Daniel 1: 8-21
Daniel was removed from his home and family in Jerusalem and transplanted into a foreign land and placed in a three-year training program at the close of which he would stand before the king. Daniel was probably in his early or mid teens at the beginning of the program. His uprooting would have taken place in 604 B.C. This date would make him contemporaries with Jeremiah who prophesied in Jerusalem between 626 B.C. and 580 B.C. and with Ezekiel who was born in 623 B.C. and taken to Babylon from Jerusalem in 597 B.C. Daniel was born during the reign of Josiah and would have remembered the last days of his reign through the eyes of a 7 or 8 eight-year-old.
The first verse before us states that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. The three-year program prescribed by the king was precise in detail. It specified the beverages and the meats which the trainees were to consume. The menu required drinking of wine which had been offered to Babylonian gods and the eating of non-Kosher meats. Daniel wanted no part of consuming these items. His desire was to comply with the law which the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had given to Moses. Daniel believed that the God who promised to bless Abraham, the seed of Abraham, and all families of the earth through Abraham would keep His promises. The fact that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah and taken him to Babylon could not undo that which God had spoken to Moses.
Daniel went to Ashpenaz the master of the eunuchs. Bible scholars have debated whether Ashpenaz or Daniel and his friends were actually eunuchs. The Hebrew word which is translated as eunuch is saris. King James translators chose to translate saris as officer or chamberlain 21 times and as eunuch 17 times. The purpose of the program for which Daniel and his friends were selected was to train them to serve as governmental officials.
Daniel asked Ashpenaz that he be exempted from the prescribed diet. Ashpenaz said, “No.” Ashpenaz feared that deviating from the kings orders would “endanger my head to the king.” Ashpenaz had been given a corps of children who were without blemish and skilled in wisdom and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science” (v. 4). Ashpenaz feared that failure to adhere to the king’s diet would cause Daniel’s appearance to become less favorable than that of the others in the program.
Daniel would not take “No” for an answer. He went to Melzar who was given direct charge over Daniel and his three friends. Daniel proposed a test. He and his friends would eat pulse (vegetables) and drink water for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Melzar was to compare the countenance of those who ate the king’s meat with the countenance of Daniel and his friends. Melzar agreed to the ten day trial.
It was the desire of Daniel’s heart that he should keep the commandments given to Moses. Psalm 37:4-5 states, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Daniel proposed the test, believing that the Lord is true to His word. Daniel believed God would make it possible for him to do as He had commanded. Daniel believed and committed his ways to the Lord and the Lord gave him the desire of his heart. After the ten days, there were none fairer nor fatter than Daniel and his three friends (v. 15).
The Lord gave Daniel that which he desired and much more. “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (v. 17). Daniel already possessed knowledge and skill in wisdom (v. 4) but God added to that which he possessed. At the end of the three year program, the king found Daniel and his three friends to possess understanding and wisdom which surpassed that of all the magicians and astrologers in his realm (v. 20). The three year program was a test between God and the best efforts of man. God produced ten times the result. God chose to use Daniel and his three friends for His purposes. Daniel and his three friends chose to magnify God’s name by walking according to His ways.
New Testament believers have been made free of the constraints of the law because God the Son has fulfilled that which no man can achieve (see Matt. 5:17). We are to walk in His ways. We are to abide in Him such that He may abide in us. Jesus said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (Jn.15:10).
We, like Daniel, are to seek His ways such that He may mold us and make us vessels worthy of His use. He has commanded us to love one another and to reach out with His message: “Come unto to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
