More on Leviticus 11v3. We have already discussed how the Old Testament Law contains 'types', illustrations intended to show us something about Christ. We have looked at a possible allegory about the Godhead symbolised by the cloven hoof. These illustrations are subjective and personal; use them as far as they make sense to you in the view of the full New Testament revelation.
Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Leviticus 11:3
Last time I talked about the imagery of the cloven foot. Now for chewing the cud.
An animal which chews the cud normally feeds on grass or other vegetation. It then swallows it, and part-digests it. It is brought up to chew again, often multiple times. Why? To complete digestion and extract all the nutrient.
The food is very specific, usually grass. The animal chews it over repeatedly, over a period of time, until it has extracted all the goodness.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalms 119:9
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.*
Psalm 1:1-2
The Word of God is a very specific food, a singular input into out psyche, our being. Just like an animal eating only grass. It enters through the 'eye gate', not the mouth. The mouth can then be used to consolidate the Word within us, as we read it out loud.
The entire Word is uniquely God-breathed. It needs repeated reading, combined with meditation. We need to 'ruminate' on it, day and night. We are in a hostile climate, and increasingly so. We need to nourish our souls with real food.
A pig on the other hand is an animal which does not chew the cud. It is not Kosher**.
The famously-blunt healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth is recorded as having opened a minister's lunch centred around a hog roast with this prayer:
'Lord, if you can bless what you have cursed, then bless this stinking pig'.
Presumably the ministers were a little uncertain about how to proceed. Correct theology would've resolved the conundrum.
A pig itself will eat just about anything, and gulp it back pretty quickly.
The world offers many forms of reading and audio-visual entertainment. They often offer instant gratification. They are designed to look and sound instantly appealing, to grab our attention. They are easily digested, but not really worthy of prolonged or repeated attention. They do not nourish the deeper parts of the soul, and they may also poison it. The wicked feed from these things, and behave in line with them.
Paul instructs
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Our minds are transformed by washing with the Word, the Bible.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25-27
**In the current age, the Church age, we are not forbidden from eating its meat.
We are not under the curse of the Law anyway.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
Galatians 3:13
The curse of the Law is recorded in Deuteronomy chapter 27, starting in verse 9, and on into chapter 28. The Israelites cursed themselves if they broke the Law of Moses.
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