Thursday, March 5, 2009

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Part 1: New Diet Starts Today

Daniel 1:5-14 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you." Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

There is a three part process in this section - it is a design for the king to brainwash these boys to his way of thinking. We'll divide them out over the next 3 posts.

The first 1 is Food:
Is it just me or does the Bible have so many nutritional lesson
s in it that it beats any weight loss program out there? And I work for one!

Colon Cancer, Heart Disease, risk of bladder, breast, cervical, endometrial, esophageal, glioma, kidney, liver, lung, mouth, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers are all risk factors for eating a diet full of red meat. Does that mean we shouldn't eat red meat? No, it just means that too much - is not good, everything in moderation.


Many people argue that the wine in the Bible is just grape juice. This is just not tru
e and if followed up throughout scripture - it is evident that the wine mentioned in these verses is exactly that - an alcoholic beverage.

According to studies done today: Even modest amounts of alcohol consumption can cause blood pressure to increase. Even in small doses, a
lcohol can inhibit REM sleep, leaving you tired and groggy, and also cause the damaging and death of brain cells and the cells that support them by providing energy and nutrients.

There are six kinds of nutrients our bodies need: Carbohydrates, Protein, Lipids, Vitamins, Minerals and Water. Of these, there is only one nutrient that a healthy body doesn't make on its own and the only place to get it is food - that is
Carbohydrates. Guess where the best place to get Carbohydrates is? Fruits and Vegetables.

These boys have been taught this growing up. Weren't we also taught this? Didn't our parents tell us to eat our fruits and vegetables and everything in moderation? What happened? I'll tell you. All the appetizing things of the world came at us. Society dressed a hamburger up in yellow and red paper, they sang a song and enticed us with cheap prices and convenience - and we bought it hook, line and sinker. The world persuades us with words like 'decadent' , 'rich and creamy' and 'savory' and we eat things that our body never required, needed or can tolerate.

Why wasn't Daniel and his team persuaded? Why didn't the kings delicacies taunt them and call out to them and entice them? Because before they walked in - they had a plan. They made a mental decision that They Would Not Eat That Food. They would not be persuaded, they would not be coerced, they would not be enticed. God provided the will-power.


God still does provide the will-power, we just have to ask Him for it. Next post: Point #2

7 comments:

Sharon said...

Yes you are so right! He really doesn't want us putting all these fats and garbage stuff into our bodies. The world does make it so difficult to resist.
I too have to remember to ask God's help in this area, and I haven't. Today is the day!
What a wonderful post to ponder for the day.
Looking forward to the next post, I know these are going to help me.
Blessings to you

Edie said...

You are so right. All we have to do is ask and be willing to obey whatever He says.

I didn't know that about carbs. I used to be a carboholic. I did a lot of research and realized that there are *good* carbs and *bad* carbs. The good carbs come from fruits and veggies, the bad carbs from the processed foods. When I changed my eating habits and switched from the bad carbs to the good ones I felt SO much healthier and had a lot more energy.

It surprises me that the food pyramid lumps all carbs together. There really is a difference.

sailorcross said...

All of your info is so correct!! And there it is again--written thousands of years ago and could have been written this morning!!

Now, I'm going to carry this post around in my mind for when I'm tempted to "give in" to something that I KNOW is not good for me!! Weight loss?? Yes, but the most important thing is keeping our temples healthy for God!!

Beth

Perry Way said...

I just read someone rationalize their love for unhealthy foods, mentioning the Bible and ignoring the wisdom found, again, simply to justify eating unhealthy foods.

Julie said...

I would like to share the following verses with everyone,

4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

BloggerMom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BloggerMom said...

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR SHARING THIS JULIE!!! THE WORD OF WISDOM IS AWESOME!!!