Thanks for understanding, and I hope you'll follow along and read with me. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts and commentary on the book and look forward to hearing from you.
My thoughts today are focused around Daniel Chapter 1.
I should preface by stating.. that from the beginning of Israel's history, God had promised judgment if the nation would not obey the law (References: Deuteronomy 28: 15-62; 31: 16-21).
Although Daniel was in right relationship with God, this was not true of the nation as a whole. Their sin had become so great, God carried out the judgment which he had predicted many years before (Isaiah 39: 6,7). Daniel, through no fault of his own, found himself a captive in a foreign land and exposed to many practices that were contrary to the Word of God.
Because of his family position, and his physical and mental ability, he was chosen for training by the Babylonians (Dan. 1:4).
This training involved instruction in a very complicated language and learning what was considered the greatest wisdom of the day. The Chaldeans were considered specialists in the fields of magic and astrology. If Daniel became successful in this, it meant that although he was still a captive, his life would be rather easy and he would occupy a preferred place in Babylon.
The problem facing Daniel was that the training involved eating what was contrary to the Mosaic law (verse 5). The delicacy of the food was not the issue, for it was the same the king ate himself. Something about it, however, would have caused Daniel to defile himself if he had eaten it. Daniel now had a choice to make; should he do what he knew was wrong, or should he jeopardize his whole future by remaining true to God and requesting some other kind of food?
The other Jewish youths were eating the food without complaint for conscience (verse 10). Could he afford to be any different? After all, his captors might return him to the resettlement camps for his difiance and inappreciation.
Daniel didn't delay his decision. He determined there would be no compromise (verse 8). I think his decision is a reflection of his past way of life. Because he had been faithful in the past, it was easier for him to make the right decision at this point.
He proposed to the one in charge of his training that they have a ten-day trial period (vs. 12). During the ten days he would follow his own diet. If at the end he was in pooer condition than the other captives, he would then eat the king's food.
This involved some danger to those responsible for Daniel. If something happened to him and the king found out about it, it would cost them their lives (vs. 10). But God caused Daniel's request to receive a favorable response on the part of his captors. Thus, in spite of the danger to themselves, they allowed Daniel and his three friends to eat only those foods which the four Hebrews Chose.
In a day of easy living and willing compromise, Daniel's life stands out. He resolved to be different if this was what remaining true to God required. His goal was not to please men and get a few compliments but to please God and live a life of which God could approve.
He guarded against the shortsighted approach to life which sacrifices the eternal on the altar of the present.
Daniels whole life was above reproach. Not a single sin is recorded against him. I don't think we're to imagine he was actually sinless, but we should appreciate and recognize his deepest motive was to glorify God. His eye was single; therefore, his whole body was full of light.
In Daniel's refusal to conform, he didn't approach his supervisor in an arrogant and defiant manner. He made no assault upon the Babylonian religion. He didn't assume a sanctimonious superiority. Instead, he requested he might be permitted to abstain from defiling himself. He was gracious and tactful, yet specific, direct, nonpunishing... and uncompromising. He was careful not to do anything that would get his supervisor in trouble with the king at the risk of losing his life.
This is a lesson we all need to learn I think when facing conflict. God does not expect us to antagonize the enemies of the gospel by our rash and belligerent attitudes. Daniel and his friends did not protest the change of their names to correspond with heathen deities. The Babylonian idolators could call them what they liked; names could never hurt them, but to displease God by eathing food which had probably been offered to deomons was an act which they could not contemplate.
And what was the outcome? God in His providence directly intervened in several matters.
- First, He prepared the heart of Melzar to grant Daniel's request. This proves God has access to the minds and wills of even unregenerate men and can control them as He wills. What Melzar chose to do of his own free will was exactly what God had chosen for him to do.
- Second, God sustained Daniel and his brethren so they suffered no ill effects from such a poor diet. Expecting them to show signs of malnutrition, Melzar found the quartet of captives in better health than those who had gorged themselves on the king's delicacies. In all of the rest of their training they were not required to share the king's diet. They continued to live on their simple fare, and God continued to preserve their bodily well being.
- Third, God gave Daniel and his friends all sorts of knowledge and skills. They surpassed everyone else in the kingdom in their knowledge of the Chaldean language, literature, art, crafts, and sciences. Even though they had a three year course in liberal arts, which gave them proficiency in all the humanities, they never adopted the philosophy or the religion of the Chaldean's. God gave them a penetrating insight into the nature of reality, and they enjoyed from Him discriminative powers which natural men lacked.
- Fourth, God gave an additional ability to Daniel. He was made to understand all visions and dreams (vs. 17). This endowment was a prerequisite to what follows in the book of Daniel.
- Fifth, God providentially arragned the elevation of Daniel and his companions to places of prominence in the Babylonian goverment. Every detail of a long line of events worked toward this end. God was working out His eternal puposes, and the details called for a Jewish prime minister and prophet to counsel serveral pagan kings and disclose to them (and us) the course of world empires.
What made Daniel different from the mass of Jewish captives that he should be selected for special service? Was it some meritorious virtue in hismself? No! God made the difference between Daniel and those who forsook the Lord. The God of Daniel cuased him to be born into a royal family. The God of Daniel cuased him to be transported to Babylon with the rest of the men of Judah. God cuased the head of the eunuchs to permit Danile's request.
I think we can safely say God put it in Daniel's mind and heart to make such a request, and God by His own divine power produced steadfastness and resolve in Daniel not to conform to Babylonian customs...God's appointed place for Daniel required preparation and conditioning. Thank God for Daniel's faithfulness!
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