1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
This passage of scripture tells us that our body is where the Spirit of God dwells and as such it should be kept in optimum condition at all times and wherever possible. Exercise was given to man for our well-being, and when conducted in a proper manner can yield tremendous benefits in longevity, good health and protection against many diseases and ailments. But as with everything else, it must be done temperately, or else we can do more harm than good.
There are some fundamental rules that should always be observed when engaging in exercise, and prominent among them is the issue of rest. After strenuous exercise or vigorous aerobic activity, the body should be given ample time to recuperate and heal, because both of these activities produce micro tears in muscle tissue, tendons, and ligaments, and these need to be restored so that the exercise work load can be gradually increased if need be. It's also important that the nutrients needed in the recovery process be supplied in a timely manner, for the body uses what we eat to restore that which was lost, and mend that which was broken or damaged.
This important lesson was learned the hard way after king Saul had ordered his army to pursue and destroy the Philistines after they had been routed by God. The Israelites had chased the retreating army relentlessly for the entire day, a process that obviously involved intense aerobic activity, and they had not been permitted to rest nor to refresh themselves with any food. This irrational command from Saul then drove the people to extremes, for their bodies were famished for food and rest. However, Jonathan, Saul's son who had not heard of his father's command found some honey in the woods, and being exhausted and obviously drained of essential nutrients, took some and ate it. What followed next contains an important lesson for us. Let's read:
1st Samuel 14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
When Jonathan says that "His eyes were enlightened" he is most likely referring to a severe drop in his blood sugar level that resulted from the day's incessant aerobic activity, a condition which usually affects one's vision adversely, and which was obviously restored and corrected by the sweetness of the honey he then ate.
Temperance in all things teaches us to be rational in all of the activities of life, not driving ourselves to unnecessary extremes, but as the Bible states, honoring God in whatsoever we do, so that our bodies where the Holy Spirit dwells can be preserved in the best possible condition. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that encourages us to seek counsel from God and His word in all of the activities and experiences we go through so that we can be directed in all the ways of His choosing. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
May we carry out this counsel in practical ways for the rest of our lives. God bless!