objects from decay and corruption. So the cedar tree symbolized preservation from decay.
The word scarlet really meant a piece of wool dyed a bright red. Red reminds us of blood, which is the symbol of life and also of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Though we are not sure exactly why we do know that in the Old Testament times the herb hyssop carried with it the symbolism of purification.
The blood of the bird was mixed with the water. Blood and water are symbols of birth both physical and spiritual.
"The Day of Atonement, which took place in the fall of the year, was the most sacred and solemn of all the Israelite festivals. In it we most clearly see the typology or symbolism of Christ's work for Israel. It was a day of national fasting and one that signified that the sins of Israel had been atoned for and that the nation and its people were restored to a state of fellowship with God. The feast included the following major items (see Leviticus 16 where the details are given):
"1. The high priest had to go through meticulous preparation to be worthy to act as the officiator for the rest of the house of Israel. This included sacrifices for himself and his house, as well as washing and purification through the sprinkling of sacrificial blood on various objects in the tabernacle.
"2. The high priest put off the official robes he normally wore and clothed himself in simple, white linen garments. (See Revelation 19:8 for the significance of white linen garments.)
"3. Two goats were chosen by lot. One was designated as the goat of the Lord, and one was designated as the scapegoat, or in Hebrew, the goat of Azazel. The goat of Jehovah was offered as a sin offering, and the high priest took its blood into the holy of holies of the tabernacle and sprinkled it on the lid of the ark of the covenant (called the 'mercy seat'), thus making atonement for the sins of Israel.
"4. The other goat, Azazel, was brought before the high priest, who laid his hands upon its head and symbolically transferred all of the sins of Israel to it. Then it was taken out into the wilderness and released where it would never be seen again. One commentator explained the significance of Azazel by saying that it represented 'the devil himself, the head of the fallen angels, who was afterwards called Satan; for no subordinate evil spirit could have been placed in antithesis to Jehovah as Azazel is here, but only the ruler or head of the kingdom of demons.’” (C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, bk. 1: The Pentateuch, 'The Third Book of Moses,' 10 bks. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d., p. 398.)
Teaching Thoughts:
EXODUS 21 THE LAW OF MOSES
The purpose of the law of carnal commandments was to help the children of Israel focus on the basic fundamentals of the gospel. These two elements, then—the preparatory gospel and the law of carnal commandments—are what we commonly call the law of Moses.
Law of Moses.
1. Preparatory Gospel
a. Burnt offering
b. Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism
c. The Ten Commandments
d. The law of the covenant
2. Law of Carnal Commandments
a. Ordinances—Offerings
b. Performances—including dietary and purification laws
To accurately describe the law of Moses, we would have to say that it contained the basic part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was never intended to be something apart, separated, or even lower than the gospel of Christ. It was simply to help the people in their focus and understanding.(The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Old Testament, 20.) Ed Brandt
Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “On this occasion I had sought the Lord, … and that night I received a wonderful manifestation and impression which has never left me. I was carried to this place [the Salt Lake Temple]—into this room. … I was told there was another privilege that was to be mine; and I was led into a room where I was informed I was to meet someone. As I entered the room I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being I have ever conceived of, and was taken forward to be introduced to Him. As I approached He smiled, called my name, and stretched out His hands toward me. If I live to be a million years old I shall never forget that smile. He put His arms around me and kissed me, as He took me into His bosom, and He blessed me until my whole being was thrilled. As He finished I fell at His feet, and there saw the marks of the nails; and as I kissed them, with deep joy swelling through my whole being, I felt that I was in heaven indeed. The feeling that came to my heart then was: Oh! if I could live worthy, though it would require four-score years, so that in the end when I have finished I could go into His presence and receive the feeling that I then had in His presence, I would give everything that I am and ever hope to be!" (Crusader for Righteousness [1966], 66)
"[The world] room depicts the world in which we live and die. Here instruction is given regarding man's second estate and the manner in which he may overcome the obstacles of mortality.
"The terrestrial room is symbolic of the peace that may be attained by men as they overcome their fallen condition through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
"The celestial room symbolizes the eternal joy and peace found in the presence of God. Something of the spirit of God's infinite promises to the obedient has been captured in the design of this beautiful room.” (https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/exodus-25-30-35-40-the-house-of-the-lord-in-the-wilderness?)
The book of Leviticus contains direct revelation from God through Moses to Israel. It was the priesthood handbook of that generation. This fact makes the book of great interest, for whenever God speaks to man He reveals Himself. Through the pages of Leviticus one can come to understand Him and His purpose better. The modern reader may feel the contents of the book are outdated, especially those that deal with blood sacrifice, yet all were designed, as Amulek said, to point to the infinite Atonement of Christ (see Alma 34:14).
As offerer, we see Him made under the law, standing our substitute, for us to fulfil all righteousness. As priest, we have Him presented as the mediator, God’s messenger between Himself and Israel. While as the offering He is seen the innocent victim, a sweet savour to God, yet bearing the sin and dying for it
“Priesthood authority comes through ordination, but priesthood power requires personal righteousness, faithfulness, obedience, and diligence. Even if we receive priesthood authority by the laying on of hands, we will have no priesthood power if we are disobedient, unworthy, or unwilling to serve.” (churchofjesuschrist.org/study/youth/learn/ap/priesthood-keys/worthiness?)
The cause of Leprosy was not discovered until 1873 by a Norwegian scientist named G.H Armauer Hansen. Until that time, most experts on the subject considered leprosy to be a hereditary disease. However, Hansen suspected its cause to be a specific, contagious agent and, with this in mind, set out to study individual leprosy patients. He decided to first look for variations in the blood of his patients. Finding nothing, he moved on to examine his patients skin cells. Here, he discovered a foreign bacterium not found in uninfected skin cells. After prolonged studies, these were found to be the cause of Leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease.
- Leprosy (tsara'at) was regarded as an impurity (Lev 13-14; Num 5:2).
- Highly dreaded in the ancient world.
- Physically and ceremonially regarded as unclean.
- Associated with death and people perceived it as a living death (Num 12:12; Job 18:13).
- People diagnosed with or suspected of leprosy were excluded from the community (Lev 13:45-46, Num 5:2-3).
- Contact with lepers had to be avoided and lepers had to warn others not to come close to them (Lev 13:45). http://www.soniahalliday.com/category-view3.php?pri=4-35A-71.jpg
“The leper in the story acted contrary to the instructions, stipulated in Leviticus 13-14, of how persons with such skin diseases should act. Being contagious and unclean persons, lepers were supposed to isolate themselves from others, demonstrate their impurity and warn people of their illness. They had to wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their faces and shout 'Unclean! Unclean!' (tame' we-tame’; Lev 13:45).” (Francois P. Viljoen,” Jesus healing the leper and the Purity Law in the Gospel of Matthew http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2305-08532014000200004
Social/emotional costs of being a leper:
- Isolation
- Loneliness
- Limited Community
- “Unclean”
- No synagogue, no temple.
נֶגַע negaʻ
- to touch
- to strike
- to reach, extend to
- to be stricken (with leprosy)
Isaiah 53:3-5
- Grief (Heb. chŏlîy) – anxiety; literally, "disease"; figuratively for all kinds of calamity.
- “hid . . . our faces” was an expression used for lepers. He was shunned him as a societal outcast.
- The Lord “suffereth the pains of all men; yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women and children, who belong to the family of Adam” (2 Nephi 9:21).
- “It should be noted that the word stricken (Heb. nâga) is used over sixty times in Lev. 13 and 14, always with the same meaning-that of suffering the emotional pain of having a plague or disease like leprosy. The common characteristic of leprosy seems to be decay and putrefaction, and thus leprosy is a type or a symbol of sin or the sinful man. What leprosy does to the body, sin does to the soul. Isaiah teaches that Christ has suffered the emotional pains of sin” (Miller, Isaiah, A Prophet’s Prophet, p. 393).
The Priest served as the official representative of the Lord, and he was authorized to cleanse the leper and bring him back into full fellowship
As the only living objects used in the ritual, the birds symbolized the candidate. Because of the two truths to be taught, two birds were required.
The first bird was killed by the shedding of its blood, signifying that the leper had to give up his life. The second bird, after being bound was released. This signified that the man had been freed from the bondage of sin.
The wood from cedar trees is still used today because of it ability to preserve surrounding objects from decay and corruption. So the cedar tree symbolized preservation from decay.
The word scarlet really meant a piece of wool dyed a bright red. Red reminds us of blood, which is the symbol of life and also of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Though we are not sure exactly why we do know that in the Old Testament times the herb hyssop carried with it the symbolism of purification.
The blood of the bird was mixed with the water. Blood and water are symbols of birth both physical and spiritual.
"The Day of Atonement, which took place in the fall of the year, was the most sacred and solemn of all the Israelite festivals. In it we most clearly see the typology or symbolism of Christ's work for Israel. It was a day of national fasting and one that signified that the sins of Israel had been atoned for and that the nation and its people were restored to a state of fellowship with God. The feast included the following major items (see Leviticus 16 where the details are given):
"1. The high priest had to go through meticulous preparation to be worthy to act as the officiator for the rest of the house of Israel. This included sacrifices for himself and his house, as well as washing and purification through the sprinkling of sacrificial blood on various objects in the tabernacle.
"2. The high priest put off the official robes he normally wore and clothed himself in simple, white linen garments. (See Revelation 19:8 for the significance of white linen garments.)
"3. Two goats were chosen by lot. One was designated as the goat of the Lord, and one was designated as the scapegoat, or in Hebrew, the goat of Azazel. The goat of Jehovah was offered as a sin offering, and the high priest took its blood into the holy of holies of the tabernacle and sprinkled it on the lid of the ark of the covenant (called the 'mercy seat'), thus making atonement for the sins of Israel.
"4. The other goat, Azazel, was brought before the high priest, who laid his hands upon its head and symbolically transferred all of the sins of Israel to it. Then it was taken out into the wilderness and released where it would never be seen again. One commentator explained the significance of Azazel by saying that it represented 'the devil himself, the head of the fallen angels, who was afterwards called Satan; for no subordinate evil spirit could have been placed in antithesis to Jehovah as Azazel is here, but only the ruler or head of the kingdom of demons.’” (C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, bk. 1: The Pentateuch, 'The Third Book of Moses,' 10 bks. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d., p. 398.)
Teaching Thoughts:
- What was the purpose of the tabernacle?
- Handouts of tabernacle for students to write down what the symbolism means, and how it applies to us today.
- What does the process of progressing toward the Holy of Holies teach about your progress to the Celestial kingdom?
- Exodus 40:34 – If we are obedient, then the presence of God will be with us.
- How can ‘our sorrows’ and our ‘griefs’ help us to reach out today to someone else who is ‘stricken?’