Does the Bible have anything to say about nutrition, the food we eat, our diet? Does God care about our eating? Have you ever known of a cook who has prepared a special gourmet meal for you as a guest, who hovers over you while you eat, hoping against hope that you like what he/she has prepared, pained and disappointed if you express no genuine appreciation? Could God be like that?
Of course, we know that the Bible says that God created all the food which we enjoy; it says that He “satisfieth [our] mouth with good things.” For example, there’s no other reason why He created strawberries—He created them simply because they taste good (a little illustration of His love)!
Part of the happiness the Lord wants us to know is that our “mouth [be] satisfied with good things; so that [our] youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). Is such dietary pleasure health-inducing? It says so. It’s re-educating our taste to be “reconciled” (“at-one-ment”) to enjoy the foods that God has created to be “received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:4). Day of Atonement living includes that re-educating our diet.
To list all the delicious foods is impossible. How can you doubt there is a loving Creator who created them all in six days when you consider alone the annual progression of fruits through the year, from the earliest strawberries in spring, through summer peaches, then pears, to those delicious persimmons in late autumn! Just a tiny example of the Lord’s goodness.
The first chapter of Daniel packs a powerful gospel punch: here are four young men in university training where their scholarships provide them access to the elitist dining rooms or cafeterias. They will be served the same gourmet bill of fare from the same kitchens that serve royalty.
The delicacies set before them arouse the envy of wealthy Babylonians. The meats come from the fabled outreaches of the empire, and the desserts are super mouthwatering. But Good News saved them from health disaster.
These four young servants of the God of Israel petition the authorities for a simple, low-fat, low-sugar vegetarian diet. With the hearty appetite of all teens, these four “purpose” in their hearts to deny their natural cravings for rich food and choose the simple diet. Their goal is not merely to live seven years longer and take more holiday trips; they want to keep their minds clear to comprehend the teaching of the Holy Spirit in an era of solemn significance.