What spiritual principle can we learn from the dietary laws in Leviticus 11? Setting the Scene • The dietary regulations in Leviticus 11 were literal commands for Israel’s daily life. • God distinguished between animals that were “clean” (fit for His covenant people) and “unclean” (off-limits). • These distinctions taught Israel—then and now—about holiness, separation, and discernment. Spotlight on Leviticus 11:15 Leviticus 11:15: “every kind of raven.” • Ravens feed on carrion; they thrive around death and decay. • By labeling the raven “unclean,” God highlighted the contrast between what nourishes spiritual life and what corrupts it. • The verse may seem small, yet it’s part of a larger call to choose purity over impurity in every arena of life. The Heart of the Principle: Holiness by Discernment • God’s people must learn to separate the holy from the common (Leviticus 10:10). • Just as Israel weighed each animal against God’s standard, believers weigh every thought, relationship, and habit. • Ravens symbolize anything that draws us toward spiritual decay—ideas or influences that “feed on death.” • Abstaining from the unclean keeps our fellowship with God vibrant and uncontaminated (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Echoes Across Scripture • Deuteronomy 14:3: “You must not eat any detestable thing.” The command protected worship as much as diet. • Psalm 1:1-2 contrasts the blessed person (delighting in God’s law) with those lingering among scoffers—another picture of separating from corruption. • 1 Peter 1:15-16 draws directly from Leviticus: “Be holy, because I am holy.” The call to holiness is timeless. • Philippians 4:8 lists “whatever is pure” as worthy of our meditation, echoing the principle behind clean and unclean foods. Putting the Principle into Practice Consider the “ravens” that circle modern life: • Entertainment that normalizes sin • Conversations steeped in gossip or bitterness • Teaching that undermines biblical truth • Habits that dull spiritual appetite Instead, purposefully “feed” on what is spiritually clean: • Scripture, worship, fellowship with believers • Music, books, and media that exalt Christ • Acts of service that reflect His character Closing Thoughts The raven reminds us that holiness involves active discernment. God still calls His people to recognize and refuse anything that reeks of decay, choosing instead the purity that nourishes true life in Him. |
    |