In the teaching that God gave to Israel, the preservation
of health received careful attention. The people who had
come from slavery with the uncleanly and unhealthful habits
which it engenders, were subjected to the strictest training in
the wilderness before entering Canaan. Health principles
were taught and sanitary laws enforced.
Prevention of Disease
Not only in their religious service, but in all the affairs of
daily life was observed the distinction between clean and
unclean. All who came in contact with contagious or
contaminating diseases were isolated from the encampment, and
they were not permitted to return without thorough cleansing
of both the person and the clothing. In the case of one afflicted
with a contaminating disease, the direction was given:
"Every bed, whereon he lieth, . . . is unclean: and
everything, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean. And whosoever
toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in
water, and be unclean until the even. And he that sitteth on
anything whereon he sat . . . shall wash his clothes, and
bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And
he that toucheth the flesh of him . . . shall wash his clothes,
and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
. . . And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him
shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of
those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water,
and be unclean until the even. And whomsoever he toucheth
. . . and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his
clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the
even. And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth, . . . shall
be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water."
Leviticus 15:4-12.
The law concerning leprosy is also an illustration of the
thoroughness with which these regulations were to be
enforced:
"All the days wherein the plague shall be in him [the
leper] he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell
alone; without the camp shall his habitation be. The garment
also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woolen
garment, or a linen garment; whether it be in the warp, or
woof; of linen, or of woolen; whether in a skin, or in anything
made of skin; . . . the priest shall look upon the plague: . . .
if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or
in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin;
the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean. He shall
therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woolen
or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it
is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire." Leviticus
13:46-52.
So, too, if a house gave evidence of conditions that
rendered it unsafe for habitation, it was destroyed. The priest
was to "break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber
thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry
them forth out of the city into an unclean place. Moreover
he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up
shall be unclean until the even. And he that lieth in the house
shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall
wash his clothes." Leviticus 14:45-47.
Cleanliness
The necessity of personal cleanliness was taught in the
most impressive manner. Before gathering at Mount Sinai
to listen to the proclamation of the law by the voice of God,
the people were required to wash both their persons and
their clothing. This direction was enforced on pain of
death. No impurity was to be tolerated in the presence of
God.
During the sojourn in the wilderness the Israelites were
almost continually in the open air, where impurities would
have a less harmful effect than upon the dwellers in close
houses. But the strictest regard to cleanliness was required
both within and without their tents. No refuse was allowed
to remain within or about the encampment. The Lord said:
"The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to
deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee;
therefore shall thy camp be holy." Deuteronomy 23:14.
Diet
The distinction between clean and unclean was made in all
matters of diet:
"I am the Lord thy God, which have separated you from
other people. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean
beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean:
and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by
fowl, or by any manner of living thing, . . . which I have
separated from you as unclean." Leviticus 20:24, 25.
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 him
for high and holy service.
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 to all the health-giving blessings of a natural,
unperverted life.
Concerning the cruel, licentious practices of the
Canaanites, who were dispossessed by Israel, the Lord said:
"Ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I
cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and
therefore I abhorred them." Verse 23. "Neither shalt thou
bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed
thing like it." Deuteronomy 7:26.
In all the affairs of their daily life, the Israelites were
taught the lesson set forth by the Holy Spirit:
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple
of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,
which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.
Rejoicing
"A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine."
Proverbs 17:22. Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in
God's love and care--these are health's greatest safeguard.
To the Israelites they were to be the very keynote of life.
The journey made three times a year to the annual feasts
at Jerusalem, the week's sojourn in booths during the Feast
of Tabernacles, were opportunities for outdoor recreation and
social life. These feasts were occasions of rejoicing, made
sweeter and more tender by the hospitable welcome given to
the stranger, the Levite, and the poor.
"Rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath
given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite,
and the stranger that is among you." Deuteronomy 26:11.
So, in later years, when the law of God was read in
Jerusalem to the captives returned from Babylon, and the people
wept because of their transgressions, the gracious words were
spoken:
"Mourn not. . . . Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye
sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah
8:9, 10.
And it was published and proclaimed "in all their cities,
and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch
olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and
palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths,
as it is written. So the people went forth, and brought them,
and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his
house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of
God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of
the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation of them that
were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat
under the booths. . . . And there was very great gladness."
Verses 15-17.
God gave to Israel instruction in all the principles essential
to physical as well as to moral health, and it was concerning
these principles no less than concerning those of the moral
law that He commanded them:
"These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in
thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou
liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind
them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets
between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the
posts of thy house, and on thy gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
"And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,
What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the
judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then
thou shalt say unto thy son, . . . The Lord commanded us
to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good
always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day."
Verses 20-24.
Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received,
and profited by their advantages, they would have been the
world's object lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people
they had lived according to God's plan, they would have been
preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations. Above
any other people they would have possessed physical strength
and vigor of intellect. They would have been the mightiest
nation on the earth. God said:
"Thou shalt be blessed above all people." Deuteronomy
7:14.
"The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar
people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest
keep all His commandments; and to make thee high above all
nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in
honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord
thy God, as He hath spoken." Deuteronomy 26:18, 19.
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake
thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in
the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit
of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy
kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket
and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and
blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out." Deuteronomy
28:2-6.
"The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy
storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and
He shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee. The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself,
as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the
commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways. And
all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the
name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the
Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy
body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy
ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers
to give thee. The Lord shall open unto thee His good treasure,
the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to
bless all the work of thine hand. . . . And the Lord shall
make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above
only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto
the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command
thee this day, to observe and to do them." Verses 8-13.
To Aaron the high priest and his sons the direction was
given:
"On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying
unto them,
"Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:
Jehovah make His face to shine upon thee,
And be gracious unto thee:
Jehovah lift up His countenance upon thee,
And give thee peace.
So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel;
And I will bless them."
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be.
There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun,
Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help,
And in His excellency on the skies.
The eternal God is thy dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms. . . .
Israel dwelleth in safety,
The fountain of Jacob alone,
"In a land of corn and wine;
Yea, His heavens drop down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel:
Who is like unto thee, a people saved by the Lord,
The shield of thy help,
And that is the sword of thy excellency!"
Numbers 6:23; 6:24-27, A.R.V.;
Deuteronomy 33:25-29, R.V.
The Israelites failed of fulfilling God's purpose, and thus
failed of receiving the blessings that might have been theirs.
But in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elisha, and many
others, we have noble examples of the results of the true plan
of living. Like faithfulness today will produce like results.
To us it is written:
"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises
of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light." 1 Peter 2:9.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,
And whose hope the Lord is."
He "shall flourish like the palm tree:
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age."
"They shall be vigorous and covered with foliage."
"Let thine heart keep My commandments:
For length of days, and long life,
And peace, shall they add to thee."
"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,
And thy foot shall not stumble.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden fear,
Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence,
And shall keep thy foot from being taken."
Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 92:12-14; 92:15, Leeser;
Proverbs 3:1, 2, 23-26.