IN THE FIRST part of this chapter the Lord instructs Israel as to what animals they could use for food, and which ones they could not. Now we come to the creatures which inhabit the waters.
“Whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters,... them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas,... they shall be an abomination unto you:... ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.”
The moral lesson for the believer in this seems evident. The fins are those organs in the fish which help it propel itself through the water; they also direct and balance its movements. The scales provide protection. For the Christian the Word of God provides direction and guidance in the path of faith through a world that abounds with evils of every kind. There is a perfect balance in Scripture and so it is necessary for a believer to be continually feeding on the Word in order to walk a straight path to God’s glory through this defiled scene. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105). We are called on to “make straight paths for [our] feet” (Heb. 12:1313And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:13)), as the psalmist could say, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way.” Psa. 119:101101I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. (Psalm 119:101).
Surely it is not enough to know that we are saved, to have our consciences freed from the burden of sin, we need divine direction as to how and where to walk according to the will of God, and this we find in His precious living Word. And like the fins that enable the fish to swim against the current, so the believer needs that which will enable him to swim against the current of this world, which is altogether against God and Christ.
The scales, like a little coat of armor to the fish, keep out not only the water, but also the dirt and slime. A Christian is taught in the Word to pray that he might not enter into temptation, but if, through no fault of his own, he is called on to pass through circumstances where the atmosphere is defiling, perhaps at school or at work, he can count on the Lord to preserve him if he has his armor on (Eph. 6:11-1711Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11‑17)).
On the other hand, creatures without fins or scales, without normal guidance and protection, which habitually sink to the bottom and feed on the mire below, or that float along with the stream, were not only to be avoided but to be abhorred. Part of the moral teaching of this, we believe, is that anything which leaves Christ out, which does without His direction and preserving care, or that which feeds on the things of this world and floats downstream along with its current, ought to be abhorrent to the Christian.
ML-12/26/1971