Today's Scripture
Ceremonially Clean and Unclean Animals; Leviticus 11: 41-47
Today’s Reading Schedule: Leviticus 11-13 (CEB)- Click to read
41-43 “Creatures that crawl on the ground are detestable and not to be eaten. Don’t eat creatures that crawl on the ground, whether on their belly or on all fours or on many feet—they are detestable. Don’t make yourselves unclean or be defiled by them, because I am your God.
44-45 “Make yourselves holy for I am holy. Don’t make yourselves ritually unclean by any creature that crawls on the ground. I am God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Be holy because I am holy.
46-47 “These are the instructions on animals, birds, fish, and creatures that crawl on the ground. You have to distinguish between the ritually unclean and the clean, between living creatures that can be eaten and those that cannot be eaten.”
Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
Leviticus 11-15 is referred to as the “laws of Purity”. These laws helped to define the separation between the people of Israel and the Gentiles following the exile. The Israelites needed to know what was ceremonially “clean” and what was “unclean.” These terms are related to holiness. Unclean and its related terms occur 132 times in the Old Testament with over 50 percent in Leviticus. The sense of uncleanness is a predominate theme. Unclean does not mean “sinful” but it refers to the “impure”. Impurity restricted the Israelite from participating in corporate worship at the tabernacle.
Cleanness is defined by God and declared by the priests. It is a state of access to God. It restricts ones fellowship with God, and it restricts ones fellowship with fellow men. God says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.” We are charged to follow his example and grow into his image. Cleanness becomes something more internal than external. The laws of purity teach us that we must yield totally to the sovereign authority of God in our lives; we must be willing to be different when God demands it; and we must remain alert to things that hinder us from consistent service for God.
Prayer
Heavenly and gracious Father, We ask that you hold us accountable in our pursuit of eternal life with you. Create in us a clean heart and renew a loyal spirit within us. (Psalm 51:10).
In Jesus Christ. Amen
Contributed by Sue McCoy
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