A good dictionary definition of pure would be “conforming absolutely to a standard of quality; faultless.” When something is said to be pure, it is understood to be unmixed, unadulterated, uncontaminated, or undefiled by anything foreign to itself. Depending on the context in which pure is used, it can take on such meanings as clear, true, perfect, spotless, untainted, impeccable, moral, honorable, ethical, guiltless, flawless, and many more.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. (Matthew 5.8, NLT)

John W. Ritenbaugh, Forerunner, “Personal,” June 1999 wrote:

In much of the Old Testament, purity by means of various rituals is generally presented as an adjunct of the sacrificial system. By this means holiness was established and protected within the Israelite communities. In His inspired Word, God Himself makes the distinctions between what is pure and impure. However, in the Psalms and the Prophets, as time advances toward the arrival of Jesus Christ, the standards for purity before God shift from merely ceremonial actions to moral conduct. By about 1000 BC, David understood this. He writes in Psalm 51:16-17: “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise.”

This does not mean the various washings to attain a ritual purity were useless either to the ancient Israelites or to us under the New Covenant. Purity is closely associated with God’s election of His people, for by His grace He confers purity to them. However, the various washings teach that life, unless religiously maintained, is ever gravitating, ever slipping, toward impurity. Vigilance is the watchword regarding defilement.

The rituals teach that purity is achieved and maintained by effort and attention. Like dust and dirty dishes, uncleanness requires regular action and maintenance. Familiarity with the laws of uncleanness shows that defilement is readily communicable in a way that holiness is not. Uncleanness is so easily communicated that one can become unclean by unintentionally coming in contact with a corpse or a person with an infectious disease.

Haggai 2:11-14 illustrates the impossibility of holiness being transferred from one to another, and by contrast, how eaisly defilement is transmitted:

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, ‘If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?’” Then the priests answered and saic, “No.” and Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” Then Haggai haswered and said, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every workd of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’”

The sanctity of something or someone dedicated to God cannto be transferred merely by contact with another. However, the defilement of an unclean thing transfers easily to the clean, defiling it.

Washing is the primary means of ceremonial purity. From these biblical examples, John Wesley’s well-known comment, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” arose. He realized that cleanliness is somehow related to what God is like and that personal hygiene has a spiritual dimension. Indeed, the very first mention of washing in Scripture is when Abraham’s hospitality to his three visitors includes providing water to wash their feet (Genesis 18:4). This symbol of hospitality and servanthood reaches its zenith when Jesus includes it as part of the New Covenant Passover ritual.

(To be continued)

Sunday was supposed to be rainy and it was, later in the day. However the crystalline spring morning allowed for my walk. I trudged along for the first half of it wondering why I even bothered and wishing I had at least brought along my MP3 player or even a Moleskine and pen in my pocket. But, no. This was the business of walking.

Trudge, trudge, trudge. Maybe I should have driven to the park and then walked around there. A ludicrous idea: if one needs to walk (for all kinds of reason not the least of which is to get fresh air on one’s skin), then walk it is.

As I passed the house where the crazy dog lives, there was a bird singing so loudly, I was compelled to stop and look up, trying to spot him. I had no idea what bird could trill such a tune. Clever fellow - he was completely camouflaged. But he snapped me out of my trudge-trudge attitude.

I don’t even remember the hill, going up it, then down, then having to come back and doing it in the reverse sequence. Usually, it’s a bear.

Back home, whistling now (rarely done - like chewing gum in public, ladies don’t whistle, I was taught), I glanced at the clock. Still early. I opened the sliding doors to let in the fresh air and the neighborhood’s Sunday sounds. And I began the cleaning I’ve envisioned for weeks. Cupboard by cupboard, drawer by drawer. That kind of cleaning.

And then it began. The sneezing and wheezing. I grabbed Kleenex and kept going. By the time HM came downstairs for his coffee, my eyes had taken on the scary proportions of something out of a bad horror movie.

“Take something?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Nah.”

He closed the doors and turned on the a/c. Finally, my nose stopped jangling and the sneezing subsided. My eyes however, no. They were permanently puffed, I knew it, a look I’d have to adapt to.

I now regarded the outdoors as the enemy.  I stood looking out the window with the big dog. He wagged his tail, seeing a squirrel. I sighed. Lucky I got my walk in. 

Later, it rained. The sky stayed dark. We had to shop. I dug out my celebrity sunglasses.

“I’m ready,” I announced. HM smiled. “Doing the MaryKate and Ashley thing?” As we got in the car, I noticed the pollen, a thick yellow dust all over both cars and the driveway. When did that happen? How had I not noticed on my early morning walk?

I’ll walk tomorrow even if I have to wear a mask. OK, maybe not a mask but at least having popped a Claritin. I’ll bet that bird is still singing in the big tree at the crazy dog’s house.

Acredite.

http://www.matthewmahon.com/