God’s Guidance, Intervention, and Power

Daniel 1:1-21

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king."

11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants." 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

The book begins right away with Daniel and his friends choosing to obey God rather than man.   They did this while having been taken captive and groomed for three years to be servants for the king who now owned them.  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and pillaged the valuables from God’s house to set before idols as a testimony against Israel for their idolatry and lack of holding the holiness and worship of God as most important.  This king selected the brightest and best looking from the captives to teach the Chaldean customs and knowledge to best serve him.  This is in contrast to how God selects ordinary men not based on looks or education (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) necessarily that He may use them for the gospel’s sake as His willing servants enslaved only to righteousness (Romans 6:18-19).  Enslavement to sin is as with this king, forced to subservience and according to human abilities.  Yet the LORD used Daniel and his intelligent, quick-learning friends to be trained and put in the place He needed them to be according to His predetermined providence for His glory to be revealed.  This shows that even though not many wise are called, He has need of them as well for this sort of work.  It is the humility of the willingly obedient heart willing to risk all as if dying to self that God requires.  These sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were chosen accordingly and given the ability to learn quickly and well for their divine mission.  They were given brand new names, Daniel was Belteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abed-Nego, which pale in comparison to the new names we will receive from God (Revelation 3:12, 22:4).  Daniel did not want to dilute the purity of his soul’s diet by feeding his body with rich royal foods offered him in opposition to God’s word (Leviticus 11:47, Deuteronomy 32:37-38, Hosea 9:3), and boldly asked his handler to give him safe food like vegetables to avoid that offered to idols or outside of the permitted foods according to the Law.  That one was afraid that if he did so me it affected Daniel’s appearance that he would suffer at the hand of the king, but Daniel assured him by offering a ten day trial period to see the affects.  It went very well as God honored Daniel’s resolve and wise words.  The lack of the king’s delicacies actually made them appear better and healthier, so all ended well as God honored those who honored Him (1 Samuel 2:30).  As a result “God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom.”  He even specially gave Daniel the ability to understand dreams which would be useful several times in the future as God unfurled His history before them.  This wisdom and knowledge was far superior to the others, especially the ungodly diviners and conjurers.  These examples show we are not to discount learning and ability, but use these to serve God and as a testimony against worldly shadows of the same.  If we honor God with holy love and give Him the glory, He will likewise honor us with His guidance, intervention, and power in the circumstances.