Question:
Will you please explain Deuteronomy 14:26? It seems to me that it is a very wide opening with no restrictions.
Answer:
God delights in the pleasure of those who are truly His and are seeking His glory. If those mentioned in the text were indeed His children, they would not desire that which would dishonor God. They would not eat the flesh of animals forbidden in that very chapter. But, let’s compare that verse with Deuteronomy 12:15, 16, 20, 21, which states:
“Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water… When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after. If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.”
We can see that the flesh they could eat of all the desire of their soul was from their herds and flocks, which the Lord gave them, and of which they were commanded they could eat. They were given specific commands relating to what was deemed clean and unclean (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14) and how those clean animals were to be eaten, i.e., no fat, no blood, etc.
As for the “strong drink” mentioned, all references to alcoholic beverages found in Scripture are condemnatory. “The Hebrews might have used several methods, well known in the ancient world, to provide unfermented ritual grape juice throughout the year. One way was to steep raisins in water until they were soft, and then squeeze out the elixir. Another was to heat the freshly harvested juice gently for several hours until it had evaporated to half or one-third of its volume (SDA Source Book, pp. 122-124). Occasionally called “strong” or concentrated drink, this unfermented syrup easily remained alcohol-free for long periods of time. When needed for various rites, water was added to bring it to a proper consistency (Berakoth 8:2; Pesahim 10:2, 4, 7).” (With Jesus in His Sanctuary, Leslie Hardinge, Ph.D., p. 386). God emphasizes the principle which should ever control: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. That is the true motive always.
