Daniel's Faithfulness

 

 

Daniel 1:8-21

 

March 4, 2024

 

Daniel's Faithfulness

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.  And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So, you would endanger my head with the king.”  Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”  So, he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.  At the end of ten days, it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.  So, the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.  At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them, none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king.  And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.  And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

 

Have you been told you do not live unto yourself; you are in a vacuum, others are affected by your actions and convictions.  In David's case, it was Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  In my case, it was not food, but a statement by my boss and others who had had too much to drink after a dinner and drinking at a meeting in Brownville, Texas, where we had dinner in Mexico.  They said we are now going to Boys’ Town, and I spoke up that I would get a cab back to the hotel, that I would not be going with them.  To my amazement, a large number said we are going back with Rice.  People are always in need of a voice of conviction.  With that said, Daniel was in a bad place under the rule of his pagan Ruler.  I was not in fear for my life, but I was taking a risk of one of the bosses going after my job.  But in both cases, our conviction was centered on God’s promises and commandments. 

In Daniel’s case, God blessed him and his friends with him, “in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.”

It was not the eating of the vegetables that gave them the wisdom and understanding; it was the Lord whom they feared and honored.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice