Deuteronomy 23:9-14

It is God’s desire that we maintain hygienic practices to lead healthy, godly lives. Currently, Nigeria and other parts of Africa are facing severe flooding. Verse 9 instructs us to stay away from all that is impure. Here, God calls us to avoid any form of impurity, which was particularly relevant for the Israelites in times of conflict. The book of Deuteronomy serves as a second law, providing various regulations for the Israelites as a covenant people. This passage outlines God’s guidelines for their lives to ensure they could live in accordance with their covenant. For us today, it’s crucial to avoid all forms of impurity, both physically and spiritually. No one wishes to be surrounded by impurities physically, so we are required to keep ourselves clean. Spiritually, since God resides within us through His Spirit, failing to keep our bodies free from impurity can grieve Him.

Verse 12 states, “Designate a place outside the camp where you can relieve yourself.” This emphasizes the need to eliminate all forms of filth, which challenges us to remain vigilant against any kind of impurity.

We must be intentional about maintaining hygiene, which is why God instructed the people to create a designated area for sanitation, digging a hole and covering it afterward. This reflects our responsibility to keep our environment clean. God emphasizes the importance of environmental cleanliness for individuals, communities, and churches. Part of the reason we face environmental disasters like floods is our negligence in cleanliness. Weather reports indicate that the rains will persist if we don’t prioritize cleanliness, which won’t bode well for us. The ongoing flooding will continue unless we act. This serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness, as well as personal hygiene, which contributes to our overall health.