Vegetables vs. King's Rich and Dainty Food

Last night I watched a video that included part of our showcase dance at the statewide festival. I did indeed experience the miracle of a fear-free dance (see previous discussion here). I also believe we danced fairly well (thanks to some one-on-one time with our instructors and plenty of practice).  Several people mentioned to us how well our group did and how entertaining it was, so I believe we did indeed inspire them as I had hoped. However, as I watched the video, there was one thing that really bothered me.  It's easy to forget my weight problem if I don't see myself.  I still think of myself as the thin girl I was as a teenager.  But looking at the video, it was pretty clear how overweight I am.  I could feel pretty discouraged about it.  I finding it so hard to take off this weight!  However, rather than let it discourage me, I'm hoping it will inspire me.

So, this morning I was once again asking God for physical healing of my weight issue.  As I prayed, I started thinking about the first chapter of Daniel.  I knew Daniel and his three friends had asked for a special diet, and I wanted to see what it might tell me.  Verse 8 says that "Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by eating his portion of the king's rich and dainty food or by drinking the wine which he drank;" In verse 12 Daniel asked to be "given a vegetable diet and water to drink".  Well, the wine versus water issue is not one I need to concern myself with because I almost always drink water.  The KJV translates verse 8 by talking about the "king's meat", so as a vegetarian, I thought there was no issue from this verse about my food either.  However, the Amplified Bible shows me it isn't just talking about animal flesh, but about "rich foods." 

So, what are "rich foods"?  Looking up the meaning of the original words (using Strong's concordance) didn't add anything - it just talked about rich and dainty foods. I wasn't sure how to proceed to deepen my understanding.  I decided to put "rich food definition" in my on-line search engine.  Here are some of the definitions I found:

• If food is rich, it contains a large amount of oil, butter, eggs or cream (British English Dictionary)
• containing plenty of fat, or eggs, or sugar (Free Online Dictionary)
• rich food contains a lot of butter, cream, or eggs, which make you feel full very quickly (Longman English Dictionary)
• highly seasoned, fatty, oily, or sweet (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
• delectably or excessively spicy or sweet and abounding in butter or cream (Definitions website)

Looking at the commonalities in these definitions, clearly a food which contains a large amount of dairy fat would be a rich food. In addition, it might also include foods that are just generally high in fat, foods that have a lot of eggs, foods that are high in sugar, and foods that are excessively spicy.  By these definitions, these are certainly foods I like to eat. 

I also looked up what the original word translated "vegetable diet" meant.  Basically, it looks like it means cultivated foods - foods for which you plant seeds.

So, as far as dietary guidelines go, this passage in Daniel seems to suggest a diet of fruits, grains, vegetables, and nuts (all cultivated from seeds) is more healthy than one that is high in fats and sugar - not a particularly unusual idea.  It sounds similar to the way I try to eat when I'm willing to actually prepare meals rather than just grab something fast. To me, it also suggests foods prepared fairly simply - not a lot of sauces & such.  Today as I plan my meals for the week, I'll try to keep these ideas in mind.  

Since I've started learning more about the importance of looking beyond the physical plane, however, I also find myself contemplating the question, What does this mean in terms of my spiritual food?  What might the "king's rich and dainty food" represent spiritually, and what spiritual food would be represented by a vegetable diet?  I'm not sure I yet have answers to these questions.  Perhaps the "rich and dainty food" would be ideas that we have somehow added to - to try to make them more palatable? The vegetable diet appears to have something to do with actually sowing seeds and letting your harvest feed you. Is this about being "doers of the word and not hearers only"? (James 1:22)  Would this mean then that the spiritual side of this has to do with what we actually DO?  Do we do as God's still small voice directs, or do we add in other activities that feed unhealthy appetites? 

Father, thank you so much for the freedom from fear that I experienced this past weekend!  I see that this dance led directly to opportunities to share your love with people we hadn't seen in awhile.  Father, please so fill me with your love that fear is totally tossed out and your plans are accomplished in and through me.  May I listen to, understand, and follow Your still small voice of guidance in my heart - this day and every day - whether it is about food or anything else.  Thank you, Father!