Diet

The distinction between clean and unclean was made in all matters of diet: ““‘I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore distinguish between clean beasts and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing ... which I have separated from you as unclean.”’” Leviticus 20:24, 25.MHH 156.6

Many articles of food eaten freely by the heathen about them were forbidden to the Israelites. It was no arbitrary distinction that was made. The things prohibited were unwholesome. And the fact that they were pronounced unclean taught the lesson that the use of injurious foods is defiling. That which corrupts the body tends to corrupt the soul. It unfits the user for communion with God, unfits one for high and holy service.MHH 157.1

In the Promised Land the discipline begun in the wilderness was continued under circumstances favorable to the formation of right habits. The people were not crowded together in cities, but each family had its own landed possession, ensuring the health-giving blessings of a natural, unperverted life.MHH 157.2

Concerning the cruel, licentious practices of the Canaanites, who were dispossessed by Israel, the Lord said: ““‘You shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them.”’” Verse 23. “‘Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it.’” Deuteronomy 7:26.MHH 157.3

In all the affairs of their daily life, the Israelites were taught the lesson set forth by the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.MHH 157.4