| THE BIRDS Lev. 20:25 |
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| There is more than co-incidental significance to the use of the plural words "birds" and "fowl" in the Word of God. In fact the kingdom parables cannot be properly understood or interpreted without grasping the significance of God's judgment. There is a distinction between the clean and the unclean fowl. There were more of the unclean variety than there were of the clean. (Lev. 11:13-19) Clean birds have a wholesom significance in the Bible as is the case of the dove (a type of the spiritual man). The unclean birds are repeatedly classed together and regarded as being scavangers which live at least in part, off carrion. More often than not when the general term "birds" or "fowl" is used the connotation is evil. There are three associations which the scriptures make with "birds". I. Desolation as the result of judgment A. The example of Babylon - Isa. 13:19-22 and Jer. 50:39 B. The example of Idumea or Edom - Isa. 34:11-15 II. Death as the Result of Judgment A. Gen 40:19 & 19 - The Baker's Dream B. 2 Sam. 21:10 - The birds were not permitted to devour the carcasses of Saul's descendants who died in judgment. C. Deut. 28:26 - A statement of the curse of God for disobedience. D. 1 Sam. 17:44 & 46 - The Philistine flesh to be given to the fowl of the air. E. 1 Kings 14:11, 16:4, 21:24 - of the various families upon which God pronounced judgment. F. Jer. 7:33, 15:3, 16:4, 19:7, 34:20 - "meat for the fowls" as the result of judgment. G. Ezek. 39:4 & 17, Rev. 19:17 & 21 - The judgment of God at Armeggedon. III. Definement Worth of Judgment A. Acts 10:9-14 - Peter and the matter of unclean meat, especially verse 12. B. Rev. 18:2 - Babylon is "a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." C. Ezek. 31:3-18 - The anti-God kingdom of Assyria is a roosting place for all sorts of birds. D. Dan 4:1-14 - Babylon under Nebuchanezzar E. Matt. 13:3-9 & 19 - The parable of the Sower - "the fowls" are "the wicked one." F. Matt. 13:31, 32 - Coupled with the parable of the Leaven, the progress of the kingdom "professing Christianity" will be to bigness but in the process will become a haven for the unclean birds of this world. |
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