CLEANNESS VITAL for SPIRITUALITY - - - - - - -IT HONORS GOD JEHOVAH

A CLEAN PEOPLE HONORS JEHOVAH
Cleanness is a vital quality a man must possess if he must be acceptable to many people.
Physical Cleanness Is Associated With Spiritual Acceptableness
No doubt as a father or mother you will be fond of your children, but consider this, better still imagine that you are returning from a party of which you are well dressed ,your children saw you and want to come and hug you because they are very glad you are back. As they are about to hug you notice that all their bodies is stain by oil, what will you do? Allow them to hug you? No doubt you will quickly use tact to dodge them. The question of why, is not applicable here because if you allow him you will be stained.
The same way Jehovah will feel being a holy God. Therefore cannot accept dirty people as his worshippers. The quality of holiness belongs to Jehovah. Please try and read this portion of the Bible. Exodus chapter 39 verses 30 to see that holiness belongs to Jehovah. This verse authentically states the clean state of the person of Jehovah God. Jesus Christ addressed him as a holy father. Those in the heavens are declaring the holiness of Jehovah. They shout "holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies". This is because his holiness and cleanness is in the superlative degree. He is the most holy one, who is superior to all others holiness.
He is profaned by uncleanness, physical or spiritual and like that father he have to reject unclean people until they change from their unclean ways of life. So he keep exhorting people to make themselves clean. Please check this out how prophet Isaiah puts it in Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 16. So he urges the Israelites to wash themselves and their clothing for an awesome assembly at Mount Sinai. {Exodus19:10, 11}This is because physical cleanness is associated with spiritual acceptableness. And if they are clean then they can honor Jehovah the holy God.
Aaron and his sons had to wash with water from the large copper basin before serving in the tent of meeting. By doing washing themselves they will not profane Jehovah and his meeting.
Apart from the meetings and assemblies for worship, Jehovah also require that the camp of the Israelites, their place of living and it's environ should be kept clean. {Deuteronomy 23:10} This is because there is a link between physical cleanness and spiritual one. Jehovah cannot be in their midst if the camp is not clean.
So everyone in the camp has the responsibility of keeping the camp clean. Keep utensils, houses, clothing and the environment clean. It therefore curtails the spread of diseases and improves their health. They also look different from other nations and this honor the God who brought them from the land of Egypt-Jehovah-and he will continue dealing with them.
Thoughtlessness regarding the honor due Jehovah was not tolerated if someone disregard Jehovah's command concerning holiness and refuse to purify himself according to the instruction given he will risk Jehovah's disfavor and the whole camp will act against him to prevent Jehovah's wrath. So everyone for the sake of his life must give thought always to the matter of cleanness, their way of life.
Why all these rules about cleanness, was it to punish the Israelites as a burden? Not, at all. The cleanness require under the law was a basis for happiness. God's people not have to view his requirements about cleanness as difficult, burdensome, or oppressive. No doubt, no one will like to step on refuse dump or human dung, while walking on his way. We are irritated by offensive odor and more so we always try to get away from those who are having contagious diseases, so that we do not get affected by them. So it was not an oppressive law but a refreshing one. By all making reasonable effort to obey these laws, the people would be able to live in a more pleasant environment. They could take satisfaction in being a healthier people, I they did not eat things that are unclean as states in the law. They will be less at risk of epidemics, if they follow the law that shows how a person should be quarantine, to know whether or not a person is to be in camp. Being clean will reduce their rate of illness.
God's providing such guidance could help them to see that he cared about them and they were special to him. Because, other nations did not have such regulations, the Israelites indeed would be benefiting from that loving guidance.

This is a first of a series of articles dealing with cleanness honor Jehovah the holy God. Look forward to subseqeunt bulletin.