Leviticus 11:13-1913And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15Every raven after his kind; 16And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:13‑19)
NEXT among the clean and unclean creatures which God instructed His people about, come the birds.
“And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle... the ossifrage... the ospray... the vulture... the kite... every raven...”
These birds feed on flesh and so were unclean. Some of them, like the eagle, while they soar high into the heavens, are fierce, ravenous plunderers, destructive of other ling creatures; then others feed greedily on carcasses of the dead. The Israelite was forbidden to eat such, and the Christian is not to have fellowship with that in this world which answers to these characteristics.
Many creatures of fallen creation have ways and characteristics abhorrent to God; but it shall not always be so. For when Christ comes to reign and we as the sons of God are manifested with Him in glory, then the creation shall be set free from the bondage of sin. God’s creatures shall not hurt nor destroy one another any more, but shall dwell in peace and bless Christ’s glorious reign.
The owl and the nighthawk were also unclean. They represent those winged fowl that shun the day, and prefer darkness of night. The Christian is of “the day,” and we are told, while passing through the night of this world, to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dares, but rather reprove them.” Eph. 5:1111And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11).
Then there were birds of very attractive beauty which were unclean, like the beautiful swan. Probably one of the water fowl which frequent the marshes is meant, but it feeds on reptiles and smaller birds and so was unclean to an Israelite. Traveling the clean side of the broad road instead of the unclean side does not change the end. Natural man, no matter how clean-living he might be, is a sinner; only new creation has any value in God’s sight.
The stork, remarkable for affection and care for its family, still was unclean to the Israelite. It speaks of natural affection, lovely in its place, yet worth nothing where there is not the fear of God. Natural man in his best estate is fallen, and unclean before Him.
Some of these birds would display lofty pride, others lust for unclean things, still another might be noisy and offensive. Yet all speak of fallen nature. The food of the Christian is Christ.
The last of the creatures mentioned here that fly in the air is the bat, or “night bird.” It does not have feathers, and is not strictly a bird. But it inhabits the caves and tombs, and shunning the light, is a creature that loves darkness. It was unclean.
All the traits found in these creatures are manifested in the world and the Christian is to have no fellowship with them. “Be ye not fellow-partakers with them. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Eph. 5:8-108For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8‑10).
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