We come now to a law which strikes modern ears as somewhat odd. The law, considered in itself, is clearly a kind one, but the occasion that gave rise to the law is not one we encounter every day. Or do we? At this point, we should discover that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This begins the exposition that Moses gives of the fourth commandment. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk (Deuteronomy 14:21b).
We are considering a very short portion of this passage, and so an overview in our usual sense is not possible. At the same time, let us consider why this can be considered a fitting introduction to the exposition of the fourth commandment—and unfortunately, it contains a principle which has been too frequently ignored, and which has been ignored flagrantly among those who purport to honor the sabbath. Moreover the principle involved here has broader (and just as profound) applications to other comparable aspects of our lives. The law says that a young goat must not be cooked in his mother’s milk. The principle is self-evident: that which is intended by God to be the means of life must not be perverted into an instrument of death. God demands respect for the natural order of things.
When Paul cites a similarly kind provision for animals, i.e. that an ox which is treading out the grain must not be muzzled, he makes a passing comment which we would do well to note in this context. He says, “Is it oxen God is concerned about?” (1 Cor. 9:9) A man could woodenly obey the law and have his oxen unmuzzled—that’s what the law says—and that same man could refuse to support ministers of the gospel. If he were to do so, he would be disobedient to the law, even though he adhered scrupulously to the letter of it. Paul argues his point from the usual order of things (1 Cor. 9:7), and he argues it from the law (v. 8).
So was this law thrown in as a random piece of legislation in response to activity by the goat lobby? Those who think so understand neither the Scriptures nor the kindness of God.
We need to understand sabbath milk. Whenever we talk about sabbath issues, we have a very sinful tendency to rush to all the wrong questions. “Can I do this, do I get to do that? God’s point in all this is clearly to wreck my Sunday afternoons.” Our first question has to do with what the sabbath does not allow. But the fundamental principle is given clearly by Isaiah—call the sabbath a delight (Is. 58:13). And even this verse is abused, with truncated and narrow sabbath observance substituted in for the real thing, and then people are upbraided for not taking delight in being cooked in what used to be their milk. This error was warned against by Moses. Jesus rebuked it—the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. The milk was for the kid, not the kid for the milk. Think for a moment, the Word tells us.
The sabbath is a feast, not a fast (Lev. 23:2-3). The Lord’s day is a feast, not a fast (Jude 12). Of course, because it is a feast, we are to avoid corrupting it with selfishness and immorality (1 Cor. 11:20-21; Jude 12). And also, because it is a feast, we are to avoid destroying it by throwing away all the food in order to nibble on a cracker.
Notice again the inescapable situation we are in. Either you feed and nourish the children of God or you cook and eat them. If you love God, if you love your children, if you love your own soul, consider your ways and live.
There are other situations where this sabbath principle applies. Not surprisingly, this principle has many applications beyond the sabbath. This is because our gracious God has given us milk and honey in many other forms, and the sinful heart wants to twist them all. Here are a few representative applications. The first is education—children are to be taught in such a way that their learning is their delight. Don’t make learning — what ought to be their joy and delight — into a gradgrind affair. Don’t set up the classical Christian school from Hell. The second is marital joy—that which God gave to be an expression of closest union is not to be made an occasion for tension and conflict. Lovemaking is an occasion to give, not grab. Quarrels over sex are self-contradictory. And a third example is the idea of women in combat—women are designed by God to nurture and sustain life—not to be kinky warriorettes. Women are designed by God to be nurturers of life, not dealers of death. Do not take that which was given for life and turn it into an instrument of death.
What are we to do with this great principle? Reject pious masochism—our God is a God who gives us a weekly holyday—that is, holiday. He requires celebration one day out of seven. He wants to be invited and honored during this rich feasting. This richness is whole milk. But a common truncated sabbath version of this substitutes in low-fat milk and then turns the burner on high in order to cook the kids. And then wonders why non-sabbatarians hate the sabbath! And stop perverting the home—there is a vast difference between home cooking and being cooked at home. What are some of the things which cause the sweet nourishment of a home to be turned into a cauldron of death? The list is clearly not exhaustive, but consider just a few: displays of temper, a critical, nagging spirit, and the long face of a pious killjoy.