What can we possibly learn from this strange ceremony, this test for adultery that we find in Leviticus 5?  Well, what can we learn from any of the ceremonial parts of the Law of Moses?  All of them, in one way or another, teach us about the nature of sin and the way that only the sacrifice of Christ can atone for it.  So, even though these ceremonies don’t have to be followed anymore, it is still helpful for Christians to study them today.

And the very existence of this ceremony tells us something very important – adultery is a very big deal.  In fact, the mere suspicion of adultery strikes at the very core of marriage, which is, after all, the pursuit of oneness based on mutual trust and love.  This ceremony thus shows that suspicion and jealousy in a marriage cannot be allowed to fester, but must be confronted in some way.

But the ceremony also proves that sometimes a jealous couple needs outside help in order to save their marriage.  Specifically, they need a divine perspective on things.  And all the details of this ceremony attempt to provide that.

We can’t be sure of all the symbolism, but some of it seems clear enough.  The offering the woman brings is barley – the least expensive of cereals.  It is accompanied by no oil, which symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  It comes with no incense which, when burned, symbolizes the prayers of God’s people.  In short, the offering indicates that the sin of which she is accused is as common as it is godless (Numbers 5:15).

The woman has to take an oath that she has not, in fact, committed adultery (Numbers 5:19-22).  This indicates that part of the answer to the deception that lies at the heart of adultery is a clear statement of the truth.  But this oath is accompanied by drinking water that has two special components, thus indicating some important ideas that need to be internalized for that oath to be meaningful.

The first ingredient is the dust from the floor of the Tabernacle (Numbers 5:17).  This points in two directions.  The first reminds us of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who had to eat dust as a consequence of his sin (Genesis 3:14).  The dust thus removes any Romantic notions about adultery and strips it to its essence – an act that springs from the lies of Satan and thus an act that deserves the death penalty (Leviticus 20:10). 

But at the same time, the fact that this dust comes from the floor of the Tabernacle should give us hope.  For the Tabernacle itself represents the presence of Christ with us – the light of the world, the bread of Heaven, the One Whose sacrifice brings forgiveness of all the sins of all His people.  Any discussion of adultery must not treat it as an unforgiveable sin, but one that is covered by the blood of Christ.  Thus, if Christ can forgive such unfaithfulness, a husband should be able to do the same thing.

The second ingredient in the drink bears a slightly different meaning.  The priest writes down the words of the oath in a book, and washes them off into the water (Leviticus 5:23).  The woman must thus not only speak the words, but internalize them, believing them with all her heart.  She must take as seriously as possible the part of the Word of God that relates to her situation.

And internalizing the Word of God continues to be an essential part of any marriage, regardless of its condition.  Unless a couple bases their expectations for their relationship on the Word of God, disappointment and jealousy are bound to intrude. 

So, when we put it all together, the answer to jealous suspicion is for both husband and wife to be open and honest with one another, to go back to God’s Word, to recognize and confess their mutual sins that brought them to such a painful point, to claim the forgiveness each of them is offered in Christ, and to reaffirm their fidelity to one another, moving forward with humble faith in God and with patient, understanding love for one another.  Yes, it seems we can learn a lot from the Law of Moses after all.

Numbers 5:11-15 (ESV)

¹¹ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ¹² “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man’s wife goes astray and breaks faith with him, ¹³ if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act, ¹⁴ and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, ¹⁵ then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.”