YOUTH STS LESSON 133_ CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOOD
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 14:1-29
MEMORY VERSE: “Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing” (Deuteronomy 14:3).
In our text, the children of Israel were referred to as peculiar people who were to eat clean animals only. They were forbidden by God to eat anything unclean. Critical observation of God’s commandment on clean and unclean foods shows that it is based on hygiene. Therefore, Christian youths must maintain good hygienic conditions in the preparation of their food (Deuteronomy 23:13, 14; Acts 27:33- 37). Today’s study highlights God’s demand from Christian youths in all areas of life.
GOD’S DEMAND FROM HIS PECULIAR PEOPLE (Deuteronomy 14:1,2; Exodus 19:3-8;
Deuteronomy 4:20; 7:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9)
“Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead” (Deuteronomy 14:1). God commanded the children of Israel not to make marks on themselves. They were not expected to cut themselves or make any baldness between their eyes for the dead. As Christian youths, our body belongs to God. We are not allowed to place incisions or any mark on our body for any reason. Tattoos and painting On the body should also be forbidden. We should offer our body wholly as a living sacrifice to Him. All those who are saved through grace by faith belong to God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (John 1:12; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17). “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 14:2). God describes the children of Israel as a holy, chosen and peculiar people who totally belong to Him. The New Testament also describes Christian youths as lively stones, a holy priesthood, chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation and a peculiar people. What a wonderful privilege we have in Christ. Therefore, redeemed youths should not act, behave or live like godless youths. A Christian is called to holy living and obedience to God. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him” (Psalm 4:3).
Question 1: How can a sinner be transformed to be a peculiar Christian youth?
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8). God’s love through the death of Christ has purchased forgiveness of sins for all who repent and believe in Christ. This transformation brings innumerable benefits into our lives.
Question 2: What are the benefits of being a peculiar youth?
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:” (Exodus 19:5). Some of the benefits include promotion, protection, preservation, power, etc. Would you like to be a peculiar child to the Lord?
GOD’S COMMAND AGAINST UNCLEANNESS (Deuteronomy 14:3-21; Acts 10:9-16; 1 Timothy 4:1-8; 1 Corinthians 8:8)
“Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat” (Deuteronomy 14:3,4). The Lord gave a specific instruction and command to the children of Israel. From verses 4-6,9-11, He gave a list of animals that are clean and can be eaten. Also, in verses 7,8,10,12 and 21, He gave a list of animals that are unclean and cannot be eaten. The primary interpretation to the children of Israel, was to obey all that the Lord commanded in this chapter. “But of all clean fowls ye may eat. Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk” (Deuteronomy 14:20,21). The children of Israel were commanded to eat clean animals while unclean animals cannot be eaten because they were “holy people unto the LORD”. Christian youths should know that God is interested in their health. He wants them to be hygienic. However, we should know that eating unclean or clean animals today does not recommend us to God for salvation in Christ by faith.
Question 3: What are the things that can make a youth unclean or defiled before God?
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:20- 23). Christian youths should beware of things they watch on social media and television, books they read and story they listen to that can corrupt their minds. Generally, sins and evils are things that can make a youth unclean or defiled (Mark 7:18, 19). Christian youths are not called to uncleanness but to holiness of life (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
Question 4: How can we be cleansed and be righteous before God?
To be cleansed from uncleanness without and within is the responsibility of God, but humans have their part to play. Every youth must make himself available for God to perform the work of grace. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). The cleansing is through the blood of Christ by faith. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7,9). After the initial cleansing, we should maintain the grace by doing the following practical things:
(i) stay away from all uncleanness (2 Timothy 2:19).
(ii) Flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).
(iii) Keep yourself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
(iv) Believe God that He is able to preserve you from evils (1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24; Romans 1:17).
(v) Seek the Lord for a second work of grace (sanctification) in your heart and life (Isaiah 6:5-7; Psalm 51:10).
(vi) Learn to live in righteousness through grace daily (Isaiah 1:16,17; Titus 2:11,12).
(vii) Live in the fear of God daily
(viii) Read and meditate on the word of God (John 15:3).
(ix) Pray daily for spiritual strength to overcome temptation (1 Peter 5:10,11; Colossians 4:12).
(x) Preach the gospel. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
GOD’S DIRECTIVE ON GIVING (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Malachi 3:8-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; 8:1-5; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:1; Luke 6:38)
“Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year” (Deuteronomy 14:22). The love of God is not passive but active. As He blesses His people, He also expects them to respond by giving to Him. Here, the Lord commanded the children of Israel to pay their tithes every year.
Question 5: What is tithe?
“And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee” (Genesis 28:22). Tithe is ten percent of our gross income or gift. As students, we are not to pay tithe on money given to buy textbooks or to pay school fees but on monetary gift and wages. Furthermore, God, specifically, commanded that their tithes should be paid where He was to choose. We are to pay our tithes where we receive spiritual food. For our giving to be acceptable, we must have a good relationship with God.
Question 6: What should we give to God first before our tithes will be acceptable?
“And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Giving to God with a sinful heart and mind makes the gift unacceptable. Therefore, we must first give our hearts to God in repentance before our gift can be acceptable to Him. “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). Also, we must give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6,7). Apart from giving to God, we should also give to the needy with a pure mind (Galatians 6:7- 10). The more we give to God, the more we are blessed of Him. From now, develop a gracious habit of paying your tithe and giving to the needy. “…That thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always” (verse 23). The purpose of receiving the teachings of the word of God is for us to learn to fear the Lord always. The evidence of fearing God is when we steer clear from evils and sins. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil”. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7; 16:6). Do you have the fear of God?
“And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee” (Deuteronomy 14:27). The Levites were ministers of God like the priests.
They were not to possess any inheritance in Israel. Therefore, they were not to be forsaken by the Israelites. As the priests were to be taken care of by them, so were the Levites (Numbers 5:10; 18:12). Unfortunately, Israel forgot the commandment of the Lord years after and forsook them. Consequently, the Levites left their duties in the temple (Nehemiah 13:5,10,11). However, New
Testament ministers should not make themselves burdensome on the people (2 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8). The result of obeying the commandment of God is “that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest” (verse 29). The call to serve God is not without His blessings. The Scripture says: “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isaiah 51:1,2). No one ever serves God in vain (Isaiah 45:19). He rewards faithfulness. This is the time to serve Him faithfully and sacrificially.