DAILY MANNA
THURSDAY 30TH APRIL, 2020
PROPER HYGIENETEXT: LEVITICUS 15:1-18
KEY VERSE: “And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even” (LEVITICUS 15:11).
In 1818, Ignaz Philip Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of _"childbed fever."_ A doctor's daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there, he made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to wash his hands.
Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution; and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184. He once said: "Gentlemen, women are dying... For God's sake, wash your hands." But no one believed him then.
The book of Leviticus is replete with teachings on separation and cleansing. It teaches about clean and unclean food, and the need to wash for cleanliness' sake. In the passage under review, focus is on the uncleanness of man, and the need to separate others from his uncleanness both for spiritual reasons and for proper hygiene. The instruction is to wash the hands and clothes, and to bathe in water to keep the germs and bacteria away.
The priests in the Old Testament dealt with matters of health together with the mandatory ceremonies and rituals for cleansing from sin. The priests were required to wash repeatedly and bathe themselves in water before and after entering into the tabernacle and the temple to officiate.
Disease control and health education has become so compulsory today as part of prevention mechanisms. Prevention is said to be better than cure. Henceforth, let us ensure we maintain the highest forms of hygiene to prevent bacteria and disease from spreading in our homes and neighborhoods.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:The Bible’s standard on spiritual and physical cleanliness is for the benefit of man.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:JOSHUA 19-2
