Numbers 31:10
“And you, camp outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves, you and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.”
Due to their involvment in battle, they had to purify themselves. This wasn’t because of any sin. God commanded them to go to war. It was part of the process.
We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Our sins have been forgiven. However, we get dirty as we go throughout this life. Jesus said this in John 13:10: “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
What soils us? Our exposure to sin. 2 Peter 2:8 says, “(for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds.” Sin tempts and grieves us. We need to be cleansed.
Our culture also has a corrupting influence. Jesus said in Mark 8:15, beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of Herod. The pharisees corrupted through religion, while Herod brought corruption through worldly views and philosophy. The worldly culture isn’t always bad, but certainly can be. When it parts from our faith, we avoid it.
How are we to be cleansed? Ephesians 5:26 says we are “washed by the water of the Word.” The bible cleanses us. It corrects any error we may have picked up. It also cleanses us. I will often feel it. I feel I’ve been laundered after spending time with God while reading the bible.
The above passage was referrencing Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. God does the original cleansing. As we read His word, He does it again. But Jesus wants us to wash one another’s feet. So, fellowhip cleanses as well. Jonathon was a great help to David. Our godly friendships have a cleansing affect.
Lord, thank You for this cleansing. Help us to continually stay in Your word and in fellowship.