Physical health in the Bible.
People around the world are becoming more health conscious. New gyms are sprouting up in different places, while health experts speak about diet and nutrition, often giving contradictory messages. Is there a sure guide to better health?
Imagine if we put the human “experts” aside for a moment and listen to what the Word of God has to say. Don’t you think the God who created us would surely know what is best for our health?
Get ready to be amazed with some amazing physical health in the Bible info!
“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
Here God promises health to those who follow His commandments.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
“You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Exodus 23:25).
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).
God wants you to enjoy a better health.
What was God’s original diet for humans?
“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food’” (Genesis 1:29).
God’s original diet for humans (as well as all animals) was plant based. Meat was allowed after the Flood.
Many studies today have demonstrated the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. A balanced vegetarian or even vegan diet is optimum for humans.
Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 contain clear guidelines as to which animals are permitted for human consumption and which are not. Animals not permitted are called UNCLEAN.
On land:
“These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat” (Leviticus 11:2-3).
Animals eaten commonly like the pig, rabbit, and many others are not suitable for food according to the Bible.
In the waters:
“These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat” (Leviticus 11:9).
Seafood is not permissible since they don’t have fins or scales.
Concerning birds there is no specific characteristic. Rather the Bible gives a list of birds that cannot be eaten (Leviticus 11:13-19). Birds of prey and carrion and fish eaters are not allowed.
The animals that can be eaten we call clean. The animals that God forbids are called unclean and Biblically are not considered to be food.
Physical health in the Bible means a diet the does not include the consumption of unclean animals.
“You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:43-44).
Note the words “abominable” and “defiled by them.” Strong words. Abstaining from unclean animals is a requirement for being holy.
“Behold, the Lord will come with fire … and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many. Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves … eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together” (Isaiah 66:15–17).
These are strong words. And they relate in a special way to the end times when Jesus will return.
Absolutely not!
There are four texts that sometimes people use to suggest that the clean/unclean distinction has been abolished. For a discussion of these see the relevant studies.
Absolutely!
“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!’” (Revelation 18:2).
Revelation is the last book of the Bible and it was written by the apostle John, the last of the apostles who outlived every other apostle. Notice how it refers to “unclean and hated birds” and makes a parallel between these birds and “foul” [Greek, “unclean”] spirits!
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13).
The above translation is slightly inaccurate. The literal translation of the text is: “And I saw three spirits unclean like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon…”
In other words, the adjective “unclean” refers not only to the spirits but primarily to the frogs, to which the spirits are likened.
If the distinction between clean and unclean animals had been abolished, why then does John, the last apostle of the New Testament, refer to unclean birds and frogs in such a way as to compare demons to them?
In Bible times distillation had not been developed yet so alcoholic beverages had a low content of alcohol. Nonetheless, the Bible offers strong warnings against them.
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
“Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:31, 32).
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
“Dissipation” translates the Greek word asōtia, literally “absence of salvation.” A person who takes pleasure in drinking may end up lost! Moreover, Paul here contrasts being filled with wine vs being filled with the Spirit. In comes the wine, out goes the Spirit. You cannot have both.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
“Sober” means with a clear mind not beclouded by alcohol. It translates the Greek word nȇphō which means “not to drink.” In order to withstand the attacks of the devil we need a clear mind not clouded by alcohol.
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).
“Watchful,” here translates the Greek nȇphō, we met already in 5:8. Peter admonishes end-time believers not to pollute their prayers even with one drop of alcohol.
“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).
Harmful substances like tobacco or drugs offer nothing good to the human body. They are addictive and damage the body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
“Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
NOTE: If you are a smoker and would like to quit, help is available. Visit this website for more info.
A. Nutrition (discussed above).
B. Exercise. God placed Adam in a beautiful garden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15). Regular exercise whether in the form of gentle manual labour or otherwise is known to greatly improve health.
C. Water. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). Water is a symbol of spiritual cleansing as well as a source of refreshing and physical cleansing. Drinking plenty and washing regularly are essential to good health.
D. Sunlight. “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). While too much of it can be dangerous, a regular amount of exposure to the sun can have multiple health benefits.
F. Air. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Ever since God first breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, oxygen full air is essential for optimum health. If you live in a polluted city, ensure you take long walks in nature for fresh air.
G. Rest. “And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep” (Matthew 8:24). God gave us the night so we can sleep and rest. Even the Lord Jesus needed His sleep. A good night’s rest will give you renewed energy for the new day ahead. Moreover, God gave us the Sabbath as a day of weekly rest and recreation. “And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56).
H. Trust. “’For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17). Trusting in God removes the burden of guilt and fear and sets us free to enjoy life in abundance, as God desires.
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
In whatever we do we should ensure that our actions and habits build health and give glory to God.
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus not only gives the promise of eternal life. He also wants us to have here on earth a life that is of a higher quality, both spiritually and physically. And we can have this by following the Bible principles outlined above for a better life.
Do you want to have the better life Jesus wants you to have?
Yes, I want to have the abundant life Jesus promised, spiritually as well as physically, and I commit to follow God’s principles to that effect.
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