Reading
SAA Notes
One thing this chapter teaches is that God is interested in everything regarding the welfare of His people. These regulations are to do with public health issues. Pig meat has many parasites that are transferable to humans. Usual cooking methods do not kill these parasites, hence our tough Australian regulation of the pig industry.
SJA Notes
* Great God Above, Your word is a light to our feet and a lamp to our way. Please guide us today.
“… To make a distinction between the unclean and the clean …”
This is a critical aspect of holiness, of being set apart.
That we have a way, a methodology, of sifting through what is in front of us in terms of clean and unclean.
God gave a way to Israel here at this time. According to His wisdom and intent He gave these rules to Israel.
David cries out in Psalm 51,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
A clean heart – David knew that there was more to God’s big plan than these rules. They were a pointer and a symbol that leads to a deeper understanding.
Because it is the HEART that matters.
God tells us this in Jeremiah ch 17,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;”
How then can David call out to God for a clean heart with such confidence?
Because he knew what Ezekiel prophesied, God’s words,
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
We know that David looked forward to Messiah – Jesus our King, whose sacrifice made it possible for us to be born again from death into life.
We stand in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, His righteousness placed over and upon us, His Spirit transforming us to be more like Him each day.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
* God Above,
Please this day refresh us in Your word. Wash us clean, our hearts and spirits, from the muck and dirt of the world.
Thank You Lord for Jesus!
Amen.