The Life of Daniel (2)

The faith of Daniel and his friends was put to the test when they were required to eat the king’s meat and drink the king’s wine which were set before them. Daniel could not obey the king’s orders. He would not defile himself with that which was unclean to him. The tender walk of this young man of fifteen or seventeen years old had made a favorable impression upon the prince of the eunuchs who was set over him. Daniel acted wisely and politely when he made his request to the prince to be excused from eating this food. However, the prince of the eunuchs expressed his fear that granting Daniel’s request would endanger his life. What would the king say if he would detect that the young men were not well-nourished?

The trial period

Daniel then asked Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel and his friends, for a trial period of ten days. They would eat pulse which may mean bread and vegetables, a much simpler meal than the others would receive, and drink water. Melzar, which means steward, agreed to take the risk, evidently impressed by the sincerity of these young men. We read, “So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.” You can be sure that Daniel had supplicated the Lord that He might manifest His help and do what He had promised. We read in Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” The Lord’s blessing upon unconditional obedience to His will, will surely be given. The poet says in Psalm 37:16, “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” The Lord takes care of His people. They will never be put to shame with their God.

It is true that when faith is tried and we begin to reason, fear may often fill the heart of those who are tested. Their faith can be weak and small, and sometimes the enemy may mock them and say, “Your foolishness will be shown to everyone and all that you hoped for and perhaps talked about is nothing but presumption.” However, we do not read of this fear and unbelief in the life of Daniel and his friends. They must have received this ten-day trial period as a token that God knew of them. When we may cast our burdens upon Him, He will care for us. Oh, that we, in this evil time in which there is so much that tempts us to compromise, may exercise some of the filial trust that is shown in the life of these young men in exile. The Lord will glorify His faith fulness and power.

Results

As was proposed, so it happened. We read in verse 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.” This change in the appearance of Daniel and his friends was not caused by the superiority of the food that they had eaten. It was the effect of God’s free grace. God began to assert His power among the Babylonians. How this must have humbled Daniel and his friends. They were not alone in this land of exile. Their God had clearly shown that He knew of their circumstances, that He had heard their prayers, and that He had not put to shame those who trusted in Him. Melzar took away the meat and the wine that they had been required to eat and gave them the food which the Lord had blessed for them.

However, these young men also had to study, and this was not without danger. As Nebuchadnezzar had changed their names, it was the intent that these promising and talented young men would forget all that they had been told about the God of Israel. They had to study history, astrology, mathematics, medicine, and mythology, and how easily they could have been influenced or even poisoned by these studies. It had already been foretold in 2 Kings 20:18, “And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Also, what the prophet spoke in Isaiah 39 is now fulfilled.

Will they be steadfast? Will they remain faithful to the God of Israel? In these circumstances, they will have taken refuge in the Lord to keep and preserve them. God’s children, when being taught by the Lord’s Spirit at His heavenly academy, will learn how weak they are and that they should not trust in their own strength or wisdom. Our young people today are often exposed to teachings which are contrary to God’s Word. There are also great dangers for them. How necessary it is to them and to all those who love them, parents and office-bearers, to take refuge in the all-knowing and almighty God of the covenant.

We read that Daniel and his friends were blessed in their studies. “God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” It appears that Daniel had an additional gift from God. He would be able to understand and interpret visions and dreams, and the Lord would show him what would happen in the future. We read in Colossians 1:9, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Here we read that wisdom is God’s gift. When the king examined them at the time appointed, he asked them many questions and we read, “And among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore, stood they before the king.”

It is so true, “The blessing of the Lord maketh rich,” and therefore the king found them “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” This will not have made them proud but must have humbled them. We are such foolish people that we are inclined to boast of something that we did not obtain by our own strength or wisdom, but it has been given to us by the Lord to use it to His honor in His service. The Lord has given different talents to all of us. One may study easily, but others are very gifted in working with their hands. May we realize that whatever we may have—strength, intellect, and courage, is all a gift from our Creator. He to whom much hath been given, much shall be required of him. May the Lord give the desire to spend our short life and talents received from Him for the purpose for which He has given them.

God’s faithfulness

Daniel received a high position at the king’s court. We read in verse 21, “And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.” This was a very long time, from 605 to 539 B.C. During that time, kings arose and were put down; there were many changes in those who had governing power, but in the midst of all this, Daniel was preserved and kept when a new reign began. It means that he lived through the whole period of the exile. He could even see that God brought His people back to Jerusalem. Kingdoms had perished: the Babylonian, the Persian, and the Median, but God’s kingdom will be forever. Christ shall have dominion over land and sea. “And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33).

Blessed are they who may surrender to this King, who may love and serve Him. They will experience what we read in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Whatever may be taken away or disappoint us, God will establish His Word. As we read in Isaiah 54:10, “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” There is a glorious future for God’s Church though they now may be like a lonely sparrow on a housetop, alone in this wilderness. Daniel continued because God continues in His care, in His love, in His faithfulness. He will never disappoint those who flee to Him.

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen