“The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.”
–Proverbs 13:25
The Word of God is a very complete manual for the man or woman who dwells upon the earth.
As such, it contains a GREAT deal of information on how to navigate the treacherous waters of this life. It also contains a GREAT deal of advice and observations for the man or woman who hopes to live a fulfilled, happy life.
This includes information on the most basic activities–like EATING.
It has become almost a ritual among the mockers and scoffers of the times in which we now live to make fun of the various dietary commands God handed down to the Hebrews in the Old Testament.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
–2PETER 3:3-4
“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.”
–Jude 1:18
HOWEVER, the mockers and scoffers appear to not EVER extend their mockery to the New Covenant, which does away with most of the old dietary commands–which were used largely as TEACHING tools–and which grants man the freedom to eat pretty much as he pleases–as long as he observes a few important rules.
So what is some of the advice on eating God shares in His Word?
Initially, God had few restrictions on what man could eat. There were a few advisories, but, by and large, man could eat as he pleased.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
–Genesis 1:29
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
–Genesis 9:3
And there was that ONE BIG restriction in the garden of Eden.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. “
–Genesis 2:16-17
But that one big restriction passed away with Adam and Eve breaking that ONE restriction and being evicted from the garden.
Oh, there were still a FEW restrictions. What were they?
For starters, man was NOT to eat the blood of anything that lived.
“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”
–Genesis 9:4
“And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”
–Leviticus 17:10-14
“Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water. Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.”
–Deuteronomy 12:23-25
The prohibition against eating blood was one of the few restrictions which carried over into the New Covenant, with it’s increased freedoms and liberties for the followers of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
–Acts 15:28-29
One other prohibition which concerned eating had to do with GLUTTONY or overeating and drunkenness, or consuming too much alcohol.
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
–Proverbs 23:20-21
A change in emphasis was one of the important CHANGES between the Old and New Covenants. Under the new covenant, all eating and drinking was to be done by recognizing where that provision ultimately came from.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
–1CORINTHIANS 10:31
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
–Colossians 3:17
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
–Ephesians 5:20
The teaching time of the Old Covenant over, the attitude being more free about what was to be eaten by those under the NEW Covenant was summed up by 1TIMOTHY 4:4-5.
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
So now, the emphasis was on giving thanks for all that God had provided man, as part of His creation–instead of prohibiting the eating of entire classes of animals which God had originally created to be enjoyed by man.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
–Genesis 1:27-28
The change in emphasis was just as well, as many men had earlier concentrated on the LETTER of those dietary restrictions instead of focusing on the underlying ideas they were meant to teach.
Still, for all of the many observations, commands and advice offered by God’s Word, surely the most striking–as well as one of the most memorable verses in the entire Bible concerns eating.
It is to be found in Proverbs 25:16–which provided a MUCH more vivid image than what was said in Proverbs 25:27.
“It is not good to eat much honey”
–Proverbs 25:27
“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.”
–Proverbs 25:16
MORE: Gluttony: A Sin Common to Modern Life
MORE: Eating Blood: Another Sin Made Fashionable
DOES the reader eat according to what God commands?
OR, does the reader believe that that’s “just a bunch of words“?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: November 17, 2020.]
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MORE: Gluttony: A Sin Common to Modern Life
MORE: Eating Blood: Another Sin Made Fashionable
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