The Israelites were not vegetarians; but the kinds of meat that they consumed was restricted by God’s dietary laws.
I. Four-legged beasts must have split hooves and they must chew the cud (Lev. 11:1-8)
II. Water creatures must have fins and scales (Lev. 11:9-12)
III. Some birds were forbidden, notably scavenger birds (Lev. 11:13-19)
IV. Some insects were acceptable (Lev. 11:20-28)
V. Reptiles and some smaller mammals are forbidden (Lev. 11:29-30)
VI. Transference of uncleanness (Lev. 11:31-40)
VII. The proper attitude toward unclean creatures (Lev. 11:41-43)
VIII. The reason for these dietary restrictions (Lev. 11:44-47)
Uncleanness by giving birth
I. To a male child (Lev. 12:1-4)
II. To a female child (Lev. 12:5)
III. The required sin offering (Lev. 12:6-8)
Meditation Points:
For I am the Lord that bringeth you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:45)
- Because God said so. Isn’t that enough reason for doing something, or for not doing something?
- Would you be willing to forgo pork chops and shrimp? What about lion, dog, cat and rat? And no more chocolate-covered ants! But grasshopper soup is okay.
- How do we learn what is right and wrong unless someone lists concrete examples and principles for us to follow? God gives us His law.
- Child-bearing results in uncleanness? And female children require a longer time of cleansing for the mother.
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