True
Temperance Reform
Specific
Written Instruction to Israel
When God chose
Israel for His people, what kinds of
flesh foods were excluded from their
diet by written instruction?
Those called unclean
(See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy
14.)
What special food did
God provide for the children of
Israel during the forty years’
wandering in the wilderness?
“Then the Lord
said to Moses, “I will rain
down bread from heaven for you.
The people are to go out each day and
gather enough for that day. In this
way I will test them and see whether
they will follow my instructions. The
Israelites ate manna for forty
years, until they came to a land
that was settled; they ate manna
until they reached the border of
Canaan.” Exodus 16:4, 35.
At the same time
what did God promise to do for them?
‘Worship the Lord
your God, and his blessing will be on
your food and water. I will take
away sickness from among you.”
Exodus 23:25.
What testimony does
the psalmist bear regarding their
physical condition?
“He brought out
Israel laden with silver and gold, and
from among the tribes no one
faltered.” Psalm 105:37.
Note – When they
complained at God’s dealings
with them, and longed for food of
Egypt, God gave them their desires,
but sent “leanness into their
soul.” (See numbers 11; Psalm
106:13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:6.) Like
many today, they were not content
with a simple but wholesome and
nourishing diet.
Three
Important Questions
Where
above all, should true temperance
reform begin?
In the Home.
Note - Unless fathers
and mothers practice temperance, they
cannot expect their children to do
so. [Temperance means self-control]
What
classes of men especially should be
strictly temperate?
“Don’t let
anyone look down on you because you
are young, but set an example
for the believers in speech, in life,
in love, in faith and in
purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12.
Note – Of all men
in the world, ministers and
physicians should lead strictly
temperate lives. The welfare of
society demands this of them, for
their influence is constantly telling
for or against moral reform and the
improvement of society. By precept
and example they can do much toward
bring about the much-needed reform.
Can the fact that the
liquor traffic brings in a large
revenue to the state justify men in
licensing it?
“Woe to him who
builds a city with bloodshed and
establishes a town by crime!”
Habakkuk 2:12.
Note – In all the
walks and relationships of life,
whether in the home, the medical
profession, the pulpit or the
legislative assembly, men should
stand for temperance. To license the
liquor traffic is to legalize and
foster it. It cannot exist or thrive
without the patronage of each rising
generation, a large number of whom it
must necessarily ruin, body, soul,
and spirit. For the state to receive
money from such a source, therefore,
must be highly reprehensible. The
practice has fittingly been likened
to a father catching sharks, and
baiting his hooks with his own
children.
