Deuteronomy 14 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
In Deuteronomy 14, we hear the reminder of what is clean and unclean; what they may and may not eat. This might be a good time to use this chapter as a reminder of the concepts of holy and common and the category of clean and unclean. I am summarizing from Gordon Wenham’s discussion of these categories in his commentary on Leviticus (pp. 14-29). This chapter is like Leviticus 11. So, what we say about Lev 11 can be said about this chapter. The idea of holiness in the Old Testament is rather elusive. In Leviticus 10:10, the priests were to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the clean and the unclean. So holy is the opposite of common and clean is the opposite of unclean. For the Jews, the world was divided between the holy or common and either clean or unclean.
In the Old Testament, everything that is not holy is common. Common things divide into two groups: the clean and the unclean. Clean things become holy when they are sanctified. But unclean objects cannot be sanctified. Clean things can be made unclean if they are polluted. Holy items may be defiled and become common, even polluted and therefore unclean.
Cleanness is the normal condition of most things and persons. Sanctification can elevate the clean into holy, while pollution degrades the clean into unclean. The unclean and the holy are two states which must never come in contact with each other. If an unclean person eats holy food, i.e., part of a sacrificial animal, he will be cut off (Lev 7:2-21; 22:3). Holy people such as priests and Nazirites should not pollute themselves by coming in contact with a corpse, which is by definition unclean.
Uncleanness may be transmitted from some unclean things by contact (Lev. 11:39-40; 14:36, 15:4ff. On the other hand, some holy things make everything that touches them holy (Ex 29:37; 30:29). But cleanness is not conveyed to other things. Cleanness is the ground state; holiness are uncleanness are variations from the norm of cleanness.
The basic meaning of cleanness is purity. Clean i.e., pure gold was required for plating the ark and other items of tabernacle furniture (Ex 25:11, 24, etc.). That cleanness basically means purity is shown by the frequent use of water to purify unclean persons and things (Lev 11:25, 28; 14:8-9, etc.). Cleanness is a broader concept than purity. It approximates to our notion of normality. When the priest would declare a person with a potential skin disease, “he is clean,” it means what a modern doctor may mean saying, “it is normal. Similarly, a clean animal is one that travels in a manner appropriate to their class, in a normal way. The idea of normality underlies Lev 21:17-23, where any priest with a physical deformity is forbidden to minister at the altar.
Uncleanness is the converse of cleanness. Anything that is not clean is unclean. Unlike cleanness, though, uncleanness is contagious and incompatible with holiness. Things may be unclean in themselves (some animals) which we could call permanent uncleanness or what is intrinsically clean may become temporarily unclean. Temporary uncleanness may result from contact with corpses, childbirth, disease, discharges, and various sins including illicit sexual intercourse (Lev. 18) and murder (Num 35:33). All these different types of uncleanness are regarded as in some way abnormal, or at least not quite usual. The greater the deviation from the norm the greater is degree of uncleanness and the difficulty in cleansing.
Permanent uncleanness cannot be altered and is not contagious, so no rites are prescribed to cure it. Unclean animals do not pass on their uncleanness to others; they simply cannot be eaten. Paradoxically, temporary uncleanness is taken more seriously.
Holiness characterizes God himself and all that belongs to him: “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2: 20:26). God’s name, which expresses His character, is holy (20:3; 22:2, 32). His name is profaned by idolatry, swearing falsely, and other sins (18:21; 19:12; 20:3; 21:6; 22:2). God demonstrates His holiness in judging sin (Lev. 10:3; Num. 20:13). But apart from these remarks there is no explanation of what God’s holiness is. Holiness is intrinsic to God’s character.
Quoting M Douglass, “Other precepts extend holiness to species and categories. Hybrids, and other confusions are abominated. In Leviticus 18:23, And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it, it is a perversion.”
The word perversion is a significant mistranslation of the rare Hebrew word ‘tebhel,’ which has as its meaning mixing or confusion. We conclude that holiness is exemplified by completeness. Holiness requires that individuals shall conform to the class to which they belong. And holiness requires that different classes of things shall not be confused. This is relevant to our time when all kinds of confusion and hybrids are not just allowed but praised.
These categories are the foundation of sin and righteousness for the Bible. As we examine the moral landscape of our time, what sets our perspective apart is we believe that God has revealed His truth to us. God is there and He is not silent. God is a talking God. He reveals His will to us and provides us teachers so we can keep learning about Him, His word, and His will.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who can touch a leper to make the leper clean. He takes unclean people like us and creates new life in us by the power of His Holy Spirit. The forever holy One transforms us into His own children through his sacrificial death, burial, resurrection, ascension,
Father, these categories are not familiar to us. We understand them, if we do, with difficulty. Yet what we comprehend resonates with us. We can see the beauty of righteousness, the protection You offer from the ravaging assault of sin tearing communities apart. Help us to conform to Your ways not attempt to bring You down to our sin and rebellion. Remind us that our redemption is only through Jesus Christ and Him alone. In His holy, pure, and powerful name. Amen.