Is it really important that we follows God's Laws? What about Menstruation?

Question

What the Bible says about Menstruation
Leviticus 15:19-30
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.

Leviticus 20:18
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Ezekiel 18:5-6
But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and hath not ... come near to a menstruous woman.....

Answer 1

I'm unclean for 7 more days? What's the downside, people should be wearing clean clothes anyway.

Answer 2

we have pads and tampons now so it is all good! not to mention we have showers and baths which are not in the same place we get our drinking water.
but yes back then could you imagine how messy your period would be? Not to mention the disease if you bathed in the drinking water and what not yuck! There certainly was a Good reason that rule was put into place at that time. :) the Old Testament practices were said to be given as "a perpetual covenant" and a sign between God and Israel forever (Exodus 31:16-17). Many of these Old Testament ordinances and observances were changed in the original Church of Jesus Christ - not by men, but by revelation from God. Further examples include circumcision, which was said to be "an everlasting covenant" in Genesis 17:13, yet this commandment was later changed, making circumcision of no importance at all (1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 5:6). The change was made through revelation to living apostles and prophets.

Answer 3

These laws were among the ones Jehovah gave to the Israelites. His laws governed everything they did, even to the point of Israelite parents being expected to put an errant child who would not change to death themselves.( Exodus 21:17) Should we do THAT today, too? Jesus brought the law of love, and he did away with all the other laws (Matthew 22:37-40) By law, when the woman who had had " a flow of blood" for twelve long years touched Jesus, he should have been considered unclean, and required to be considered that way until evening. He probably could have had her punished for such...but he did not. Instead he comforts her, telling her her faith has made her well... a perfect example of the law of love.(Matthew 9:18-22) We are no longer bound to the Law Coverent, thanks to Christ Jesus and His sacrifice!

Answer 4

It is important to attempt to follow God's laws, but as for this bit of the law, it is one of the traditions and laws that Jesus' death replaced. Why is there any need to go to such lengths to avoid being sinful (by breaking the law above that implies that women are unclean at that time) when Jesus' death made that time of month clean?

Really, that, like the kosher diet, is a tradition more than anything.

When Jesus perfected the law, he made it easier to understand. Instead of having hundreds of laws to try and remember, there were the big 11 and then other specific things that could be referenced using the Bible.

Answer 5

I always thought it might have been because there were no Tampons and it would be better to keep the mess all in one place. However, the thoughts about separating women who were PMSing are good. It would also give them a little break once a month. I wonder if anyone ever went into the hut just to get away for a while?

Answer 6

I was just a little concerned about how it says by law I am supposed to be sacrificing goats and rams and all that sort of thing and tossing them onto a fire. I think I would have a big problem with the town if I started doing that sort of thing and I don't think it would go over too well with the neighbors... but it's supposed to be the law so what can you do? Sort of caught between a rock and a hard place on this.

Answer 7

Looks like you are using the KJV. Much of the translation here is laden with emotionally charged words that aren't quite what the original is saying.

Keep in mind that for theHebrews, blood was reverenced as the source of life. The "fountain" of blood refers to the source of life itself, understanding that women in some mysterious way, carry within them the creative power of life itself.

"Uncleaness" here does not mean dirtiness. The word toevah refers to ritual impurity, that is for reasons we do not understand in our culture, to have contact with the flow of the life source was not to take place within the ritual, worship space of the community. The word translated sickness in the KJV actually means weakness, or can simply mean "menstrual" but it suggests that behind all these prohibitions that seem to be against women there might also be an idea of protecting them.

Feminist Bible scholars have looked at this issue and have forumated a number of different understanings on this and otehr difficult translations. Keep in mind that for centuries, Bible translators have been men, who have not possessed an intimate understanding of the female body and its mysteries. Women bible scholars now are able to look at traditional translations with fresh eyes and see things that men have missed or misunderstood.

Answer 8

procreation not recreation.... does the 7 days coincide w/ ovulation? Who knows how things were back then. Maybe the pagans living around the jews at that time were unhygienic. Maybe things needed to be spelled out for these people. If you really put a little thought into it, there are many diseases transmitted through blood and bodily fluids. Aids for one. Maybe for some reason this was merited back then.
I'm done thinking about it, ewwww.

Answer 9

That old testament law was pointing to the blood sacrifice that Jesus would make on our behalf. It's no longer applicable.

It falls into this category...

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Answer 10

It is important that we follow God's laws. However, you have to remember that many things written in the bible were for the ppl of that time period. Infection was the main killer back then. I believe these revelations were written for them at that time to prevent the spread of disease and infection. There was no monistat or diflucan back then. No pamprin to help with pms symptoms. Some native americans had a similar custom. They had a hut just for women with their periods. This prevented alot of strife from mood swings in the clan. God in his wisdom had these things written to keep the ppl of that time healthier. Some things written in the bible need not be enforced in our lives today. Like the forbidding of women wearing braids.....that was written because at that time, only prostitutes wore braids. Or the passage against piercings, there again, infection. You have to study and learn what was meant for the time and what was meant for all that followed. Hope this helps!

Answer 11

Since, there’s no Scripture condemning the act of masturbation as a sin, it stands to reason that it’s an act which has the potential to be honoring to God and is in accord with the fact that the Holy Spirit lives in the believer. Solitary masturbation is not an act which harms the individual’s body, nor does it involve the joining of one body and spirit to another as is the case with sexual intercourse. Through the releasing of sexual tensions, it can act as a barrier to seeking release through immoral outlets. A part of honoring God with our bodies is doing whatever’s necessary to keep our bodies under control.
In the area of sexuality, masturbation can be an effective way of doing so.