by Janet Mushi | 10 July 2018 08:46 pm07
Blessed be the Name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, the RULER of Heaven and Earth.
Welcome to this teaching on the book of Daniel, beginning with Chapter One. This chapter sets the stage for one of the most remarkable testimonies of uncompromising faith in all of Scripture.
The events of Daniel take place during the Babylonian exile—one of the most devastating periods in Israel’s history. In 605 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem. God allowed this judgment because of the persistent disobedience of His people.
“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.”
— Daniel 1:2, ESV
This exile had already been prophesied by Jeremiah:
“This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”
— Jeremiah 25:11, ESV
Thus, the captivity of Judah was not merely a political defeat—it was a divine judgment for idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness (see Deuteronomy 28). But even in judgment, God remained sovereign, preserving a remnant for His glory.
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that young men from the royal and noble families of Judah be selected for special training in Babylonian culture, language, and wisdom:
“…youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning… to stand in the king’s palace.”
— Daniel 1:4, ESV
Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—later renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (v. 7). The king intended to reprogram them through re-education, identity change, and cultural assimilation. This was spiritual warfare in disguise.
Part of the assimilation included eating from the king’s table—luxurious, yet ritually unclean foods for Jews under Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 11). This included pork, blood, and meat sacrificed to idols. The wine, too, was likely used in pagan rituals.
But Daniel made a deliberate choice:
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.”
— Daniel 1:8, ESV
This decision wasn’t about health—it was about holiness. Daniel feared God more than he feared the king. His conscience, shaped by the Law of Moses, would not allow him to compromise his covenant identity—even in exile.
In a bold yet respectful manner, Daniel requested a ten-day test: he and his friends would eat only vegetables (pulse) and drink water—a diet not defiled by pagan practices.
God honored this step of faith:
“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.”
— Daniel 1:15, ESV
God did not just preserve them physically—He poured out divine wisdom:
“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.”
— Daniel 1:17, ESV
When they appeared before the king after three years, they surpassed all others:
“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.”
— Daniel 1:20, ESV
God elevated them—not because they compromised, but because they remained faithful.
Daniel’s first test was not dramatic—it was about food. Yet small decisions form the foundation for great faith. As Jesus said:
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much…”
— Luke 16:10, ESV
Compromise often starts subtly—with what we watch, wear, consume, or accept in our daily lives.
Daniel and his friends thrived spiritually in Babylon, a center of idolatry and witchcraft. They didn’t isolate themselves; they engaged, but without defilement. This is a call for modern Christians to live holy lives in secular workplaces, schools, and governments.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2, ESV
Because Daniel was faithful in purity, God trusted him with prophetic insight—including visions about the end times. God reveals His secrets to those who walk in holiness.
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.”
— Psalm 25:14, ESV
While we no longer live under the ceremonial food laws of the Old Covenant (see Acts 10:15), the New Testament teaches us to abstain from spiritual defilement. Today’s “unclean foods” are not pork or wine, but:
These things defile the heart, as Jesus taught:
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”
— Matthew 15:18–19, ESV
In whatever season or setting you find yourself—at work, in school, or among non-believers—do not defile yourself with the things of this world.
Take a stand like Daniel. You don’t need to be aggressive—but be clear, faithful, and consistent. When others see your conviction, many will respect you, and God will honor you.
If you refuse to take a stand, however, the enemy will manipulate your life, emotions, and decisions.
“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:17, ESV
Lord Jesus, give us the courage to live like Daniel—pure in heart, bold in faith, and unwavering in obedience. Strengthen us to resist the pressure to conform, and make us vessels of honor in this generation. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
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