“But Daniel resolved …”

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.   5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.
(Daniel 1:3-19; NIV.  Please read Daniel 1-6.)

Young men – special young men – find themselves in a foreign land with a foreign language – a foreign culture – a foreign god. Of course, they are homesick – heartsick. Their nation has been overrun by pagans – their families have been carried into captivity. They have no reason to hope that things will ever be different – ever get better … except for a prophet that was among them, who promised that God would bring them home in 70 years.  

So … when they are ordered to prepare themselves for the king’s purpose – they refuse to “defile” themselves. In spite of the obvious pressures that must have been on them to submit … to compromise their convictions … to assimilate into their new culture … they hold to their convictions.

Therefore, God rewards their faithfulness. After their time of testing – they are “healthier and better nourished” than all the other captives. God also blesses these young men with special knowledge and understanding – and unique abilities. 

As surely as the pagan king intends to use them for his purpose, the Almighty God will certainly use them for His glory and purpose. That certainty will be confirmed in visions and dreams … a fiery furnace and a lions’ den.

ON SECOND THOUGHT: If we are but strangers – sojourners in this land (and according to 1Peter, that is just what we are), should we not approach the days of our own “captivity” here – as the Hebrew boys did? Should we not hold to our convictions – even though we will have to learn the “foreign” languages and cultures of this place? Should we not live in hope for the day when we will be returned “home”?

 

Explore posts in the same categories: My Daily Bread