Undoubtedly, these and other laws from Jehovah reflected medical and physiological concepts far ahead of their time, and the people benefited when they followed them. Yet, these laws were not given merely as a health code or to serve solely as medical guidelines. They were a part of true worship. The fact that they touched on people's daily life-eating, giving birth, marital relations, and so forth-simply emphasized the point that as their God, Jehovah had the right to determine for them what was proper and what was not proper in all aspects of their life, which had been exclusively dedicated to Jehovah. - Deuteronomy 7:6; Psalm 135:4.

The law covenant also protected the Israelites from the defiling practices of the nations around them. By faithfully keeping the law, including all the requirements for remaining clean in Jehovah's eyes, the Israelites would be fit to serve their God and to receive his blessing. In this regard, Jehovah told the nation: "If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. And you yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. - Exodus 1*9:5,6; Deuteronomy 26:19.

Since Jehovah set out such details in the law to instruct the Isrealites on how to become clean, ho ly and acceptable to him, does it not behoove Christians today to consider carefully how they measure up in this regard? Even though Christians aren't bound by the law, they must bear in mind that, as Paul explained, all the things set down in the law "are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ." (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1) If Jehovah God, who says "I have not changed," viewed being clean and undefiled as such an important factor in true worship back then, we today must take seriously the matter of being clean physically, morally and spiritually if we want his approval and blessing. - Malachi 3:6; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11,31.

Next time: Physical Cleanness Recommends Us