July 1, Daniel 1
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. - Daniel 1:8
They were healthy, intelligent and good-looking. They were exactly the kind of young men the king was looking for. So Ashpenaz, chief eunuch of King Nebuchadnezzar, selected Daniel and three of his friends for special training. The Babylonians enrolled the young men in a three-year course of study designed to educate and prepare them for high-ranking positions in Babylon's administration.
Daniel was one of the captives taken away to Babylon in Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion of Judah in 605 B.C. He lived in Babylon about 70 years, and saw Babylon fall to the Persians in 539 B.C. The Hebrew people Nebuchadnezzar took away from their homes were like any other property or resource that the Babylonian king gained by conquest. He recognized the ability and leadership potential of certain captives and trained them to be useful to him in his kingdom. By the design and decree of a pagan king, God put his prophet in a powerful position of leadership and influence that continued for decades, even after Babylon fell to Cyrus.
Most of us probably know some or all of the Bible stories from the first half of Daniel. Little children who've been to Sunday school can tell about Daniel in the lion's den. I’m sure you know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Do you remember when the mysterious hand wrote on the wall? On the very night Babylon fell to the Persians, God sent Belshazzar a handwritten note on the wall that announced his doom.
What lessons are there for us, living here and now in these opening lines of Daniel? First, Daniel reminds us that it is possible to live a life of faith and godliness in the midst of an unbelieving, ungodly culture. When he was chosen for the special training, the king ordered foods from his own table to feed the promising young men. But Daniel would not eat the food or drink the wine the king prescribed for them. People who advocate the so-called "Daniel Diet" these days are mistaken when they claim that vegetables and water are the diet that God approves, requires his people to eat. Daniel (and other Hebrews) ate meat with God's approval. But as a devout Jew, Daniel wouldn't eat the king's meat because it certainly did not pass the clean/unclean test for what kind of meat and how it was prepared in a pagan king's kitchen. It had also probably been sacrificed to idols, and Daniel resolved (purposed in his heart, KJV) not to eat it. He may have refused to drink the king's wine because of a vow he had taken to abstain, or it could have been a kosher issue for the wine as well. But just because he found himself in Babylon, Daniel didn't do as the Babylonians did. He lived by his commitment to God, not the circumstances in which he lived. So should we.
Also, God prospered Daniel and the young men with him who abstained from the king's food. He blessed them with health, vitality, clear minds and privileged opportunities. God caused the Babylonians who were in control to treat the young men well. Daniel and his friends got the wisdom and understanding that set them apart from their peers as gifts from God. They were not marginally better than the others. They were ten times better than the king's magicians and enchanters. God gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams, a skill that would become very important as this story unfolds. We need to trust God's promises to provide whatever we need in our own circumstances. His grace will equip us for whatever task he gives us to do.
Daniel 1 and the chapters that follow it show that God is sovereign over all lives, kings and kingdoms. He is in complete control over everyone and every situation of life. Kings and other leaders may appear to be powerful, but they are pawns in God's hands. Daniel was respectful of authority, but he was able to stand up to those in power because he knew his God was the real power. We will worry and fret less about the news, and love and trust God more when we live with confidence and courage that our Father is in control.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—July 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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