CLEANLINESS AND GODLINESS

Time with Jesus - 3 Dec 2013

Hi all,

The origin of “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” a common proverb, dates as far back as ancient Hebrew writings and possibly longer. While some attribute it to the Bible, it's actually not found there. 

The first known English appearance of the proverb is from the writings of Sir Francis Bacon in 1605. In his 'Advancement of Learning' Bacon wrote, “Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.” Roughly 200 years later, John Wesley used the words we are now familiar with. 

The phrase is not meant to be taken literally, although many “neat freaks” would argue otherwise! The saying is meant to remind us to keep our hearts and minds clear of evil and "dirty" thoughts, leaving them free and clean for God.

Some people take for granted the importance of cleanliness. Keeping yourself clean is important because it keeps you away from diseases. This is why medical experts always remind us to wash our hands. Proper hygiene is vital in keeping ourselves healthy. We also don’t want our friends or colleagues to avoid us because we have body odour. 

It is also important to keep our surrounding clean, because this will help in eliminating unwanted visitors such as cockroaches, flies and rodents. A tidy environment is good for all of us.

In 1982, Phyllida and I befriended a couple who lived fairly close to our home. They were a delightful pair who were experiencing marital problems. Their marriage continued to deteriorate over the course of the next several months and they decided to divorce. We continued to maintain friendship with them both. even though the husband moved out of the marital home.

Phyllida and I had both been through divorce, so we were aware of the problems typically confronting them. He had nowhere to live so we agreed to “put him up” until he could find somewhere. If my memory is correct it was for about 2 weeks.

He had a serious health problem. He suffered from severe halitosis. This was a factor which may have influenced his wife to proceed with divorce. Phyllida and I were rather embarrassed. We didn’t like him within our personal space. 

The smell was overpowering. We wondered if it was purely a hygiene problem and perhaps all he needed was a toothbrush and toothpaste. A quick check in the bathroom revealed a wet toothbrush and toothpaste. Eventually we found his halitosis originated from several bad teeth which could be repaired by his dentist. He couldn’t see the dentist because he didn’t have money to pay for his treatment!

References to “Wash” in the Pentateuch
Gen:19:2	Exo:40:30	Lev:13:58	Lev:15:16	Num:8:7
Gen:24:32	Lev:1:9	Lev:14:8	Lev:15:21	Num:19:7
Exo:2:5	Lev:1:13	Lev:14:9	Lev:15:22	Num:19:8
Exo:19:10	Lev:6:27	Lev:14:47	Lev:15:27	Num:19:10
Exo:29:4	Lev:9:14	Lev:15:5	Lev:16:4	Num:19:19
Exo:29:17	Lev:11:25	Lev:15:6	Lev:16:24	Num:19:21
Exo:30:18	Lev:11:28	Lev:15:7	Lev:16:26	Num:31:24
Exo:30:19	Lev:11:40	Lev:15:8	Lev:16:28	Deu:21:6
Exo:30:20	Lev:13:6	Lev:15:10	Lev:17:15	Deu:23:11
Exo:30:21	Lev:13:34	Lev:15:11	Lev:17:16
Exo:40:12	Lev:13:54	Lev:15:13	Lev:22:6

One of the earliest Biblical examples of God’s requirement for cleanliness is found in the story of the flood. If we read Genesis 6 we find that the earth was filled with violence.

⁵ And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen 6:5-6 KJV. Verse 5 states that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

It’s difficult for us to imagine just how “dirty” this world seemed to Him. Now we have a custom in 2013. Essentially it is that when something gets dirty, wash it clean. In this regard, God showed us the way! Essentially He decided to wash away the filth in an international giant flood. 

The result would be that man and all animal and bird life on earth would be washed away. He was about to place planet earth into an antediluvian dish-washer. Fortunately for you and me, God decided he would save Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives along with pairs of the animals. 

¹¹ Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. ¹² God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. ¹³ So God said to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

¹⁴ "Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. Gen 6:11-14 NLT

The story of Noah building the Ark and the flood is well known. What is perhaps not realised is the tremendous impact this would have on the surface of the earth. I’ve read a comment that the highest level of the water covering the earth was a number of kilometres above the top of what we call Mt Everest. 

As the water drained away into what we now call oceans, the impact on the surface of the earth would be enormous. Certainly sufficient to produce what we call continents.

God is “passionate” about cleanliness. By way of illustration I’ve produced a list of references to the word “wash” from e-Sword using the KJV. It’s an interesting exercise to look up these references and see the extent of His passion about you and I being clean. There are “laws” covering all kinds of different situation. These references are separate from the 10 commandments or 10 Living Words as referred to by the Jews.

What we find is that God prescribed regulations concerning ritual cleanliness and uncleanliness. It’s worth noting that women were ceremonially unclean for 14 days during their monthly cycle. Thus a husband and wife could only come together during the 14 days of her being ceremonially clean. Incidentally, at the end of the 14 days of uncleanliness, she was required to have a special bath. We also find that she was most likely to conceive during the following 14 days. It has been suggested that the David and Bathsheba incident came about as a result of her having her ritual bath at the conclusion of her ceremonial uncleanness.

It has been said that many Jews do not believe women go to heaven. The ceremonial cleanness and uncleanness would render it just about impossible! 

Thank God for Jesus and the New Covenant! How the Jewish ladies cope with these regulations is beyond my understanding.

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 3 Dec 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	CLEANLINESS AND GODLINESS
In the 1960’s in the UK, radio was still comparatively popular. TV was well and truly ensconced, but radio was far from forgotten. There were some programmes that were widely followed. One of them was a weekly “Letter from America” by Alistair Cook. He would take a broad look at what was happening around him. His descriptions were classic. Very often, with tongue in cheek he would report on the latest “fad” going on around him. At times he was most complimentary. His weekly letter had been read since shortly after WW2 and people loved it. When he passed away, it was the closest thing to a national day of mourning that I remember. Other favourites included “Beyond our Ken” featuring the comedy of Kenneth Horne. He followed this with “Around the Horn” which also became a “national event”. Another favourite was a show called, “My Word”. The stars were two “show writers” called Frank Muir and Dennis Norden. Their “pierce de resistance” occurred at the beginning and end of the show. At the beginning they were given a well-known expression. They were asked to think about it and, at the end, they would be asked to explain how and where, in their imagination, these saying came about. On one occasion the phrase was, “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones”. One of them went into an elaborate tale of an African King who lived in a grass house and who kept his thrones in a tree. One day the thrones fell on him through the roof and killed him. Hence the expression, “People who live in grass houses should not store thrones”. One of the pithy “proverbs” from my youth was, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. It’s one of those statements we feel sure originates in the Bible. Much to our subsequent surprise, we find it doesn’t. It just seems to sound so right; it should be there somewhere! In fact, in many cases, just the opposite is true. This is because you and I know what appeals to others. Then, when the customer is impressed, a product is produced that is a trade-off between expectation and price. Not many people can afford the excellence of quality and luxury of a Rolls Royce. Some make do with something a little cheaper! Their decision will be dictated by functionality and affordability. The rich will settle for well-known top of the range cars. The poor will have to get by with something that is “pre-owned”. Others will have to make do with “Shank’s pony”. However, whatever it is that we finally settle on, Christians must realise that this thinking pervades almost everything. We know that we are the Temple of the Living God. We know that He is living in us. In other words, all of us are equal in the eyes of God. But the location and comfort of our “temple” depends on our desire to be clean and Godly. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 NLT	Cleanliness and Godliness, are said to be a pair, That people all should follow and something we should share. It isn’t in the Bible and is quite often true. But is it universal in everything we do? It hinges on our motives. It hangs upon our goals. It hinges on the purposes, within our hearts and souls. Some people are fastidious in keeping themselves clean. But in their hearts we find that they are covetous and mean. The cleanliness is outward; they wash away the dirt. But they are quite indifferent, to all the pain and hurt, Which they cause other people. They’re fine on the outside, But when you get to know them, they are sin personified! Our Lord and Master Jesus, once spoke of them that way. They are like whited sepulchres; outside they look OK. But underneath the surface; below the whitened stones, They’re littered with corruption and filled with dead men’s bones. He said this of the Pharisees and all their outward rites. Very few were interested in other people’s plights. They’d wash their hands in public when they sat down for a meal. All of the observers would think it very real. But none of it was genuine. They did it all for show; And to impress the people whom they didn’t want to know! They took as their example, what God said He desired. Washing at the laver, He certainly required. “To and from the tabernacle, wash your hands and feet!” It was never optional. And if they didn’t meet, These absolute requirements, most likely they would die. This was the commandment from God Who reigns on High. It is a requirement that still lives on today. Christians are the Temple of God in every way. We must keep it spotless and always free from sin. Give no opportunity for Satan to come in. Jesus Christ will wash us; His blood will make us clean. When we are repentant and confess what we have been. Each of us are temples. His Spirit is inside; With a special purpose; to lead us and to guide. God has said He’ll do it. It is His guarantee. That if we follow Jesus, with Him we’ll always be! Jim Strickland Written 3rd December 2012
			18 "You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the LORD, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations." Exodus 30:18-21 ESV
			19 Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 MSG
			17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:17 NLT
			26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27 I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:26-27 NLT
			27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21:27 NLT
			13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? Habakkuk 1:13 TNIV
			1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV