Daniel 1:12 (NKJV): "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink."
The word 'vegetables' here is 'pulse' in King James Version, i.e. 'zeroa' in Hebrew, which means 'something sown'. It's from the word 'zara', which means 'to sow, seed'. By the way, 'pulse' means 'seeds of various plants'.
Let's now see this verse from the spiritual point of view. There's definitely a spiritual meaning here, and it's not literally talking about being a 'vegetarian'! You see, some people eat lots of vegetables but aren't 'radiant' at all, because they may also have lots of hurts, unforgiveness, or condemnation inside. Of course, on the other hand, people who eat much meat may not necessarily be 'radiant' either! So, it's not physical food we are talking about here, even though you should take good care and be a good steward of your body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit).
Every name, object, item, or place in the Old Testament has its meanings. The exciting part is these are for you to discover and unlock! You see, the New Testament is mainly direct and literal in its meaning, but more often than not, the Old Testament is symbolic in nature, being the 'shadows' of the things to come. Your Bible-study becomes very much alive when you learn to 'trace' and 'find' Jesus as you read through the Bible. Jesus is the Word, and He is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed.
So, what does eating vegetables (i.e. 'zeroa') in Daniel 1:12 mean?
It means feeding on the 'seed'!
Let Scripture interpret Scripture now, and let's go all the way to Matthew 13:3-23 about the Parable of the Sower. Here, you see that 'seed' means the Word of God! And he who receives the 'seed' (i.e. being the 'good ground' he is) bears fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).
At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends appeared more 'radiant' (i.e. shining brightly, full of youthfulness and life) and better in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies (Daniel 1:15).
Now, if 'zeroa' represents the Word of God, then 'the portion of the king's delicacies' represents the 'food' that one feeds from the world (e.g. newspaper, tv, etc). You see, that made a whole lot of difference between Daniel (and his friends) & the rest! Not only that, Daniel 1:20 says, 'And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the king found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his (the king's) realm'. Praise God! May you also be the 'Daniels' of today. Amen!
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, '... beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (i.e. the radiance of the Lord), we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord'. The 'mirror' here speaks of the Word of God as well. It means as you meditate on the Word day and night, you'll also be transformed into the same image, i.e. you'll be changed according to what the Word says about you!
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true when one 'beholds' from sources that are contrary to the Word of God!
Here are some of the verses personalized for you to increase in radiance & youthfulness:
1. I behold the glory of God and am transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
2. God gives power to me and He increases my strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but I wait on the Lord and be renewed in my strength; I mount up with wings like eagles, I run and I am not weary, I walk and do not faint (Isaiah 40:29-31).
3. My youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5).
4. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, and God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead gives life to my body through His Spirit who dwells in me (Romans 8:11).
5. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God's name is glorified both in my body and in my spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
6. I am without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but I am holy and without blemish. My body is a member of Christ's body, of His flesh and of His bones (Ephesians 5:27-30, 1 Corinthians 6:15).
7. My whole spirit, soul and body is preserved blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
8. Christ is magnified in my body (Philippians 1:20).
Note: It means "Christ's health, radiance, and youthfulness increases in my body".
9. God satisfies me with long life and shows me His salvation (Psalm 91:16).
10. Just as Moses' eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished, my eyes are not dim nor my natural vigor diminished (Deuteronomy 34:7).
11. My eyes will not be dim at all. The words of God are pure, enlightening my eyes (Isaiah 32:3, Psalm 19:8).
12. My teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come out from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them (Song of Solomon 4:2).
Meditate (by speaking under your breath) and confess aloud these verses over and over again to yourself, and that's how you'll be transformed into the same image as the Lord's. Notice that Jesus continued to increase (Luke 2:52) until He has fulfilled all of God's purpose on earth, and only then He went up! He never diminished, and of course, was never sickly! As He is, so are you in this world. Believing, you'll be likewise. Amen!
