Health Principles (Part 4)
“Without a knowledge of health principles, no one is fitted for life’s responsibilities.”
Chapter 21—Hygiene Among the Israelites
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.
https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/135.1386#1386
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for blessing us to understand that perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, and careful attention to sanitation in every detail of the home life are essential to freedom from disease and to the cheerfulness and vigor of every member of the home. Please bless us to faithfully follow Your guidance in all things that we might experience all the blessings You have in store for each one of us as long as we live. Please bless us to be a blessing to others especially to influence healthy thoughts and habits, according to Your will and their need. Thank You because we ask it in the Awesome and Almighty name of Your Son, Jesus, our Saving King. Amen.
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