NOVEMBER 14, 2010 OVERVIEW

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1 NOVEMBER 14, 2010 OVERVIEW Leviticus 11 Laws concerning food Leviticus 12 Laws concerning new mothers Leviticus 13 Laws concerning leprosy Leviticus 14 More laws concerning leprosy Leviticus 15 Laws concerning personal cleanliness Today s Scripture: Leviticus 11 Leviticus 11:1-3 (NIV) 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 split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. Leviticus 11:9-10 (NIV) 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 detest. Leviticus 11:20-21 (NIV) 20 All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. 21 There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. 41 Every creature that moves about on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable. o Let s get acquainted with the unclean animals of Leviticus 11. You may be able to notice some reasons why they might be unclean. So here we go with our unclean animal slide show: V. 4 The camel

2 Vs. 5 The Coney V. 6 The rabbit

3 V. 7 The pig V. 13 The eagle

4 V. 13 The vulture V. 13 The black vulture

5 V. 14 The red kite V The black kite

6 V. 15 The raven V. 16 The horned owl

7 V. 16 The screech owl V. 16 The gull

8 V. 16 The hawk V. 17 The cormorant

9 V. 17 The great owl V. 18 The white owl

10 V. 18 The desert owl V. 18 The osprey

11 V. 19 The stork V. 19 The heron

12 V. 19 The hoopoe V. 19 The bat

13 V. 29 The weasel V. 29 The rat

14 V. 30 The gecko V. 30 The monitor lizard

15 V. 30 The wall lizard V. 30 The skink

16 V. 30 the chameleon Theories on the clean and unclean food laws: 1. The arbitrary theory 2. The hygienic theory God was protecting the people of Israel from sickness and disease. o Pigs trichinosis o Tularamia (a.k.a. rabbit fever) from rabbits causes infections in humans. o Fish without fins and scales attract disease because they are mud burrowers. Key part of the theory that they didn t have the means to refrigerate or cook the meat properly. But what about the camel? There are no health issues, and the Arabs eat it as a delicacy today. And in the first century, Jesus said all food is clean. o And he said this in a time when there was not refrigeration and cooking methods were the same as during Moses time. o Now certainly some of the unclean animals could be unhealthy to eat, but I don t believe this was the reason. 3. The cultic theory This theory says that the unclean animals had something to do with pagan worship in Canaan. o Example Pig bones have been found all over the Middle East. The theory is they were involved in sacrificial pagan worship. o There are problems with this theory

17 Example Bulls were clean, but they were one of the favorite animals for sacrifice in Canaanite worship. Bulls were worshipped in both Canaan and Egypt. 4. The ethical lessons theory Eating meat torn by wild beasts was unclean. This theory says that this meat being unclean was a way to teach that humans should have more dignity than the scavenger dogs. Also, the forbidding of eating certain foods helped the people of Israel to learn self-control. The problem Once again, Jesus will later declare all food as ceremonially clean. o Therefore, he would have been saying that He was interested in the ethical lessons. 5. The symbolism theory I prefer this one. o That the clean/unclean animals somehow reflect the person and work of Jesus. The points of this theory: o Many of the unclean animals were scavengers and are therefore, blood shedders. They are therefore connected with causing death. The pig was associated with underworld deities among the Hittites, Egyptians and Mesopotamians. And the underworld was the place of the dead. And Jesus is life. o Btw, this might account for lepers being ceremonial unclean They appear like a corpse. o Also, many of the unclean animals don t conform to order and wholeness. Animals that are not in conformity with the norm. And thus, aren t whole or complete. o Therefore, they would reflect a lack of holiness (which is real wholeness or completeness). o Could this be what Jesus was referring to in Mark 7:18-23? From the New Testament, we read about the teaching of Jesus on holiness: Mark 7:18-23 (NIV) 18 Are you so dull? he asked. Don t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean? 19 For it doesn t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean. ) 20 He went on: What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. 21 For from within, out of men s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean. Life Application

18 Two practical lessons for today: 1. Don t let anyone put you in bondage. (1 Timothy 4:1-5) 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV) 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. It s clear that our culture is becoming more and more immoral and more and more subject to false doctrine. For every action, there s a reaction. There s a temptation among sincere, seriously committed believers to swing the other way. -- Rules that will provide a hedge. Rules that will help us to define ourselves as separate from our morally bankrupt society. But keeping the O.T. ceremonial law only brings bondage. APPLICATION: Be firm in the truth that the ceremonial law of the O.T. is no longer in force and will not help in your growth in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV) 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.--> Colossians 2:20-23 (NIV) 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. External rules do not result in holiness. Inner transformation is the key to holiness. 2. However, be careful not to cause someone to stumble. (Romans 14:21-22) Romans 14:21-22 (NIV) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. A final verse on all this teaching on the O.T. ceremonial law and other unbiblical rules and regulations - Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

19 This Week s Prayer Father God, I praise You that I am set free from the law with its ceremonial rules and rituals. Help me to protect my freedom in Christ. Give me discernment concerning false teachers who desire to put me into bondage. Give me insight in how I can use my freedom to serve not myself, but other people. I am willing to give up anything that might cause someone to stumble in their walk with You. Please show me where I might need to give my rights away to further Your kingdom work. In Jesus name, Amen.