Deuteronomy
14 expands on some of the Laws presented earlier and even explains
how these prohibitions apply to believers today. Listen to the
primary reason Moses gives for us to be obedient to God: “Of
all the peoples on the face of the earth today, the Lord has chosen
you to be His treasured possession“.
No matter what you feel like today, you are valued. God calls you
special, so you should behave in a special way. Moses explains to
the Israelites, “You
are the children of the Lord… Do not cut yourselves or shave the
front of your heads for the dead, for you are a people holy to the
Lord“.
These Hebrew believers were exposed to many pagan customs and God is
saying, remain separate and unique. Honoring God’s commands is an
expression of faith. This is also the answer to the age-old response
from our children, “But everyone else is doing it!” My wife’s
usual answer is, “I guess Billy’s mom doesn’t love him as much
as I love you”. KNOWING the right thing, and DOING the right thing
are different. The people of Israel were a people separate unto the
Lord. As followers of Christ, we also are called to be a holy
people: But
you are . . . a holy nation
(1 Peter 2:9).
The
chapter continues with a reminder of the ceremonial clean and unclean
animals. “Do
not eat anything that is a detestable thing… You may eat any animal
that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud“.
The rest of the animals, “are
ceremonially unclean to you… do not eat their meat or touch their
carcasses“.
He continues, “Of
the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and
scales“.
Of the fowl section, the Jews are prohibited from eating any of the
birds that are scavengers or meat eaters such as hawks, owls and
vultures. Moses adds, “All
flying insects that swarm are unclean to you, do not eat them“.
And finally, “Do
not eat anything you find already dead“.
The section ends with, “Do
not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk“.
This is why in kosher homes today, devout Jews will not eat meat and
dairy on the same plates or even at the same meal. It is important
to realize these dietary distinctions were removed as a symbol to the
apostle Peter to show the salvation of Christ is for all, both Jews
and gentile alike. God explained, “Do
not call anything impure that God has made clean“.
As with many of the Jewish customs, the early church became separate
to allow for inclusion of the new Gentile believers. We do not have
to “get right with God” first, He will accept us just as we
are, and then He clean us up from the inside out!
The
chapter ends with a discussion of the tithe and a reminder that it
should be set aside first. “Be
sure to set aside a tenth of all your fields produce each year.”
It should be presented in the presence of the Lord, “so
you will learn to revere the Lord always“.
It also mentions some specific recipients, “And
do not neglect the Levites (priests), for they have no allotment or
inheritance of their own… the fatherless and the widows who live in
your towns so they may come and eat and be satisfied and so the Lord
may bless in all the work of your hands.”
Christian financial counselor Larry Burkett used to say; how you
manage your money is an outward indicator of what is going on
spiritually in your heart. Jesus told the shrewd businessman,
“Whoever
can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and
whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy with handling worldly wealth, who
will trust you with true riches?”
May you experience all the true riches God has for you today!