The Distinction Between Clean and Unclean

Leviticus 11 – Clean and Unclean Food
Leviticus 12 – Purification After Childbirth
Leviticus 13:1-13:46 – Regulations for Defiling Skin Deseases
Leviticus 13:47-13:59 – Regulations for Molds
Leviticus 15 – Bodily Discharges that Cause Uncleanness

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2 Replies to “The Distinction Between Clean and Unclean”

  1. As we read through rules and laws of our ancient ancestors, the question keeps popping up in my mind, why do we have this text? The answer makes me chuckle a bit: it’s not about me! Indeed, if we read Leviticus hoping to hear what God wants us to do at work today, we might be disappointed. If we read the histories of our ancestors and attempt to apply their daily routine to ours, we will be looking for answers in the wrong place. This text is not about us, it’s about God’s people and his undying love and devotion to holding his end of the covenant. We get to look inside the box and see what was going on in the minds of the Pharisees when Jesus makes claims that simple blow their minds. This rich understanding of the background of the Jewish people is important to God and therefore it must be important to me.  Lord help us understand and gain wisdom and knowledge today more than ever before!

    After the Flood, God blesses Noah and his sons and tells them, “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (Genesis 9:3). It is interesting to note that even as Noah loaded the Ark, there were clean and unclean animals (cf Genesis 7), though the list is not provided in detail, apparently Noah knew the distinction. Now, hundreds of years later, God provides additional rules for what animals, birds, fish and insects may be used for nourishment. Never are they used for sport of pleasure, simply to sustain life. We don’t have a full sense of the agricultural economy of the day, but perhaps this was simply a way of preserving a people with resources that were abundant.

    Nonetheless, these are commandments, laws, rules, etc., for which these people are to follow to prove their faithfulness. God provides clarity and simplifies the process for the Israelites. Here’s the list: do this, don’t do that. Simple.

    Note: there are references to a “log of oil” in Leviticus 14, not the typical term in my daily life! The NIV Study Bible puts this at about 1/3 quart, (about 11 ounces…just under a pint…lots of oil). Even in today’s market, that’s a hefty amount of olive oil, pretty expensive and therefore precious.

    Leviticus 11:45 includes the phrase “brought you up out of Egypt.” This phrase is used many times in Leviticus and other books in the Old Testament. The repetition is there because these people spent generations in captivity, long after the days of Joseph. They were not forgotten, but no doubt developed habits that needed reshaping, reforming and indeed recreating to turn them into a people that would worship God alone. I wonder what things we do today that need reworking, what do we do habitually that we don’t even recognize anymore? Lord, I thank you for your word, for your great attention to detail and continual desire to lead us. I’m really thankful you don’t have a detailed list for us today, though in some respects that might make things easier. Help me to put you first in all things today and tomorrow so that more people would come to know you through the testimony of my life for you and for your glory.

  2. As we read through rules and laws of our ancient ancestors, the question keeps popping up in my mind, why do we have this text? The answer makes me chuckle a bit: it’s not about me! Indeed, if we read Leviticus hoping to hear what God wants us to do at work today, we might be disappointed. If we read the histories of our ancestors and attempt to apply their daily routine to ours, we will be looking for answers in the wrong place. This text is not about us, it’s about God’s people and his undying love and devotion to holding his end of the covenant. We get to look inside the box and see what was going on in the minds of the Pharisees when Jesus makes claims that simple blow their minds. This rich understanding of the background of the Jewish people is important to God and therefore it must be important to me.  Lord help us understand and gain wisdom and knowledge today more than ever before!

    After the Flood, God blesses Noah and his sons and tells them, “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (Genesis 9:3). It is interesting to note that even as Noah loaded the Ark, there were clean and unclean animals (cf Genesis 7), though the list is not provided in detail, apparently Noah knew the distinction. Now, hundreds of years later, God provides additional rules for what animals, birds, fish and insects may be used for nourishment. Never are they used for sport of pleasure, simply to sustain life. We don’t have a full sense of the agricultural economy of the day, but perhaps this was simply a way of preserving a people with resources that were abundant.

    Nonetheless, these are commandments, laws, rules, etc., for which these people are to follow to prove their faithfulness. God provides clarity and simplifies the process for the Israelites. Here’s the list: do this, don’t do that. Simple.

    Note: there are references to a “log of oil” in Leviticus 14, not the typical term in my daily life! The NIV Study Bible puts this at about 1/3 quart, (about 11 ounces…just under a pint…lots of oil). Even in today’s market, that’s a hefty amount of olive oil, pretty expensive and therefore precious.

    Leviticus 11:45 includes the phrase “brought you up out of Egypt.” This phrase is used many times in Leviticus and other books in the Old Testament. The repetition is there because these people spent generations in captivity, long after the days of Joseph. They were not forgotten, but no doubt developed habits that needed reshaping, reforming and indeed recreating to turn them into a people that would worship God alone. I wonder what things we do today that need reworking, what do we do habitually that we don’t even recognize anymore? Lord, I thank you for your word, for your great attention to detail and continual desire to lead us. I’m really thankful you don’t have a detailed list for us today, though in some respects that might make things easier. Help me to put you first in all things today and tomorrow so that more people would come to know you through the testimony of my life for you and for your glory.

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