RPG Adults
UNCLEAN vs CLEAN
FRIDAY, MAY 10
Leviticus 11
Ezra 10:10-12
“For I am the LORD that bringeth
you up out of the land of Egypt,
to be your God…”
UNCLEAN vs CLEAN
It is taught by some Christians that the people of Israel in the Old Testament were not permitted to touch unclean animals. This is a wrong teaching. If this was true then the Lord Jesus Christ ought not to have sat on a colt in His final entry into Jerusalem. The correct teaching is clean people ate clean food. To eat unclean food meant to touch unclean dead animals, birds or fish because they had to kill these unclean animals before cooking them. The uncleanness occurred when God’s people touched the unclean dead animals. If the unclean animal was alive like a pig, an eagle or an ass, and the Israelites touched it, he did not become unclean. The main issue was one of death! The death of a clean animal was acceptable to the LORD; otherwise, the Israelites would not be able to eat anything other than vegetables.
The LORD decided what constituted uncleanness for all the beasts, birds, and fish. No reason was given other than the fact that the LORD declared it to be so and it was so. The Israelites were commanded by God to keep these dietary laws for the protection of their holiness because they were a holy people unto the LORD. The LORD is holy and His people had to reflect the God they represented and be holy! Leviticus 11:45: “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Holiness was the key to Israel’s witness. That is why when we read of Israel’s marriages to Gentiles and alliances made with Gentile kings, the dietary laws were compromised. The holiness of Israel was compromised when these dietary laws were broken. The doctrine of biblical separation was represented by these dietary laws. It is the first and most important line of defence in every believer’s life. This is also the first doctrine to be broken as well when sin enters.
Christians today need to be reminded, through the dietary laws, of the importance of keeping themselves holy unto Christ. Compromise has destroyed many holy witnesses and condemned many sinners.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 11:44
PRAYER: Keep me holy unto Thyself, O Father Most High, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.