Leviticus 11:32-47
TN THE next verses the Lord I shows that if the dead body of one of these creatures previously mentioned touched anything, the touch of death defiled the thing itself so that it must be cleansed by water, and be unclean until even.
It might be a vessel of wood, or a garment, a skin, or sack, or something in which work was done, if touched by a dead body it was unclean. These things would tell us of how the very means by which we earn a living, or whatever form of service we are engaged in, we are constantly brought into contact with defilement in a world where sin and death reign. The Spirit warns us against having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and of being unequally yoked with unbelievers in anything.
Even if the dead body fell on the thing, that is, it was not a voluntary act, still it was defiled, and needed to be cleansed.
Putting the vessel into water speaks of applying the Word of God in its cleansing power to any defilement, whether at work or play, at home or elsewhere. A vessel that could not be cleansed had to be broken. This tells us that no matter what faithfulness to the Lord might cost us, we should not draw back. In all things He must have the preeminence and other considerations take their proper place.
There was, however, these exceptions to this rule: a fountain, a pit or well in which there was plenty of water, would not be polluted, nor seed for sowing defiled if a dead body fell on it. Sufficient water would withstand the pollution and this finds its answer in the cleansing by the Word, while the seed for sowing speaks of the quickening power of life. Both of these are above and beyond death, found in Christ, and in Him alone. He is the Source of cleansing for His own. He washes us by His Word (Eph. 5:26), and purifies us by the hope of His coming (1 John 3:3).
Then we have a group of crawling things Israel were forbidden to eat. “Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, of whatsoever hath more (many) feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them shall ye not eat; for they are an abomination.”
Man, fallen and degraded by sin, is easily led to feed on the most loathsome things. Even the Christian still has the old fallen nature which, if not kept in the place of death, will ever seek after the base and unholy pleasures found in the world. May we seek grace to feed only on Christ, the holy and the true. Since He is holy, those who are called into association with Him must be holy too.
ML-01/16/1972