Today I was given Daniel chapter one. This is where the captivity to Babylon takes place. The king of Judah (Jehoiakim) was overtaken by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar told the master of his eunuchs that he needed to bring the “best of the best” out of the children of Israel and teach them the Chaldean ways and even gave a daily provision to ensure they were well fed. There were many that were taken however the Book of Daniel only mentions four; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs changed their names.
This is all something we’ve been taught or heard of in Sunday school…. however this is actually something for today that is very vital. The scriptures I will be focussing on come from verses 8-21.
Daniel’s Faithfulness
Dan 1:8 But Daniel 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: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Dan 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Dan 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
Dan 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
Dan 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Dan 1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Dan 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
The take away from this is simple. Daniel did not rebel, nor call for an uprising. Instead he held onto his faith. He did not want to defile himself in accordance with God’s laws. So he was in the world but not of the world. He did not follow suit instead he asked the prince eunuch to prove him and the other three. Eating vegetables and drinking water and not the king’s meat and wine. If after ten days they were found to be healthy and not lacking then they could continue with this diet. After ten days, they were found to be even healthier than those that were eating and drinking of the king’s portions.
Daniel took a step out in faith and it paid off. Not only was he not defiling himself but he and the other three found favor in the sight of the king. They were skilled in all learning and wisdom; which came from God. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (1Sam. 15:22) Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were in the World (Babylon) but not of it. They were able to remain a separate people. The Lord has been trying to communicate throughout the written Word to be separated from certain people.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
The Lord makes a way. We need to lean on Him. Daniel lived in a very strange time and was a captive of a hostile takeover. Not doing as the rest did, he stood firm. The faith he had is used as an example in other books. His faithfulness to be in a right standing with the Lord is found in Ezekiel when the Lord is about to bring judgements and punishments and he proclaims that only these three men Noah, Daniel, Job would be able to deliver their sould out of the peril.
Ezekiel 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
The many examples of Daniel trusting, leaning , waiting upon the Lord is very evident throughout plus the examples of honorable living. Daniel followed the rules of his new home, we know this because he did what was right, even when it meant he could face death.
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