Pondering…

1. Have you ever found yourself in an oppressive situation? How did you respond?

2. Have you ever had to take a stand for what was right? How did God respond?

3. What does God require of us, even in the most difficult trials?

4. Have you ever been in a situation where God brought you some timely and much needed comfort?

5. Think about your life and circumstances today. Is there an area in which you need to, like Daniel in v8, purpose in your heart not to defile yourself?

6. God has made many promises to us, His people.  Which do you treasure in times of difficulty?

Remember: God takes ordinary people, struggling with ordinary things, beyond the ordinary to do extraordinary things.

Verses 11-13. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

This deal Daniel makes with Melzar could easily be overlooked, but there is a lesson in here for us. He was careful with his words for a reason, but made a request. “Prove thy servants...” Think about what he was asking. Melzar probably thought it was a crazy idea. What? You want to eat what? And you think you’ll be healthier than the others by eating that stuff instead of all the bounty from the king’s table?

“Prove thy servants,” Daniel asks. Daniel was not asking Melzar to test him, but to test Daniel’s God. Think about it for a moment. 10 days is a short period of time to see results from any diet. Daniel, according to verse 3 was selected from “certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes.” Daniel was part of the royal family. He wasn’t used to eating a diet so unpalatable or meager, yet this is what he requests in order to keep himself pure. How did Daniel know this would work? How did he know that he and Melzar wouldn’t literally lose their heads? One word - FAITH. Daniel knew the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Daniel knew Him and His promises. Daniel knew that the God of Israel, who keeps covenant and mercy to a thousand generations, has promised to bless obedience. Daniel knew that his God would not forsake him.

Verses 14-16. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Daniel’s request was granted and his faith rewarded. Daniel knew the same faithful God that Paul would come to know centuries later, the One “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20)” God was faithful to Daniel and always will be so to us. We CAN trust him to fulfill His Word and to keep His promises to us.

Verses 17-21. 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. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

We see further reward for the obedience of Daniel and his friends. God gave them wisdom and understanding and they outshined all the rest. Not only were they smarter and more capable than the other Jewish boys taken into captivity, the king “found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” Notice that these 4 boys were not born geniuses. The understanding they had was a direct result of their obedience. AFTER they had made this important stand for the Lord, “God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.” God does indeed bless obedience.

Go to Points to Ponder from Daniel 1

      Verse 8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Verse 8 is a challenge to each of us. Daniel was a teenager, faced with persecution and pressure like most of us have never seen. Yet, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself...” In the midst of the worst trial he had ever faced, this young man, far from home, far from the eyes of his parents and the eyes of the temple priest, chose to do what was right in God’s eyes. We are not told exactly how many young men were taken from Jerusalem, but we do know that only 4 took a stand – Daniel and his three friends. Can you imagine the peer pressure under those circumstances? The others in the group were likely trying to discourage Daniel.  “Come on, Daniel. Don’t make waves. It was good to keep Torah back home, but it doesn’t apply here. We’re not in Israel any more. Your family will never know. Don’t worry about it. Don’t make waves. Don’t be so uptight.” But Daniel determined to keep himself pure and obey the commandments of the Lord despite what others were doing, despite pressure, despite possible punishment from his captors.

Think about the choice Daniel made here. If offered a choice between a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings and a little bowl of mashed corn, what would you choose?  David knew that the food from the king’s table had been offered to idols. He knew that it would not honor his God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, if he ate such food. He also knew that it might anger the king if he refused what was offered. The king could have killed him for it.

Verse 9. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Think about that statement for a moment. Here was Daniel, snatched away from his family, far from all the comforts of home, and probably lonely and homesick. Do you see what God did? God brought him comfort. Daniel was taken to Babylon around 605 B.C. Fast forward a few centuries to the time of the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation...” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Both Daniel’s and Paul’s experiences seem so long ago and far away to us, but God has not changed. He is still the God of all comfort. He WILL comfort you in all your troubles, extending love and mercy to you and your situation.

Verse 10. The prince of the eunuchs liked Daniel and wanted to honor his request to keep himself undefiled with food from the king’s table, but was understandably afraid. When he said, “then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king,” it was no exaggeration. If Daniel and his friends had become ill, the king could very well have had this man beheaded for not insisting that his instructions be carried out. Regardless of the outcome, Nebuchadnezzar still may have been angered that his decree was not obeyed. So this man was in a very difficult situation. It is not recorded whether this man turned to the God of Israel or not, but, for us as believers, we need to be aware that there may come a time when we have to make such a choice. 

In America, we know little of persecution. Some of us have experienced negativity from coworkers or even family members because of the stand we have taken for the Lord in some way. But we have never faced real life threatening persecution as our brothers and sisters in places like China and India have. There is coming a day, and perhaps quite soon, when this will be a reality for American Christians who have become too comfortable in our cushioned pews. If it becomes illegal to pray in public, worship together and speak the truth, what will our response be? Will we defy the king to do what we know to be right? Will we obey the King of kings even if it means our life? Something to think about... Go to Part 3