March 17, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Diet: Health and Holiness

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Opening Prayer

Holy Lord, so often my world seems devoid of purpose. Thank You for giving me the great work of praise.

Read Leviticus 11:1-45

[1] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, [2] “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: [3] You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. [4] “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. [5] The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. [6] The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. [7] And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. [8] You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. [9] “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. [10] But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales-whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water-you are to regard as unclean. [11] And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. [12] Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you. [13] “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, [14] the red kite, any kind of black kite, [15] any kind of raven, [16] the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, [17] the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, [18] the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, [19] the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat. [20] “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. [21] There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. [22] Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. [23] But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean. [24] “‘You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. [25] Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. [26] “‘Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. [27] Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. [28] Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you. [29] “‘Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, [30] the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon. [31] Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening. [32] When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean. [33] If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot. [34] Any food you are allowed to eat that has come into contact with water from any such pot is unclean, and any liquid that is drunk from such a pot is unclean. [35] Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean. [36] A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean. [37] If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean. [38] But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you. [39] “‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass will be unclean till evening. [40] Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. [41] “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. [42] You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. [43] Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. [44] I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. [45] I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Because holiness is supremely an attribute of God, and of God alone, he is by definition the only source of holiness. Any pursuit of it apart from him is doomed to failure” (David Winter).

Today’s passage is one we love to avoid. It seems so obscure and unnecessary. Why is it included in inspired Scripture? People have gone through these dietary regulations and sought to explain them from a health viewpoint. Declaring certain foods “unclean” and so best avoided in hot climates makes sense. But it doesn’t seem to explain the whole list adequately, or square with what we know of others at the time. There’s a better explanation. Verses 44 and 45 say it’s to do with holiness. Health may be a spin-off, but it’s not the main point.

Throughout history and even at the present time, it is quite common for nations to have a distinct diet with definite food taboos. Food eagerly devoured in one country (think horse, dog or sauerkraut!) is despised or taboo in another. Many countries are known for a favorite dish. So the people of Israel demonstrate their distinctiveness through their diet. In this way, whether or not they can explain it, they mark themselves out as belonging to God. The essence of holiness is that they are to be distinguished from others by complete obedience to him. Diet is one of various practical ways of making their obedience visible. In commanding this, God reminds them that he is Lord over all, not just in the tabernacle but even in the kitchen. Some people sense that the key difference between clean and unclean is that “clean” things are those that seem most wholly to conform to one’s expectations about animals, fish or birds, not deficient or crossing boundaries. It’s modeling God’s desire for wholeness among his people, and for distinctiveness.

Food laws no longer distinguish Christians from others (Mark 7:1-23; Acts 10:9-15), but distinct patterns of behavior should still distinguish us as belonging to Christ (Eph. 4:17-21).

Apply

Ask in what ways you live a distinctive life that demonstrates that you belong to God. Could there be other ways to do so as well?

Closing prayer

Teach me to learn of Your ways, Lord, from ordinary things in life as well as from its more obvious spiritual aspects.

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