Living Faithful in a Faithless Land: A Study of DanielSample

Week 2: Making a Stand for God

Daniel’s Mind is Made Up

Read: Daniel 1:8-21; 1 Corinthians 10:23-31

SOAP: Daniel 1:8

“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself.”

Into the Text

If you had been Daniel, where would you have drawn the line? He didn’t oppose being educated about the Babylonian gods or having his name changed. However, he made up his mind to reject the food. This seems like a small thing compared to some of the others. It was also potentially risky, as this food was from the king’s table.

Why was the royal food unacceptable? It was offered to the gods of Babylon. This made it unclean. It was a compromise Daniel couldn’t make.

However, Daniel was also wise in what he did. He didn’t throw the food away or make a big scene. He discreetly asked for permission not to eat it. God was at work. The overseer was sympathetic but also afraid of King Nebuchadnezzar. Again young Daniel was wise in asking for a ten-day trial of vegetables and water. To the court’s surprise, Daniel and his friends actually looked healthier after the ten days!

I wonder how popular a decision it was with the other trainees to have their royal food removed and receive vegetables and water instead?

For Daniel and his friends, this trial was a success. They no longer had to eat the royal food. God blessed their faithfulness by giving them more wisdom and insight than anyone in the whole Babylonian empire.

At the end of training, the king was impressed with all four of them. They graduated with jobs working for King Nebuchadnezzar.

There are times when living for God causes us to be different or live differently from what is considered ‘normal’. Pray for wisdom in knowing how to live faithfully and how to respond when something crosses into a compromise you can’t make. Let’s be wise in how we live in both the seemingly little things and the big things.

Prayer

Lord of All, it is so easy to be comfortable living like everyone else, and it is hard to be different. Give me strength and wisdom, Lord, to live your way. May I be transformed by your love so that I desire to please you. O Lord, be glorified through my life today and every day. May my life bless others, doing them good, and ultimately showing them you and bringing you glory. Amen