ADULT STS LESSON 133 CLEAN AN UNCLEAN FOOD
MEMORY VERSE: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing” (Deuteronomy 14:2,3).
TEXT: Deuteronomy 14:1-29
God, in His dealings with His covenant people, had prescribed laws to regulate the pattern of their living and the conduct of their religious and social affairs. The essence of such instituted laws was to set the nation of Israel apart as His peculiar people for His glory, honour and blessings. “Ye are the children of the LORD your God… For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:1,2). This lesson, which is essentially a repetition of the law concerning clean and unclean animals or food (Leviticus 11:1-47), prohibits the children of Israel from the practice of heathen rites of mourning their dead. By this divine enactment, they were to regard certain animals as clean and others as unclean. They were forbidden to eat the unclean animals, but were permitted to eat freely of all the clean ones. Besides, land as their yearly tithes and a token of their implicit they were required to give a part of the produce of the devotion to God. Also, they were mandated, every third year, to gather their tithes for the maintenance of their religious feast, the Levites, the poor, the strangers, the fatherless and widows within their gates. These laws were basically designed for the good of God’s people to enhance their health, peace, progress and sustenance. Therefore, they are to be obeyed without reservation. Obedience to God’s laws brings great blessings; disobedience to divine injunctions will be harmful to our physical and spiritual wellbeing.
PROHIBITION OF UNGODLY MOURNING RITES (Deuteronomy 14:1,2; Leviticus 19:27,28; 21:5; Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9; Romans 9:4; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2:9)
The delivery of God’s laws by Moses to the children of Israel was founded upon the principle of divine ownership in which he expressed their peculiarity as God’s chosen and honoured people. “Ye are the children of the LORD your God… For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” By virtue of their unique relationship with the Lord, they were under great obligation to honour and obey Him. The relationship of Israel to the Lord was the most important factor in their national life because without Him, they would be like all the other nations. Their peculiarity and privileges were hinged on three distinct perspectives:
one, they were adopted: “Ye are the children of the LORD your God” (verse 1). This underscores the fact that they were chosen by Him as “a people near unto him” than any other group of people.
Two, they were elected or chosen: “the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself” (verse 2). He chose them to be a peculiar people to Him above the other nations by virtue of their covenant relationship with Him.
Three, they were sanctified or set apart: “thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God” (verse 2), a people separated and devoted to His service, designed for His praise and governed by His holy law. For these reasons, they were, therefore, required to distinguish themselves from other nations around them by refraining from the practices of the heathen nations with regard to mourning the dead. “Ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead” (Deuteronomy 14:1). It was the custom among the Canaanites to cut their flesh to demonstrate sincerity in worship and earnestness in prayer to their gods (1 Kings 18:28). The mutilation of their bodies was also done for the dead (Leviticus 19:28; 21:5). However, Israel was forbidden from emulating such heathen practices. Believers are enjoined not to engage in unbridled grief, sorrow or mourning for the loss of fellow saints, as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). we are warned not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1,2).
As a peculiar people, we should separate ourselves from the defilement of the world, cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
PRESCRIPTION ON CLEAN AND UNCLEAN MEAT AND FOOD (Deuteronomy 14:3-21; Leviticus 11:2-44; 20:25,26; 22:8; Judges 13:4,14)
God instituted dietary laws by which the animals were classified into two categories: clean and unclean. Each group of animals had its distinctive features that made them either clean or unclean. Three categories of animals were listed:
one, the land animals, which include four-footed ruminants as well as crawling animals, such as reptiles, mouse, snail and moles.
Two, aquatic or water creatures such as fish (verse 9).
Three, flying animals such as birds and insects (verse 13).
For a four-footed land animal to be regarded as clean, it must both chew the cud and part the hoof. That means it must be a ruminant and also have its hoof divided. An animal in this group would be regarded as unclean if it has either of these features without the other, or if it has neither of them. The aquatic creatures must have both fins and scales before they could be regarded as clean. In the case of flying creatures, God mentioned some specific ones that must not be eaten. These were mostly scavengers and carnivorous birds. The eagle, hawk and kite are predators; the vulture is a carrion eater. Some prohibited birds have wings but do not fly. Others, like the owl, pelican, ravens and cormorant are solitary and live in dark places (Isaiah 34:11).
We can explain the law of clean and unclean animals in at least two ways, namely: on the basis of health or hygiene and spiritual principles. Certain kinds of food are most suitable in some climates. In addition, diet may be determined by race, occupation or environment. Therefore, God knowing what was good or detrimental for His people gave these laws. Some animals, which He forbade to be eaten are known for their dirty habits. The swine, for instance, is associated with wallowing in the mire, which makes it to carry some disease-causing organisms. Also, its meat is very fatty. As at the time God gave these laws to Israel, sanitation was still poor in most nations and diseases could easily spread from poor handling of these animals.
Secondly, the law was intended to teach some important spiritual principles.
One, the principle of holiness (Leviticus 11:43-45; 20:25,26; Deuteronomy 14:2,3): just as an animal could not pass as clean if it merely chewed the cud without parting the hoof, or in the case of fishes, if it had scales but no fins, a person cannot be considered clean before God unless he/she is made righteous and also practises righteousness. In simple terms, he must have the double marks of inward and outward purity.
Two, the principle of separation from the world (Daniel 1:8): God gave His people the law so as to mark them out from other nations who had no control over their appetites or diets.
Three, it was to teach them that God is interested in every aspect of their lives, and whatever they do must be to His glory and pleasure. Even in their eating, they were to be conscious of God’s presence and glory. However, the Old Testament law of clean and unclean animals is no longer binding on New Testament believers. This was made very clear to the disciples at the time of Christ’s earthly ministry and to Peter in a vision (Mark 7:14-23; Acts 10:916). However, the spiritual principles that the law teaches are still binding on all believers.
One, we must separate ourselves from every uncleanness, works of darkness, pollution of the flesh and of the spirit like immorality, idolatry, and pornography (2 Corinthians 7:1; 6:17,18; 2 Timothy 2:19).
Two, we are to be guided by love and discretion in the way we use our liberty on diet. A believer cannot eat just anything and everything. He must avoid things that are harmful and unwholesome. There are some meats or foods which are inseparably linked with idolatry in some localities. Others are connected with spiritism and divination. Apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Three, looking at the clean animals, we observe that they chewed the cud and parted the hoof. For believers, chewing the cud is a picture of meditation and digesting the word of God. But then, it was not enough to chew the cud; a clean animal must also part the hoof.
That means that the word of God we hear must affect our walk, guide our feet and affect our lifestyle in general.
Finally, believers are the salt and light of the world. As such, we are to avoid all kinds of evil which those animals signify. We must avoid the cruelty and barbarity of predatory birds, the morose and solitary lifestyle of the raven, the love of darkness by the owl, love for uncleanness as seen in the swine, and the hypocrisy and double life exemplified by the bat. The marked distinction between the Israelites and the strangers is strikingly presented in verse 21: “Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself… for thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God…” God’s people must carefully avoid everything contrary to nature. And, “Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk” (verse 21). God’s word gives prominence to what is according to nature or what is comely. He never leads us against it.
PRECEPTS AND REGULATIONS ON TITHING (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Malachi 3:8-12; Leviticus 27:30- 33; Numbers 18:21-30; Deuteronomy 26:1-15)
“Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always” (Deuteronomy 14:22,23). Here, we find some practical instructions concerning tithing and works of charity or mercy. The children of Israel were directed on how to dispense of it in works of piety and charity. Every third year, they were to: “…lay it up within thy gates” to be given to the poor, “the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates…”.
The import of this practice of tithing to the people of Israel is that both they and their land belong to God. They held the land only as tenants or caretakers under Him. They were called to bear testimony to this truth through tithing faithfully. It was a grateful acknowledgment of God’s ownership and benevolence. Likewise, believers should remember that all that they have belong to God. A true child of God should not forget, delay, defer or totally neglect to pay his or her tithes. This would amount to deliberate disobedience and robbery, which attract divine punishment (Malachi 3:8- 12). This practice also teaches that besides our normal tithes, we should also be ready to give of our resources to support the work of the Lord. Moreover, we should not neglect works of charity, whether in the church or outside it. Connected to the instruction on tithing was periodic gathering in the place where Jehovah chose “to place his name”. This was a privilege for all Israelites. This teaches that God attaches great importance to the periodic gatherings of His people. He delights to see His beloved in His presence.
In the face of multiplicity of worship centres today, the simple identifying mark of God’s place is where His word is preached without fear or favour; where righteousness is practised and holiness is their watchword. True worshippers are to assemble where God has chosen to make His word and presence known. They are exhorted to regularly assemble together with others in fellowship and worship (Hebrews 10:24,25; Acts 2:42- 47; Psalm 122:1). Moreover, they must endeavour to make their fellowship and worship a refreshing and edifying one where frivolity and light-heartedness are eschewed.
Questions for review:
- Give reasons God prescribed laws to regulate the life of His people.
- To what extent should believers mourn their departed ones?
- On what grounds can we explain or apply the law of clean and unclean animals?
- Is the law concerning clean and unclean food still binding on New Testament believers today? Give reasons.
- What major principles can believers draw from the law of clean and unclean animals?
- Why must believers pay their tithes?
- How can we identify the place God has chosen for true worship?
