Daniel's Commitment
Read Time: 7 Minutes
Daniel is a great example of a person who believed God even when taken away to a foreign land while still a young man. Daniel was born during a time when the kings of Judah were corrupt and worshipping other gods. Even though a great deal of the people were led astray there were still Believers that refused to budge when it came to God's Word. Because of Daniel's stand he was rewarded with position and honor-even in a foreign land. Daniel also had a great impact on Babylon during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus (495 - 424 B.C.). This was of benefit to God's people and Judah.
The first thing I want to look at is Daniel's commitment.
Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah
came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem,
and besieged it.
:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand,
with part of the vessels of the house of God:
which he carried into the land of
Shinar to the house of his god;
and he brought the vessels into the
treasure house of his god.
:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs,
that he should bring certain of the children of Israel,
and of the king's seed,
and of the princes;
:4 Children in whom was no blemish,
but well favoured,
and skilful in all wisdom,
and cunning in knowledge,
and understanding science,
and such as had ability in
them
to stand in the king's palace,
and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of
the Chaldeans.
By taking the skilled and intelligent inhabitants from the land it weakens the conquered kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar would also profit by the skilled advancements that they could bring to his kingdom.
:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat,
[which
was meat offered unto idols]
and of the wine which he drank:
so nourishing them three years,
that at the end thereof they might
stand before the king.
:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah,
Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah:
:7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names:
for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar;
and to Hananiah, of Shadrach;
and to Mishael, of Meshach;
and to Azariah, of Abednego.
: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.
This is a very bold request. He is endangering his life and that of his overseer. Because God knew Daniel's heart and commitment let us see what God did for him.
:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour
and tender love [racham - mercy, compassion]
with the prince of the eunuchs.
:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel,
I fear my lord the king,
who hath
appointed your meat and your drink:
for why should he see your faces
worse liking
than the children which are of your sort?
then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar,
whom the prince of the eunuchs had
set over Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days;
and let them give us pulse to eat, [pulse
- zeroa - vegetables]
and water to drink.
:13 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.
:14 So he consented to them in this matter,
and proved them ten days.
:15 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.
:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat,
and the wine that they should
drink;
and gave them pulse.
:17 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.
:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in,
[after
three years]
then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
:19 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.
:20 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.
:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
E.W. Bullinger figures that Daniel was about 16 years old at this time and possibly of royal lineage. In verse 3 of Daniel 1 there is a Word that not all codices include:
:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs,
that he should bring certain of the children of Israel,
and
of the king's seed,
and of the princes;
The bolded word 'and', if not in the original, means that those that were taken were "the children of Israel, of the king's seed and of the princes".
He must have been trained up in the Word of God and a very disciplined individual to have the strength of character to refuse the king's fare. I look back at my youth and know that I would have just gone with the flow. I also look at my life and realize that it is not too late to become committed. There is no reason why I cannot be as committed to my God as Daniel.
Because Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had the courage to stand for what was right, God went to work for them. We will see that they never back down from the Word. They were challenged repeatedly and risked death but stood fast for God.
Each day is a new day in which we can commit our lives to the one true God, the creator of the heavens and earth, the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each moment is a new moment in which we can walk for God and speak His Word. God takes care of His own. It is our decision to declare His promises and do His Word.
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Ephesians 3
:20 Now unto him
that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh
in us,
:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages,
world without end.
Amen.