Bible Reading: Daniel 1:8-18
If any graduate student is offered a test that will lead to an attractive job in the white house, most will be thrilled and willing to do anything to clear the test. Let’s assume the selection test is based on cultural, linguistic, and local knowledge. In that case, students will try to align themselves with local culture, even if they are from another country, to prove they are more qualified than anybody. Daniel and his friends were in a similar situation. They were young, qualified, chosen, and selected for a three-year training course in Babylon for a job in the king’s court. Yet they resisted yielding to the Babylonian influence and chose to hold on to their Jewish belief.
Before you continue, if you have missed reading to get some background context about the historical background of the Book of Daniel, you can read it.
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Ashpenaz (Chief servant) to teach Daniel the Chaldeans’ literature and language for three years. They were served with King’s finest food and wine. But Daniel made a purposeful decision not to eat the King’s choicest food. Though he was thousands of miles away from Jerusalem, his heart was still set towards the Lord and temple of Jerusalem. The Jewish law prohibits eating unclean food and the food presented to the idols. Young Daniel knew it very well. Babylonians could change his name but not his heart, which was always aligned to his God.
Though Ashpenaz was afraid of Nebuchadnezzar, he was willing to try vegetables and water for ten days at Daniel’s request. Anyone working in King’s service would know the cost of disobedience.
A rugged king like Nebuchadnezzar might consider disobedience as disrespect to his kingship and would give capital punishment for anyone breaching his command.
Ashpenaz always had the choice of reporting Daniel’s request to the King instead of deciding his own hands. But God granted favor and compassion in the eyes of Ashpenaz, who allowed Daniel and his friends to eat vegetables. At the end of ten days, he found them healthier than others.
At the end of three years, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were interviewed by King Nebuchadnezzar. King found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in Wisdom and understanding. Can a bunch of young college graduates who just finished their three years, of course, be ten times better than professionals staying in King’s Court for many years?
The extraordinary wisdom of Daniel and his friends came from fear of God. Daniel showed proof of this by giving glory to God first every time he revealed the king’s visions. He never tried to claim glory to his name. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah chose to honor their Lord instead of bowing down to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar. They knew the consequence of bowing down to statues, which was the primary reason for their exile to Babylon.
Daniel remained in Babylon until the first year of Cyrus the Great, BC 538. By then, Daniel should have been an old man. There is no evidence in the Bible that he returned to Jerusalem along with Zerubbabel in BC 538.
If you have a prayer request, please get in touch with us. We are here to pray for you. May God Bless you.
