Reasons for Reform
25
fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom, was the foundation
of their greatness. His Spirit strengthened every true purpose, every
noble resolution.—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 25-28,
1890
34. The youth [
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
] in this
school of training were not only to be admitted to the royal palace, but
it was provided that they should eat of the meat, and drink of the wine,
which came from the king’s table. In all this the king considered that
[30]
he was not only bestowing great honor upon them, but securing for
them the best physical and mental development that could be attained.
Among the viands placed before the king were swine’s flesh and
other meats which were declared unclean by the law of Moses, and
which the Hebrews had been expressly forbidden to eat. Here Daniel
was brought to a severe test. Should he adhere to the teachings of his
fathers concerning meats and drinks, and offend the king, probably
losing not only his position but his life, or should he disregard the
commandment of the Lord, and retain the favor of the king, thus
securing great intellectual advantages and the most flattering worldly
long prospects?
Daniel did not hesitate. He decided to stand firmly for his integrity,
let the result be what it might. He “purposed in his heart that he would
not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the
wine which he drank.”
There are many among professed Christians today who would
decide that Daniel was too particular, and would pronounce him narrow
and bigoted. They consider the matter of eating and drinking of too
little consequence to require such a decided stand,—one involving the
probable sacrifice of every earthly advantage. But those who reason
thus will find in the day of judgment that they turned from God’s
express requirements, and set up their own opinion as a standard of
right and wrong. They will find that what seemed to them unimportant
was not so regarded of God. His requirements should be sacredly
obeyed. Those who accept and obey one of His precepts because it is
convenient to do so, while they reject another because its observance
would require a sacrifice, lower the standard of right, and by their
example lead others to lightly regard the holy law of God. “Thus saith
the Lord” is to be our rule in all things....