Eating unclean Meats
The Lord gave us His health laws that we may enjoy long life and optimum health. “And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes … for our good always, that he might preserve us alive” (Deuteronomy 6:24); and for keeping these laws, He promises, “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee” (Exodus 23:25).
In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, the Lord shows that most animals, birds, and water creatures people ordinarily eat are clean. However, there are some unclean animals that should not be eaten like: hogs, squirrels, rabbits, catfish, eels, lobsters, clams, crabs, shrimp, oysters, frogs, and others. These animals are unclean because they are not fit for human consumption. God made our bodies and He knows what is healthy for us to eat.
When Daniel was in Babylon and was offered unclean meats, he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat” (Daniel 1:8). And because of his obedience the Lord blessed him: “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm” (Daniel 1:20).
Daniel honored his body as God’s temple. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). And as a result, God honored him. It matters to God how we treat His temple, our body.
The Bible states that those who eat unclean animals and defile His temple will be judged. “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire … and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves … eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 66:15-17). The Lord calls His children to “eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:2).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
