Daniel 1

Daniel 1

Spurgeon wrote: "Rev. F. B. Meyer is a great gain to the armies of evangelical truth; for his tone, spirit and aspirations are all of a fine gospel sort. In all his books there is a sweet, holy savor." How did F. B. Meyer develop such closeness to the Lord and accomplish so much in his lifetime? When he was seventeen Meyer believed that the Lord was calling him into the full-time ministry. He discussed it with his mother and she pointed out that being in the ministry would involve sacrifice and many trying times. She also mentioned that if he later regretted taking such a step he could always leave the ministry. Looking her straight in the eye the young man said, "Never, Mother! That would be putting my hand to the plow and looking back." Through God's grace, F. B. Meyer did not waiver from his high calling and maintained a vigorous ministry serving Christ. Many have pointed to his decision as a seventeen-year-old as a watershed act, a resolve that carried him through a lifetime of service. How's your resolve? Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus Christ that He rewards those who seek Him in all that they do. "God has given us a will to choose his will.."—Henrietta C. Mears TODAY IN THE WORD - Daniel 1:8 - In 1877, a group of Cambridge University students began to study the Bible, pray, and witness to their classmates. This InterVarsity student movement spread across England to Canada, and in 1938 the first U.S. chapter opened at the University of Michigan. Today, more than a thousand InterVarsity staff members work on more than 550 campuses, publish books and training materials, and facilitate events such as the Urbana missions conference. Like InterVarsity at secular universities, Daniel and his friends in the Babylonian palace stood out by contrast. They were God's lights in a dark place. From a human perspective, though, they were in no position to be leaders. They were young and inexperienced. They were exiles from a conquered nation, taking part in a highly competitive three-year imperial education program for a shot at a civil service job. The training rules were strict; the punishments for violations dire. This was a power-deficit situation if there ever was one! Yet God called Daniel to be a leader, and Daniel knew that God's sovereign control (Da 1:2) actually gave him the upper hand. He resolved not to accept the royal food and wine, and influenced his friends to do the same, probably because the prescribed food would have been offered to idols (Da 1:8 ). Instead, he boldly requested a special diet. Given the reality of the situation, he chose a non-confrontational approach: He asked permission from the proper authority and was ready with a ten-day-trial plan when the man (not unexpectedly) balked. God honored these steps of faith, and after the ten days their request was granted. In the end, Daniel and his friends graduated with honor. God gave them success in their studies and even gave Daniel an ability to interpret dreams (Da 1:17-20). This is how Daniel began his career, leading by tact and example and saturating everything he did with faith in the Lord. It wasn't flashy, but it was highly effective. and it honored God. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the obstacles to obedience in his life, Daniel tallied up the advantages on his side and stepped out in faith. Servant leadership or witness may seem to you like similar impossibilities. But have you counted the advantages you have? We all have a God who is sovereign over your bosses. You may also have favor in a supervisor's eyes, access to professional training, or whatever your circumstances may offer. You can approach your workplace challenges in the spirit of Daniel and his friends. TODAY IN THE WORD Daniel 1:3-20 - You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3 In 1924, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell found his decisions questioned. His sister Jenny wondered if he was wasting time running races when he could be headed to the mission field. Fellow racers and the British Olympic committee doubted the wisdom of his decision not to race on Sundays. Eric famously told his sister, “I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run it is in His pleasure.” He declined to run his best event, the 100-meter dash in the 1924 Olympics because it was held on Sunday, but he won the gold medal in the 400-meter race. In our story today we read of Daniel and his friends standing for what was right. Their courage impressed the Babylonian leaders and was blessed by God. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were the cream of the crop of Jewish exiles in Babylon (Da 1:3). They were selected for service to Nebuchadnezzar, an honor that included luxurious meals of the king's choicest food. The Babylonians stripped away their Hebrew names, but they could not take away their loyalty to God and His Law. Eating the food would have required Daniel and his friends to violate Jewish dietary requirements. Rather than refuse outright to participate, Daniel asked the chief official whether they could abstain. When the official balked, Daniel proposed a test. After ten days on their diet of vegetables and water, the four Jews were healthier than the others; one wonders how happy the other young men were to discover their access to the king's lush banquets was now curtailed (Da 1:16)! Scripture is clear that God blessed Daniel (Da 1:9, 17). All four young men became high officials in Nebuchadnezzar's court and sought to give him their best service (see Dan. 2:12-49). At the same time, they all remained faithful to God and continued to pursue obedience to Him as their highest priority (see Daniel 3, 6). TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Most of us have obligations at work, school, or our community. At the very least, we are subject to the laws in our country. Daniel gives us an example of how to navigate tensions we might encounter as a follower of Christ and also as an employee, citizen, or student: first, commit to obeying God; second, be a responsible, hard-working contributor; third, try to negotiate solutions; and always surround every situation with prayer (cf. Dan. 2:18). TODAY IN THE WORD Daniel 1:8-13 - But Daniel resolved not to defile himself. - Daniel 1:8 - “Please, sir, I want some more.” Those words from Oliver Twist are one of the most famous requests in literature. Even though Oliver spoke on behalf of his fellow starving orphans, barely surviving on paltry servings of gruel, his boldness earned him solitary confinement and dismissal from the parish. Daniel put himself in similar peril, except he was being offered a feast prepared for a king and he asked to be given less. The text doesn't indicate what exactly about the meat and wine would have defiled Daniel, but we can assume the Babylonians prepared the food in a manner contrary to Mosaic Law. What we do know is that Daniel made up his mind that he wouldn't compromise on the matter of his diet. Daniel's resolve didn't detract from his overall attitude of respect. He asked for permission to have a different diet, and God rewarded him by granting him sympathy from the chief official (Da 1:9). Personal affection, however, was outweighed by fear of Nebuchadnezzar, and the official wouldn't grant the request. Daniel didn't react stubbornly or brazenly. Instead, he sought out a different opportunity with another authority figure, his personal guard. He asked for a ten-day trial run on a vegetarian diet. His request was reasonable and respectful, and it was phrased to allow the guard an alternative plan of action if the results of the new diet were unfavorable. Notice how Daniel operated within the construct of authority he was under. He opposed ungodly orders without being self-righteous or rebellious. Both Daniel and the chief official spoke of comparing Daniel and his three friends with other young men their age. We can assume that they weren't the only young Israelites recruited into the three-year training program. Judging by Judah's history of floundering faith, Daniel and his friends were probably very rare examples of people who still remained true to the commands of the Lord. Daniel's faith didn't just stand out against the pagan culture, it was also one of the last signs of hope among God's chosen people. TODAY ALONG THE WAY - It's certainly unacceptable for Christians to silently adopt sinful behavior, but we should not loudly and proudly parade our rightness. If someone orders you to compromise your beliefs, make up your mind to stay true to the Lord. Then ask God to soften your heart to avoid heated conflict or pride. Respect for authority and love for others is more important than drawing attention to ourselves. Remember, forcing the spotlight on our righteousness tends to reveal our sinfulness as well. ABHOR … EVIL, CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD (Romans 12:9; Genesis 39:7–9; Daniel 1:8) - Stronger words could not be used to describe our attitude toward evil. Abhor it. It is the only time this word is used in the New Testament. It means to ‘detest utterly’ or ‘to hate’. There can be no compromise or accommodation of evil in any way in our lives. The Psalmist instructs us, ‘Ye that love the Lord, hate evil’, Ps. 97:10, and sets the example for us, ‘I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me’, Ps. 101:3. Evil here is that which is evil in effect or influence. It goes beyond things that are essentially evil and includes that which spreads evil. We are to simply hate it. We hate it because God hates it. It is everything that opposes Him and is contrary to His will. It is destructive and leaves its victims in misery and despair. This is entirely opposite to the effect of the gospel and therefore a reason why the Christian abhors evil. Evil is around us everywhere in our culture. It presents itself in subtle and deceiving ways. It gets into our thinking and our lives almost unnoticed. How we need the word of God to keep us alert and cleansed from evil. But today’s command is not just negative. Our lives are not to be spent only in hating evil, but embracing good. In fact a life that is filled with good will not be able to accommodate evil. The word for cleaving here means ‘to glue or stick’. The idea is that embracing good is not an occasional or changing practice but something that is done continually and becomes the habit of life. In our other two readings, Genesis 39 and Daniel 1, we have examples of these very principles. Joseph, who fled from the presence of Potiphar’s wife, demonstrated the need to abhor that which is evil. He asked, ‘How … can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’, Gen. 39:9. The injustice that he suffered did not deflect him from such a habit of life. Of Daniel, we read that he ‘purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself’, Dan. 1:8. The risks involved with his decision were great but obedience to the command of God is not optional, whatever the consequences might be. (John Bennett - Day by Day: Bible Commands) PICKING A WINNER - But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself. (Daniel 1:8) HOW WOULD YOU define a winner? If you had to pick someone out of a crowd and hold him up as an example of what it takes to get ahead in life, what would you look for? What would it be that sets that person apart? King Nebuchadnezzar decided that he knew winners when he saw them, and those were the kind of people he wanted around him. He didn’t want any slouches serving in his court, so he commanded his chief palace official to bring him the best and brightest he could find from among the Jewish royal family and nobility. “ ‘Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,’ he said. ‘Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good sense, and have the poise needed to serve in the royal palace’ ” (Daniel 1:4). Then when his guards rounded them up, he instructed them to treat the young men like kings. They were to eat the best foods and drink only the finest wines from his own kitchens. They were to be taught Babylonian history and literature by the greatest professors around. They were to “be all that they could be,” and serve as a reminder to all Babylon what kind of people the king admired. These were the winners in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzer. Among the ones chosen was a young man named Daniel, but he wasn’t about to let it go to his head. He saw himself as a child of God, not a protégé of the king, so he immediately set himself to a different standard. “Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead” (1:8). Much of the food the king wanted them to eat was forbidden by Jewish law, so Daniel convinced his handler to let him and his four friends eat only vegetables and water. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other[s]” Daniel told him (1:13). The king’s attendant agreed and soon saw that they were healthier than the rest. Because of Daniel’s obedience, God gave him a special measure of wisdom and knowledge as well as the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. In the eyes of God, Daniel was a winner. It wasn’t because he was strong or intelligent or good-looking. It was because of his loyalty to his King. His willingness to stand up for his beliefs. His obedience to his God in spite of the pressure and temptation to go along with the crowd. REFLECTION - Have you ever come under pressure to bend your principles? How did you react? How did God bless your response? (Embracing Eternity: Living Each Day with a Heart toward Heaven). Ed comment: I refer to "living each day with a heart toward heaven" as "VERTICAL VISION" in contrast to living with your eyes on the world which I call "HORIZONTAL VISION." Daniel was clearly a man who even as a youth choose to live his life with "VERTICAL VISION!" May his tribe increase in Jesus' Name and for His glory. Amen See my discussion of "VERTICAL VISION" If you aim for nothing, you're sure to hit it! No one ever goes crooked who stays on the straight and narrow. Daniel 1:8 - WHILE working on a summer construction job to pay his way through seminary, Byron accepted a special favor from his supervisor. In exchange for a little painting and repair work on the man's hunting lodge, he could spend the rest of the day fishing, swimming, and relaxing at full company pay. Byron was enjoying his first evening in the cabin when the phone rang. It was his father. "What are you doing collecting company pay for private work?" he asked pointedly. Byron felt the sting of conviction. Even though he needed the money and knew he might be fired if he backed out, he left the cabin at once and told his supervisor he could not continue the arrangement. Many Christians are serious about guarding against the "big" sins like sexual immorality, but they aren't as careful about the "lesser" ones. Byron made this mistake, but he was sensitive enough to recognize it and correct it The prophet Daniel and his three friends were asked to eat food that was ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law. To them it seemed like a little thing, but they had decided to be obedient to God in everything. How we handle little temptations is the true test of our character. —H V Lugt The life that counts must toil and fight, Must hate the wrong and love the right, Must stand for truth, by day, by night— This is the life that counts. —Anon. Christ gives us the courage of our convictions. You won't fall for what's wrong if you stand for what's right. You'll gain respect when people see That you are faithful to God's Word; There may be some who disagree, But they will know you love the Lord. —D. De Haan If you're living for Christ you may lose some friends, but you won't lose their respect. Daniel 1:9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. Ge 32:28 39:21 1Ki 8:50 Ezra 7:27,28 Ps 4:3 106:46 Ac 7:10 "NOW GOD" Compare Nehemiah's prayer (Neh 1:11) and the answer (Neh 2:4). Now God - What a glorious phrase in the midst of national defeat and personal affliction (bondage)! Surely this verse in concert with Da 1:8 is evidence that Daniel and his 3 friends experienced the truth Jehovah's great promise that... the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.... (2Chr 16:9) God granted - Don't miss this! A gift of God to the committed man of God, so that he might keep his commitment to be holy as He is holy. God honors those who choose to honor him (1Sa 2:30), regardless of the overwhelming "odds" against that person. Granted favor - Solomon records a parallel thought, which while not a promise is nevertheless generally true (and which I have personally experienced) When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Pr 16:7) Compare the godly life of Joseph... Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. Favor (02617)(hesed/chesed/heced) speaks of the Lord's loyal love, His covenant love, His steadfast , unfailing love and tenderness. Hesed indicates faithfulness to a relationship. To show kindness or hesed is to act in a loyal, loving way to a person. Hesed is the devoted love promised within a covenant. Hesed is love that is willing to commit itself to another by making its promise a matter of solemn record. "Hesed encompasses deeds of mercy performed by a more powerful party for the benefit of the weaker one." (Huey) Hesed is central to God's character and is closely tied to His covenant with His Chosen people; in fact the covenant may be thought of as the relationship from which the hesed flows. God's hesed is "the Divine Love condescending to His creatures, more especially to sinners, in unmerited kindness" (Delitzsch). Compassion (racham) is from a root word which speaks of a deep love (usually "superior" for "inferior") based on some "natural" bond (eg, Joseph's deep yearning feeling toward Benjamin. Ge 43:30) Solomon prayed for compassion 1 Kings 8:50 forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them Daniel 1:9 is a beautiful example of the truth about God in Psalm 106:46 (note)... He also made them objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors. Spurgeon's Comment: In our very worst condition our God has ways and means for allaying the severity of our sorrows: he can find us helpers among those who have been our oppressors, and he will do so if we be indeed his people. A. R. Fausset's Comment: He made them also to be pitied of all them that carried them captives. This improved feeling towards the Jews through God's influence appears in Da 1:9; as Joseph similarly had his captivity improved by God's favour (Ge 39:21). So Evil Merodach, King of Babylon, treated kindly Jehoiachin, king of Judah (2Ki 25:27) Racham - 42v: Ge43:14 43:30 49:25 Dt13:17 Jdg5:30 2Sa24:14 1Ki3:26 8:50 1Ch21:13 2Ch30:9 Neh1:11 9:19,27,28,31 Ps25:6 40:11 51:1 69:16 77:9 79:8 103:4 106:46 119:77 119:156 145:9 Pr12:10 30:16 Isa46:3 47:6 54:7 63:7,15 Je16:5 42:12 Eze20:26 Da9:9,18 Ho2:19 Am1:11 Zec1:16 7:9 Daniel 1:10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.". Jn 12:42,43 looking...haggard Mt 6:16, 17, 18 Related Resources: How to Handle Fear Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4 FEAR OF MAN I am afraid - In Proverbs we read that the antidote for fear (Ashpenaz) is faith (Daniel)... The fear of man brings a snare ( = The bait or lure in a fowler's net. Snare allures, then entraps and results in ruin), but he who trusts (Confident Trust in God's sovereignty and loving watchcare and sure Word of promise allows frail man to overcome the fear of man) in the LORD (Not "in" other people, not in psychological ploys, not in medications, not in programs, etc, but "in Jehovah") will be exalted (See Hebrew verb "sagab" also used in Pr 18:10 = "safe" - scroll down page to "Insights into Meaning of Sagab from the Psalms). (Pr 29:25) Charles Bridges comments: (The fear of man is a) weighty hindrance to Christian integrity. Indeed--as Mr. Scott most truly observes--'it is'--often at least--'the last victory the Christian gains. He will master, by that grace which is given of God, his own lusts and passions, and all manner of inward and outward temptations. He will be dead to the pleasures of the world, long before he has mastered this fear of man. "This kind of spirit goeth not out" but by a very spiritual and devout course of life.'The hindrance meets us at every turn, like a chain upon our wheels; so that, like the Egyptian chariots, they "drive heavily." (Ex 14:25.) Oh! for a free deliverance from this principle of bondage; scarcely however to be expected, till we have been made to feel its power! Thank God--there is a way of deliverance. Faith unbinds the soul from fear. If fear makes the giant tremble before the worm, trust in the LORD makes the worm stronger than the giant. Neither the fury of the King (2Ki 6:31, 32) or of the people (Nu 14:6-10) neither the fire (Da 3:17), or the den of lions (Da 6:10) daunts and hurts him that "believeth in his God." 'He that fears to flinch, shall never flinch from fear.' Faith gives power to prayer. The strength from prayer makes us cheerful in obedience, and resolute in trial. Here is safety, strength, courage, peace. Nothing but faith gives the victory; but the victory of faith is complete.(1Jn 5:4,5, cp He 11:27) He only, who puts his trust in the Lord, is prepared, when God and man are at contraries, to "obey God rather than man." (Ac 4:19) A secret union with God is implanted in the soul by this faith; an union as right, as it is secret; a sacred spring of life--the energy of God Himself (Ga 2:20); triumphant therefore in the mightiest conflict with the flesh. The man, dependent on the world for happiness, is in bondage. The servant of God is in liberty. It matters not to him, whether the world smile or frown. He is safe, beyond its reach--set on high.1 Faith brings him to his strong tower. (Chap. 18:10.) There he is "kept by the power of God unto salvation." (1 Pet. 1:5.) Fear brings us into the snare. Faith brings liberty, safety, exaltation. Oh! thou God of power and grace, may my soul praise thee for this mighty deliverance, this joyous freedom! May I never be ashamed of my Master! May I be bound to his people, and glory in his cross! (Gal. 6:14.) (Example = 'I cannot wield the sword of the Spirit'--said the weak and timid Haller to his friends, when going to the disputation at Berne against the Romanists. 'If You do not stretch Your hands to me, all is over.' He then threw himself trembling at the feet of the Lord, and soon rose enlightened, and exclaiming ‘Faith in the Saviour gives me courage, and scatters all my fears.'-D'AUBIGNE'S Hist. Refor. (Bridges, Charles: A Commentary on Proverbs) When we fear men's criticism, rejection, etc, one result is we fall into the trap of seeking to be men pleasers (Ga 1:10), constantly trying to do whatever it takes to make others like us. And if we fear men we will find ourselves falling into the trap of one compromising situation after another. We cannot simultaneously be a bondservant of the Most High God (like Daniel) and a slave of men (like Ashpenaz) (cp Mt 6:24-note). If you want to walk without the fear of man, then you must choose the fear of God which will enable you to walk as a "God-pleaser". There is simply no middle ground when it comes to our spiritual allegiance (cp Elijah's challenge to the "sons of Israel" in 1Ki 18:21, 22ff, 2Ki 17:41) Even as Daniel was faced with the challenge of theological compromise, believers today encounter continual (and increasing) pressure and temptation to accommodate to pagan beliefs or practices (e.g., New Age practices, Theophostic "Prayer Ministry" [click for critique], listen to Bob DeWaay's Running Against the Wind series in 2007, etc) in the worship and service of the true God, a ploy that Satan, the great deceiver has unfortunately used in every age. John MacArthur runs a series of Biblical examples of compromise that drive home the point that the uncompromising life is the exceptional life... And so go the compromises. Adam compromised God's law, followed his wife's sin and lost paradise. Abraham comprised the truth, lied about Sarah, and nearly lost his wife. Sarah compromised God's Word, sent Abraham to Hagar who bore Ishmael and lost peace in the Middle East. Esau compromised for a meal with Jacob and lost his birthright. Saul compromised the divine word, kept the animals and lost the royal seed. Aaron compromised his convictions about idolatry and he and the people lost the privilege of the Promised Land. Samson compromised righteous devotion as a Nazarite with Delilah and lost his strength, his eyes and his life. Israel compromised the commands of the Lord, lived in sin and when fighting the Philistines, lost the ark of God. David compromised the moral and divine standard of God, adulterated Bathsheba, murdered Uriah and lost his child. Solomon compromised convictions, married foreign wives and lost the United Kingdom. Ahab compromised, married Jezebel and lost his throne. Israel compromised the law of God with sin and idolatry and lost their homeland. Peter compromised his conviction about Christ, denied Him and lost his joy. Later on, he compromised the truth of the one church for acceptance with the Judaizers and he lost his liberty. Ananias and Sapphira compromised their word about giving, lied to the Holy Spirit and lost their lives. Judas compromised his supposed love for Christ for 30 pieces of silver and lost his eternal soul. Compromise...sad word. But, there are some people who don't compromise. (The Consequences of an Uncompromising Life, Part 2) (Ed: Did you note the common "refrain" of the tune of compromise? Lost...lost...lost! What irony, for the compromiser thinks he gains something and may seem to for a while but in God's accounting method, that gain is always loss! It seems axiomatic that spiritual compromise always leads to spiritual loss. Dare to be a Daniel the next time you are tempted to compromise your convictions, your values, your integrity. God's "investment plan" has a guaranteed "high rate of return" not only in this life but the life to come (cp 1Ti 4:7,8-note) A few quotes on compromise from The Complete Gathered Gold (highly recommended)... The middle of the road is where most accidents happen. - Anon. Those who follow the crowd are quickly lost in it. - Anon. It is impossible to compromise with sin and conquer it at the same time. - John Blanchard Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof; it is a temporary expedient. - James Russell Lowell We must eternally bid defiance to that peace with men which is inconsistent with peace with God. -John Owen GOD HONORS THOSE WHO HONOR HIM One of the better stories of "no compromise" is the inspiring story of Scottish track star Eric Liddell he who had trained for the 100 meter race in the 1924 Olympics only to find out that it was to be run on Sunday. Although he was favored to win, his conviction to honor the Lord's day led him to withdraw a decision which resulted in considerable criticism from those who had formerly praised him. As providence would have it (cp 1Sa 2:30), a runner dropped out of the 400 meter race (a race he had not trained for) and Eric offered to fill the slot of this longer race which was scheduled for a weekday. And to everyone's surprise, Eric Liddell ran and won the gold medal in 1924. God honored his non-compromising spirit. Eric eventually died in a war camp in 1945 in China where he had gone to serve as missionary, a man who like Daniel remained uncompromising to the end. The stirring account of Eric Liddell's story was made into a movie (if you've not seen it, it is recommended), Chariots of Fire (click for DVD version), which won the Academy Award for best picture in 1981. Resources Related to Fear of Men: How To Handle Fear Part 1 How To Handle Fear Part 2 How To Handle Fear Part 3 How To Handle Fear Part 4 Anxiety (merimna) - Word Study Anxious, be anxious (merimnao) - Word Study Jesus' solution "Do not be worried" Mt 6:25ff Paul's Solution - Philippians 4:6; Philippians 4:7 Peter's Solution - Cast your cares on God - 1 Peter 5:7 Worry - What is it? Daniel 1:11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. To the overseer - Not Ashpenaz, but someone under his command. In Da 1:10 we see fear of man, but in Daniel we see faith including the conviction borne of that faith (Heb 11:1). He choose to take a stand on his convictions and because he had these convictions, he did not succumb to the fear of man (including even the possibility of death by an angered King! And in the next verse we see Daniel's tact. Daniel 1:11-21 Three Friends A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. —Proverbs 17:17 The Old Testament characters Job and Daniel had much in common. Both went through serious trials and challenges. Both had great success because of the blessing of God’s presence in their lives. Both are viewed as giants of the faith, one for his patience in suffering and the other for his purity in an impure culture. Job and Daniel had something else in common—each had three significant friends. Here, however, the similarities end. Job’s friends became a thorn in his flesh, offering him condemnation when he needed compassion and companionship. As Job struggled with loss and grief, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar seemed bent on intensifying his pain rather than helping him in his adversity. Daniel’s three friends were very different. Taken captive together, Daniel and his companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, supported and strengthened one another in difficult times. They stood together in honoring God (Daniel 1) and in prayer (2:17-18), and in refusing to bow before the king’s image (3:16-18). That’s the kind of friend we need. So what kind of friend am I? Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times.” Who needs you to be a friend today?— by Bill Crowder Lord, help me be the kind of friend That makes my friend secure, So he can find new strength and hope, His trials to endure. —D. De Haan A true friend is like support to a leaning wall. Daniel 1:12 Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Please test your servants (not just "us" but "your servants" - a submissive spirit) - Daniel presents a good model for respectfully presenting godly "objections" to superiors - he was tactful and polite, not brash and demanding. And because he had taken a stand for the Most High God, God stood with him and lifted him up granting him favor in the eyes of his superior. How thoughtful and careful are we in what we say in similar situations that might compromise the integrity of our walk with God? Vegetables (zeroa') - This Hebrew word appears in a plural form in the OT, only here and in Da 1:16 and might refer to wheat or barley or fresh vegetables. Daniel 1:12 Courage And Courtesy I have always admired the boldness, courage, and conviction of Daniel. Recently I was struck by the way he stood for his principles in a pagan culture. The Bible tells us that Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” with food and drink that God said was forbidden for Jews, so he asked his captors for another menu (Dan. 1:8). Instead of crossing his arms and refusing to eat, Daniel asked permission to take a different nutritional approach. When the official refused, Daniel pursued his goal with a polite request to someone else: “Please test your servants for ten days” (v.12). We can learn from this young man, who took a bold stand for God by asking permission instead of making demands. There is no trace of arrogance in his behavior. Gentleness and respect are to characterize our testimony to an unbelieving world. We are not to compromise our commitment to Christ, but we are to be ready to answer anyone who asks about our hope (1 Pet. 3:15-16). Our witness for Christ, therefore, is to be lived and spoken boldly, yet gently and respectfully. When it’s time to take a stand, let’s follow Daniel’s powerful example of courage combined with courtesy.— by David C. McCasland Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known! —Bliss It's easy to stand with the crowd It takes courage to stand alone. Daniel 1:13 Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see. Derrick Strickland - A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH INTRO: Sometimes our faith can become an inconvenience. It will place us in inconvenient situation. I. A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH MEANS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NON-NEGOTIABLES IN OUR LIVES. II. A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH NEED NOT BE CONFRONTATIONAL. III. A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH MEANS EMBRACING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CONVICTIONS.” Daniel 1:14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. Why did this man who feared he might lose his head listen to this young Jewish boy? Recall that in Daniel 1:9 God showed Daniel favor and compassion and this was surely a manifestation of this divine favor. Daniel 1:15 At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food. Such a reversal of the laws of nutrition would require supernatural intervention, again a reflection of the fact that God "granted Daniel favor and compassion" in Da 1:9. Archer comments that... This was the first- recorded exercise of faith on Daniel's part, and it served to prepare him for the even greater testings that were to follow. It proved completely successful; and at the end of the ten days the four Israelites looked healthier and handsomer than all their classmates (Ibid) Daniel 1:16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. Presumably this continued for their next 3 years at Babylon U. TODAY IN THE WORD- Daniel 1:1-21 In the popular children’s book The Secret Garden, Frances Burnett tells the story of the young girl Mary Lennox. Her childhood was spent in India, as her father worked for the English government there. For reasons un-known, Mary’s parents kept her hidden from the outside world.died...and Mary was forgotten until some soldiers happened upon her. As there was no family living in India to care for her, Mary was then sent to England to live with her Uncle Archibald Craven whom she had never met, in a place she had never been.far from family and all that is familiar! This happened to Daniel when King Nebuchad-nezzar conquered Jerusalem and took the people to Babylon and Daniel was probably just a teenager when he was taken. foundation that kept him upright. Daniel had an amazingly strong commitment to the Lord.prisoners refuse to cooperate with their captors. But Daniel took that risk because he had his eye on Someone bigger than the king. He was committed to being pure before God, no matter the cost.Because God honored Daniel’s resolve, his diet became the diet of all the young men being trained for the king’s service (v. 16). And when the three-year training was over, God blessed them further by gifting them beyond the wisest counselors Nebuchadnezzar had around him. It’s worth noting that Daniel chose his battles wisely. He didn’t seem to object to being given a Babylonian name or to being trained in the language and learning of his captors. But when it came to the revealed law and will of God, Daniel was immovable. Daniel knew God and His Word, and nothing could make him say yes, or even maybe, when God had said no. Daniel 1:17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. God: Da 2:21,23 1Ki 3:12,28 4:29, 30, 31 2Ch 1:10,12 Job 32:8 Ps 119:98, 99, 100 Pr 2:6 Ec 2:26 Isa 28:26 Lk 21:15 Ac 6:10 7:10 Col 1:9 Jas 1:5,17 knowledge Ac 7:22) (Understood visions and dreams - Da 4:9,10 5:11,12,14 10:1 Ge 41:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Nu 12:6 2Ch 26:5 Eze 28:3 1Co 12:7, 8, 9, 10, 11 God gave - For the third time in this chapter we see the hand of God intervening in the life of men (Da 1:2, 9, 17), in this case granting them enhanced intellectual ability because of their faith and commitment to His Word. Although God never speaks directly in the book of Daniel, His sovereign presence saturates the story from beginning to end! Dreams and visions - Daniel was granted skill in the "art of oneiromancy" (interpretation of dreams) even as Joseph had been granted during his "sojourn" to Egypt, in both cases this skill serving a to propel them into positions of power and influence in their respective governments. Matthew Henry... Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honour those who honour him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed. Henry Morris... In Christ "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3-note). To those who sincerely study, believe and obey God's Word and who are determined to stand for His truth in an ungodly society, God will provide the necessary wisdom and knowledge to accomplish the work He calls them to do. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding. - Daniel 1:17 Although it was first introduced in 1972, the Atkins diet made its biggest explosion onto the weight-loss scene in 1999. People who employed the peculiar technique were shedding weight at an astounding rate, while boasting of eating as much bacon, steak, and other fatty foods as they pleased as long as they refrained from carbohydrates. What seemed like a formula for weight gain proved to be an effective weight-loss regimen for many people. Daniel took more of a high-fiber, low-fat, high-faith approach, but weight loss was what he and his friends were hoping to avoid. At the end of the ten days, they shattered the expectations of the Babylonians, appearing healthier than their meat-eating peers. The results weren't necessarily miraculous, as a diet of beans, grains, fruits, and vegetables can provide more than adequate nutrition even for growing young men. But the king didn't just want these men for their physical prowess. His chief concern appeared to be the areas of wisdom and understanding (v. 20). And the result of their faithful allegiance to God was unrivaled expertise in foreign fields of study. Daniel was granted additional insight into dreams and visions. It wasn't the training program that made them so talented. The text clearly names God as the source of their gifts (v. 17). One might expect a man of Daniel's faith in Jehovah to be marginalized or belittled in the Babylonian court. But Nebuchadnezzar found the faithful four to be ten times better than the competition, and not just the other graduates of the program. Daniel and his friends surpassed the abilities of the king's entire roster of mystical experts. The last statement in today's reading shows Daniel's longevity of service even until the end of the exile. Through his consistent pattern of faithfulness to the Lord, he was able to see the fulfillment of his purpose: to help restore Israel to her past glory and favor in the eyes of God. Daniel was also proving his credibility as one of the most important of God's prophets. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Why not ask God to bless you with wisdom appropriate to your situation so that He can be glorified today? Perhaps increased emotional understanding and sensitivity could help you witness to your family, or maybe God could grant you insight into scientific and logical matters and use you as an apologist. No matter what you choose, diligently seek out the knowledge of God as a foundation for your development and growth. DANIEL 1:17 - IMAGINE being a teenager in Daniel's predicament. The king has told you what you're to eat and drink. But there's a problem. God has told you something different. He said that the food on the king's menu is prohibited. How many of us could stand up to that kind of pressure? Many people today think teenagers don't have what it takes to do what's right in situations where it costs something to take a moral stand. And some parents of adolescents think that the teenage years are simply a time to endure. But instead of dwelling on the things teens do wrong, we ought to be taking advantage of opportunities to encourage them to do right. Daniel 1:17 Teens and Those Who Love Them Imagine yourself in Daniel’s predicament. The king has told you, a Jewish teenager, what you’re going to eat and drink. But there’s a problem: God has said that the food on the king’s menu is prohibited. Could you stand up to that kind of pressure? Many people don’t think teens have what it takes to do what’s right in a case like this—or in similar situations where it would cost them something to take a moral stand. Parents often think that the teenage years are simply a time to endure. But instead of dwelling on the difficulties they will face, we ought to think of the opportunities we have to encourage them to do what is right. I think Daniel, the teen who was challenged to stand up to the king in God’s name, must have had people who taught him to make right choices. And it showed, for he boldly challenged the king’s rules. Many teens have the love for God and wisdom that Daniel displayed. What they need is guidance and encouragement, not a prejudiced, negative attitude about the younger generation. Help the teens you know to develop the courage of Daniel.— by Dave Branon ACTION SUGGESTIONS Stay involved in the lives of teenagers. Affirm their importance with words and actions. Expect them to do what’s right, even if it won’t be popular. Help them set their standards high—like Daniel’s. Children tend to rise to the level of their parents’ expectations. Daniel 1:18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The end of the days - Three years in the "Babylon U". If the youths were 14-15 when taken into exile in 605BC, they are now 17-18 years old. Recall that Daniel served during the reigns of 4 kings for approximately 70 years. See how they kept from being indoctrinated at "Babylon U" - See previous discussion Daniel 1:19 The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's personal service. So - Da 1:5 Ge 41:46 1Ki 17:1 Jer 15:19 Entered the king's personal service - Daniel and his friends are a wonderful example of the the proverb... Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. (Pr 22:29-note by Charles Bridges) (Remember although proverbs are not "promises" per se, they do are generally true...and worth heeding!) Daniel 1:20 As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. in every matter: 1Ki 4:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 10:1, 2, 3,23,24 Ps 119:99 ten times: Ge 31:7 Nu 14:22 Neh 4:12 Job 19:3 magicians: Da 2:2-11,21 4:7,8-18 5:7,8,17 Ge 41:8 Ex 7:11,12,22 8:7,19 Isa 19:3 47:12, 13, 14 2Ti 3:8,9 Ten times better - This phrase is most likely qualitative, signifying a fullness in their wisdom and understanding compared to their pagan peers. And so too can all believers be "ten times better". How? Knowing God's Word! As the psalmist affirms Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. (Ps 119:98) Magicians and conjurers - The question arises "What about their involvement in these occult practices?" Although it is difficult to give a definitive answer, the fact remains that Daniel interpreted dreams in Daniel 2 and Daniel 4 as well as handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5 without any mention of having to resort to occult practices. Instead he simply went to his God in prayer and God revealed the interpretations directly to him. In sum, there is no evidence of inappropriate contact or conduct by Daniel in regard to the occult. To be in the same "realm" as the occultists does not mean he was an occultist. He was simply better at interpreting dreams and visions than the occultists because God granted him favor and ability and his God given superiority is shown repeatedly in the succeeding chapters. Tony