The same God who created the clean and the unclean animal, separated them, as He did in the beginning. “God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4) In calling the light “good," it is implied the darkness is bad. Now, just as the priest declares a leper clean or unclean, God declares what is clean and unclean. It is evident, He is the creator the clean and the unclean, the good and the bad. And when the Christ came into the world, those who were declared unclean, were made clean by the spoken Word; as He says in one place, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:3)
Noah, a man of God, was commanded to take for himself two of every animal, male and female, entering into the ark. Now, no law at the time was given which called an animal as unclean or clean. However, Noah did as God had commanded him, and even sacrificed seven of each clean animal to God. Similarly, Abel brought to God firstlings from his flock. So we see that nature speaks concerning which animals are clean and unclean even apart from the law; otherwise Noah could not have separated them; but when the law was given, God’s law revealed which animals were clean and unclean.
Concerning these animals, it is written that Noah “sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.” (Genesis 8:7) The same raven, and “every raven in its kind,” (Leviticus 11:15) that God declares unclean in the levitical law. However, the dove which he let loose, “found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth.” (Genesis 8:9) And the dove is reckoned as clean. For the raven, although there is no place for rest, would rather toil in the air than to submit back to the rule of Noah; however, the dove returned back to the home from which she came and found rest in submission to Noah.
As it says of some men, "Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, So that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied.” (Habakkuk 2:5) And some women, “She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home; She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.” (Proverbs 7:11-12) Furthermore, it is written of Jacob, the patriarch, and Esau: “When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.” (Genesis 25:27)
Without question, to call someone a fox, as Jesus did to Herod, as He said, ”Go and tell that fox,” (Luke 13:32) or to call someone a dog, a cat, a mouse, or a pig, is insulting. For these animals are unclean; God created them to show man “that they are but beasts." (Ecclesiastes 3:18) For we die like beasts, as some resemble beasts, unclean or clean. As the proverbs say, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22) As the apostle Paul in his wisdom says, “For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He?” (1 Corinthians 9:9) So men should see character in the animals.
Furthermore, wisdom says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8) For Solomon “spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish.” (1 Kings 4:33) For by the wisdom God gave him, he understood God’s creation, and explained it. These are written for our instruction and give us faith concerning His Son, Jesus Christ: “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), “the Lamb of God!" (John 1:36)
Concerning more about the birds, the Scriptures say the great owl, white owl, heron, and bat are unclean. For they are awake at night and rest during the day. They are nocturnal. As Job speaks of those who are like them, ”In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness, For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.” (Job 24:16-17) But as for the songbirds, there is no mention of them being unclean. For they wake early in the morning and sing songs unto the Lord and praise Him for the light of the day! As the Psalmist writes, “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” (Psalms 5:3) “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.” (Psalms 119:147-148)
As for the other birds, the hawk, the eagle, falcon, raven, and buzzard, and all other predatory birds; the Scriptures speak as follows: concerning Saul, Samuel spoke, "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but did fly upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?" (1 Samuel 15:19) For these birds swoop down upon prey and drink down blood; just as certain men swoop down upon spoil. They are not hesitant to do violence for gain. “For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.” (Proverbs 4:17) Just as it says about the eagle, “His young ones also suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he." (Job 39:30)
And the ostrich, who “God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.” (Job 39:17) She runs swiftly, yet she runs in vain. And she resembles the Pharisees, who “have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.” (Romans 10:2) And just as the ostrich does not care for her young, “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matthew 23:4) For even their own proselytes they did not care for! "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?” (Ezekiel 34:2)
And concerning the vulture, unlike the eagle, falcon and raven, these do no labor for their kill; but they lie in wait to plunder, having done no work for it. Among these are the Amalekites, who “met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God.” (Deuteronomy 25:18) And another time, these wicked Amalekites raided Ziklag and took much plunder, as it says, “Without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.” (1 Samuel 30:2) For David and his men had left the city naked; so Amalek swooped down to plunder their cities without working for their spoil.
Now, as for the other animals; God has given precepts on how to classify them whether clean or unclean. But as for the birds, there are no such precept given for classification. Furthermore, we are not even told which birds are considered clean; but we can clearly tell which ones are clean by the ones that are unclean: if it is not unclean, then it must be clean. Among these are the turtledove and the pigeon, as they were given for sacrifice to God. Furthermore, when the Song writer says to his lover, “My dove, my perfect one, is unique;” (Song of Solomon 6:9) it was not an offensive saying, but one of endearment. And in another place, “As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love.” (Proverbs 5:19)
As for the classification for four-footed beasts, it says, “Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.” (Leviticus 11:3) These are clean. For just as a cow ruminates the cud, a man meditates on the deep things of God. As Isaac “went out to meditate in the field toward evening;” (Genesis 24:63) But it is not a man who hears the Word of God alone who is clean, but the one who hears and obeys the Word. In the same way, a beast is not clean unless he chews the cud and splits the hoof.
Concerning splitting the hoof: although he walks among the children of men, his feet clings to the Way of Christ, following after Him. His feet depart from the way of sinners; as David says, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” (Psalms 1:1) Then it says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:2) For even if a man is virtuous, but He does not believe, he is unclean. Or if he believes, but he is “a forgetful hearer” (James 1:25) and not “an effectual doer” (James 1:25), “Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14) He is unclean.
Furthermore, the creatures among the sea, “These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.” (Leviticus 11:9) But the unclean do not swim with fins, but they are crafty in their locomotion; likewise they use trickery and deceit, craftiness, to traverse through many waters. They make gain through flattery and deceit; they are smooth with their tongue. “Empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” (Titus 1:10-11) Among these is their lord, Leviathan, who dwells in the depths; the ancient serpent, “More crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.” (Genesis 3:1)
But with the clean, they control the least-most of their members, the tongue, and make subject their whole body as well; “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.” (Revelation 14:5) The righteous clothe themselves with the “THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” (Ephesians 6:14) for protection against the day of evil; just as scales of armor to a warrior or as scales to a fish in the sea. With the wicked, it is not so; he says to himself, I “will never see mourning.” (Revelation 18:7) And tell themselves, “We have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.” (Isaiah 28:15) So these hide in dark depths and expose themselves only when devouring prey. Their homes are with the eels, with slippery creatures, those with tentacles, fangs, and claws. Watch out! They do not see their need for righteousness and safety from the wrath which is to come. Their supposed ease is a trap!
And, “Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable.” (Leviticus 11:42) That is, those that crawl on their belly, whose head is in the earth, those whom the apostle wrote: “Whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19) For these move not by the Spirit, but on their own bellies they traverse the dust. Their appetites move them, they “growl if they are not satisfied.” (Psalms 59:15) Their mind is set on the earth; their hands are not stretched forth to heaven, but in the dust, they search for temporal riches. They haste after earthly things and are diligent for things that are not worthy. “For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. ” (Proverbs 1:16)
And, “All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects which walk on all fours: those which have above their feet jointed legs with which to jump on the earth.” (Leviticus 11:20-21) For these with jointed legs, when in danger, always seem to leap from the earth in prayer to God and find escape in time of danger. They are constantly looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus, “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:12) Whereas the ones who do not leap in times of trouble show their godliness is a farce, a means for gain; they quickly depart from the ways of righteousness when things get troublesome; and show no regard for the coming of the Lord.
I warn anyone who reads these things and makes a law of them: believe in the Son of God. For He makes right so that you may do right. He justifies you so that you may be sanctified. Without His Work, you can do nothing. He justified you freely by His grace, by shedding His blood on the tree. He died for you. He was raised from the grave. Your righteousness is by observing Him.
Regarding all the unclean animals, it says, “They are detestable things to you, and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest.” (Leviticus 11:10-11) For we ought to separate from such men that resemble these animals. (Insert link for separation drawing.) For “These, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong.” (2 Peter 2:12,13) That is why it says: “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Otherwise, in their fellowship you depart from the living God; as it says of Solomon, whose wives led him into idolatry, although he was very wise: “When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Kings 11:4) “For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) For his foreign wives turned his heart away from the LORD, from light to darkness, from righteousness to lawlessness. And the separation of God’s people was prophesied against him for abandoning the God of his father, David.
It also says of Jehoram, king of Israel, “He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did for Ahab's daughter was his wife, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 21:6) For he had Ahab’s daughter for a wife, the daughter of Jezebel. If we follow after evildoers, making alliances in fellowship, we will be also punished with them. For “Do two men walk together except they agree?” (Amos 3:3) As it says, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.” (Proverbs 28:4) As the LORD God said to Israel concerning the Canaanites who inhabited the promised land, who were exceedingly wicked sinners: “You shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them.” (Deuteronomy 7:2) And the apostles says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” (2 John 1:10-11)
Furthermore, did not Jehoshaphat king of Judah do wickedly by allying himself with Ahaziah, son of Ahaz, king of Israel? (2 Chronicles 20:35) And the prophet Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, ”Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” (2 Chronicles 20:37) And both their ships which they were building were destroyed; so he shared in the punishment of the wicked. As another prophet, Jehu, spoke, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD?” (2 Chronicles 19:2) For he also helped his father, Ahab, and went out to battle with him and endangered his own life. As the Proverb says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
Did not Eli sin greatly when he did not rebuke his sons for transgressing against the LORD? As the LORD said, “I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.” (1 Samuel 3:13) So he shared in their sins and died the same day of his sons, because he sided with his sons rather than the LORD. As it is written in the law, “You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.” (Leviticus 19:17) “You shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.” (2 Chronicles 19:10)
Or what about Ahaziah, who “also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.” (2 Chronicles 22:3) For “He did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.” (2 Chronicles 22:4) So in the day of the LORD, Jehu came against the house of Ahaz in the fierce wrath of the LORD, and Ahaziah was also struck dead because he visited Jehoram the son of Ahab, and ministered to him while he was sick (2 Chronicles 22:8); he helped the wicked and was killed with the wicked. If a man who is the friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4), then how much more is he made an enemy who befriends God’s enemy? But these things are put forth that we wouldn’t follow in the same footsteps as these men.
Therefore, as the angel says, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:4-5) In the light of these Scriptures, it is no wonder the Lord Jesus says, ”Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)
Did not Joseph hate his own brethren when he brought a bad report of them to his father? As the blessings he received says, "The blessings of your father Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; May they be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of the one separate among his brothers.” (Genesis 49:26) Or what about Levi? “Who said of his father and his mother, 'I did not consider them'; And he did not acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he regard his own sons, For they observed Your word, And kept Your covenant.” (Deuteronomy 33:9) For they did not neglect the command: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.'” (Exodus 32:27)
Or what about king David, did he not hate even his own wife when he spoke against Michal, daughter of Saul? For she spoke against him when he danced before the LORD with all his might. But Michal did not see that David danced before the LORD because she had no faith; and she said, "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!" (2 Samuel 6:20) And David chose the LORD over his own wife and spoke, “I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished." (2 Samuel 6:22)
And what about David’s commander Joab? He sinned by shedding the blood of war in a time of peace; he killed Abner, the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, although he sought peace with David. So David spoke this curse against Joab: "May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." (2 Samuel 3:29) Because he loved righteousness more than the fellowship of man, even his own commander. His voice calls out with Job’s voice: “I call to the pit, 'You are my father'; To the worm, 'my mother and my sister’;” (Job 17:14)
Or what about king Asa of Judah, did he not hate even his own mother? As it is written of him: “He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed it and burned it at the brook Kidron.” (2 Chronicles 15:16) As the Christ said, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26) As it is written: “Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-50)
“And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:59-60) “Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62) For Elisha did not look back when Elijah threw his cloak on him; but “he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.” (1 Kings 19:20-21)
The Lord has called us to live in peace. For this reason, we pay taxes; as Jesus says, “However, so that we do not offend them…” (Matthew 17:27) Again, He says in another place, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (Mark 9:50) And concerning a husband and wife, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (Mark 10:9) Furthermore, the apostle says, “God has called us to peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15) And, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12:18) And without doubt, when peace is not possible, contention and quarreling is present; and as a result, division and separation. The LORD God is the God of peace, so His children ought to be peace-loving and peacemakers.
Although our enemy’s “teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword.” (Psalms 57:4) For “I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.” (Psalms 120:7) And, “His speech are smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.” (Psalms 55:21) But let not evil subdue you; be on your guard! “Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Your servant shall be glad.” (Psalms 109:28) “The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” (Proverbs 16:21) For “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.” (Proverbs 16:23) And, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)
So whatever you do, remain in the grace of the Lord Jesus and be at peace with God the Father. Make not yourself a friend of the world, for “whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) Strive not against God, for who can succeed? Are we stronger than He? Do not resemble the fathers in the wilderness, but submit yourself to God; obey Him as a son. [“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.” (Acts 7:51)] And do not offer yourself as servants to the flesh, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” (Galatians 5:17)