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Bible Pathways - February 5, 2006


February 5, 2006

Read Leviticus 11

In Today's Reading:

Health and dietary laws; the cleansing (purification) of women after childbirth; signs and laws concerning leprosy

Over 40 times in Leviticus we read: I am the LORD or I am the LORD your God; and four times the Lord demands: Ye shall be holy; for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26). Inwardly, outwardly, morally, and spiritually, we also must separate ourselves from all that defiles: For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify (consecrate) yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy (11:44). The Israelites were to eat clean food (chapter 11); have clean bodies (chapters 12-13), clean clothes (13:47-59), clean houses (14:33-57), clean personal hygiene (chapter 15); and be a clean nation (chapter 16).

The word unclean is used about 100 times in chapters 11 through 15, implying that God required every unclean thing to be removed from their lives. God also required that the Israelites separate themselves from heathens, idolatry, immorality, and even unsanitary habits. The people of God were not to intermarry with Gentile unbelievers. The many sacrifices, rules, and regulations concerning what is clean and unclean (what defiles a person) provide awareness of how repulsive sin is to God.

God's character does not change; therefore these regulations remind every Christian today that whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory (honor, praise) of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

The Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to write: I beseech (beg) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). And, to the church at Corinth, he wrote: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (I Corinthians 3:16-17). To the Ephesians, he wrote: Be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (set apart to live as belonging to God) (I Thessalonians 4:7). It is also written: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

Word Studies:

11:3 clovenfooted = hoof parted into two distinct hooves; 13:2 rising = swelling; 13:4 shut up = isolate; 13:5 be at a stay = has not changed; 13:10 quick raw = ulcer forming; 13:51 fretting = contagious, spreading.

Christ Revealed:

Through the clean food of the believer (Leviticus 11:47). Our Lord is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), supplies living water (4:10,14), and His Father's will was His meat (food, nourishment) (4:34).

Prayer Needs:

Pray for The Spanish International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Mrs. Sue Moore · Government Officials: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (MI) and Gov. Charles Turnbull (Virgin Islands) · Country: Guinea-Bissau (1 million) on the western coast of Africa · Major languages: Portuguese and Criolo · Religious freedom · 51% animist; 42% Muslim; 6% Roman Catholic; .7% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Give thanks to the God of heaven; His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever (Psalm 136:26).

Optional Reading: Mark 7

Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 12:2



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