Cuts שָׂרֶ֫טֶת

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today with both the verb and noun forms. שָׂרַט inflict a wound on oneself; injure oneself grievously, incise, scratch, be lacerated, make incisions, tattoo. This is the verb. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. The other passage it is used in the Old Testament besides our chapter has both of the other uses in it. Zechariah 12:2-3 Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it שָׂר֣וֹט יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּ [our word is used twice as the verb first as an infinitive then as a passive tense so literally to injure will be injured. Using the word twice shows emphasis] will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. Then the noun form of our word is שָׂרֶ֫טֶת individual cuts, incisions. It is used just this one time in the Old Testament in our chapter. Leviticus 21:1, 4-6 And the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people … He shall not make himself unclean as a husband among his people and so profane himself. They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor יִשְׂרְט֖וּ שָׂרָֽטֶת [our same root word is used twice first the verb form then the noun so literally cut cuts] make any cuts on their body. They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. There was only one high priest, but since his sons served with him, they were also ordained and required to meet the qualifications given by the Lord. Other Israelites in the camp could plan weddings and funerals pretty much as they pleased, but God told the priests how to express their grief. During Bible times, expressing grief was an art form practiced by people who were specialists in mourning (Gen. 50:7–11; 2 Chron. 35:25; Mark 5:38). While God expected the priests to show sorrow at the death of a loved one, He also expected them to act like the servants of God. The Lord even regulated the manner of their grief as we see in our chapter. These forbidden practices were the customs of the pagan peoples around Israel, and God’s people aren’t supposed to “grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Even in our grief, we must seek to glorify God. Any priest who shaved his head and his beard and who cut his body was acting like the heathen and thereby profaning God’s name and defiling God’s altar. A good example of this was when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. These pagans did these things to get their gods attention. 1 Kings18:28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. A priest who acted like his pagan neighbors would encourage God’s people to disobey God’s law and follow his bad example. It was indeed a privilege for him to know God and serve at God’s altar. To disobey God would mean dishonoring God’s name and defiling God’s altar and sacrifices. Whenever we are called by God to sacrifice for his kingdom work it is important that we focus on the privileges of ministry and not on the burdens and sacrifices. Jesus Christ is not a hard taskmaster. No priest should have complained because of these restrictions. After all, he was serving the Lord and the Lord’s people, a privilege well worth any sacrifices he might have to make. I’ll close with these great passages. The first reminds that following Jesus is not burdensome and the second one reminds us all regardless if we are in leadership or not that being in Christ involves sacrificing. But that sacrifice comes from a grateful response to God’s mercy on us. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Romans 12:1-3 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.