Leviticus
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Leviticus Chapter 11
We do not always know the reason for why God allows certain foods and not others but we will study this and venture forth opinions but my opinions may or may not be correct on this subject. There are certain beasts that were considered clean and certain ones unclean. I do notice the animals that eat garbage or that eat other dead animals are never chosen as clean beasts. Examples of unclean beasts that eat garbage is the pig and hog. The vulture is an example of one that eats dead animals. Those that part the hoof and is cloven-footed were considered clean if they also chewed the cud. Chewing the cud is eating it, swallowing it but bringing it back up to chew it again making sure it is digested good and is more nutritious. This may be one reason that they are considered clean. There are some that take a spiritual meaning to this and compare receiving the word as taking it in one time and then bringing it back to our minds and chewing or thinking on it again and then accepting that word into our spirits. The word is food for our souls and should be digested and preserved in our minds so that a later time the Holy Spirit can bring to our memory the scriptures we need to know at a certain given time. This happens to me when I write bible studies. I will be writing my comments on verses and the Holy Spirit will bring to my mind another scripture in another place that will bear witness to the truth of the scriptures I'm writing about. Some preachers and teachers in public have had the Holy Spirit bring verses to their mind when they speak publically. I have been used that way on occasion when I'm talking to someone about the bible, but it happens to me the most when I'm writing rather than speaking. I can listen to the Holy Spirit more in a relaxed state where I'm not under pressure. I don't do well when I try to write in a hurry or under pressure either.
We see that there are exceptions to eating those beasts that chew the cud and that is if they chew the cud but do not have divided hoofs like the camel. They are unclean. We usually do not eat camels. There are some that eat the flesh of camels but it is not considered nourishing. God knows what He is doing if we trust Him.
The Coney may be an animal similar to the rabbit or hare. We see in verse 6 that the hare is forbidden also. It is thought by some that these laws also have another meaning. The Jews were not to mingle with nations that worshipped other gods other than the one true God. They were not to intermarry and be unequally yoked with heathen nations that did not walk in the truth. Christians also should never be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This is a wise law. We do have to remember however, that we need to share the gospel with unbelievers for that is a direct commandment of Jesus Christ. We should not however, be unequally yoked with them. We can work along side of them without being unequally yoked for instance but we can't marry them without being unequally yoked. To purposely go visit them by one's self and be among a crowd of unbelievers and try to share the gospel without being sent by the Holy Spirit specifically would also be considered unequally yoked. There are always exceptions when one accidently finds himself among a crowd of unbelievers. We can't limit God in any way but remember that Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs. I will also add however, that if one is sent by the Holy Spirit like Philip in the book of Acts, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was upon Him at that period in time, he would not be unqually yoked. Using wisdom and the leading of the spirit is always the best to deal with unbelievers. We are to share the gospel. We are to treat them fairly. We are never to hate them or think we are superior because we believe and they do not believe. We are what we are by the mercy and grace of God, not because we are better than someone else. They need to hear of this same grace and mercy. They need to find Christ as we have found Christ.
Many of us eat pork today although most of us reject the other unclean animals. We figure what God has cleansed, we can eat. God gave Peter a vision once to show him that as God called the Jews to hear the gospel, He also called the Gentiles to hear and receive the gospel. In this vision there were unclean animals and God told Peter to kill and eat. Peter of course refused saying the animals were of the unclean kind. God said that what He has cleansed, let no man call uncommon. In saying that though, there originally has to be a good reason for God to forbid the eating of pork. I don't believe that God was talking about literal animals in the book of Acts, but the Gentiles. Once God saves a Gentile who believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ, then they are just as clean as a Jew who has believed. This doesn't actually change the law concerning clean and unclean beasts but we must remember that since Jesus came we are no longer under the part of the law that concerned sacrifices, rituals, ceremonial cleansing and such. We still keep the moral laws through the power of the Holy Spirit and the law of love but the other part of the law is fulfilled in Christ. I know Christians though that do not eat pork for dietary reasons. They figure if God forbid it for the Jews there may have been a good reason and for that reason they do not eat pork. However, for salvation reasons it doesn't matter whether or not one eats pork. Still we should never criticize anyone for abstaining from any kind of meat or drink. They may not make anyone more saved, or more spiritual but it can make them healthier in many cases. Leave people alone to decide some things for themselves. For example if I said that one has to be born again by God's spirit which occurs when one believes in Jesus as the savior and Messiah, that would be true. If I added however, that they had to stop eating pork to be saved, that would be false. We can't lay that burden on anyone. Still if a believer decides he wants to keep some of those teachings in the law just because God gave them originally, that is ok as long as the person isn't trusting in those things for his salvation. Christ alone saves now that He became our sacrifice for our sins.
This makes sense because vultures are animals that eat dead things.
The thought of eating these animals kind of make me feel repulsed in a way so there has to be a good reason for God forbidding these things.
Certain animals make good pets and we wouldn't dream of eating them. I do not believe the unclean animals are as nourishing as the clean ones. They may live in a manner that causes them to eat gross stuff that we wouldn't want in our stomachs. These kind of laws show God's love to His people. Instead of seeing a God that wants to deprive people of good things, I see a God that shows love by forbidding things that would harm His people. He loves us and wants what is good for us, not bad. Since sin entered the world, some things are not really good for us. Some are polluted. He forbade the worship of idols and other gods because the spirit behind those idols and false gods were satanic and out for our destruction. Since the first commandment not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God made commandments to protect us and keep us safe, not harm us and keep us from fun.
This last verse 47 sums up all the rest of the verses and gives us an indication as to why God made the laws so stringent. To make the difference between the clean and the unclean. This surely has a spiritual significance. He is a holy God. In order for us to be able to approach our holy God we must be made clean. No amount of good deeds and good works can make us holy. We can only be made holy by coming by the
way of faith that God provided for our salvation. The soul that sins, shall die. Sin separates us from a holy, just God. We need cleansing and to be made holy.
What a beautiful thought when we consider God's love for mankind so much so that He provides a way to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, the very moment we receive His Son, Jesus the Christ.
Without holiness we will not see the Lord. We can only be made holy by repenting of sin and having faith in Jesus Christ to cleanse us from sin and reconcile us to God that sin was separating us from. We are then covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ and made holy. Our own righteousness no matter how good we try to be, can never be good enough. That is why the law points to the coming of a savior to cleanse us from sin and through the giving of the Holy Spirit gives us power over sin so that we do not return to it. Without holiness no one shall see the Lord. Without the Lord in our lives, we cannot live in peace. The reason the so-called Christians in the middle ages begin to beat their fellow servants is because they were not walking in the spirit. They left the Holy Spirit out of their lives and began to substitute doctrines and commandments of men instead. If we find our selves warring and fighting, we are also not walking in the spirit that is provided for us when we come to Jesus Christ by faith. This is why once we come to Christ, we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and not resist the things God provides for us. Every time we read this old law that Jesus Christ fulfilled by His death, burial and resurrection, let us read it with the understanding that God gave all this for a purpose and show us something. All His commandments are for our good and not to make us miserable. Remember God loves us and wants to see all of us saved and inherit eternal life. He wants us to not set our hearts upon things in this life but seek Him first because He is good and wants us to be saved from sin.
He has good things for those that wait for Him and look for His appearing. God is good, I find no fault with Him. DC
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