“…Daniel continued…” (Dan. 1:21) Daniel was trained to be a governmental servant and a faithful historian of God’s dealings with the youth taken captive. Although his book is shorter than other prophetical books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, the book of Daniel is the most comprehensive and sweeping revelation recorded by any prophet of the Old Testament. The introductory chapter explains how Daniel was called, prepared, matured, and blessed of God.
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon instructed Ashpenaz, to bring some of the king’s (Israel’s king) descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.” (Dan. 1:3-4) The purpose was to train these captive youth to be like and think like their captors then go back and spy on their own people so, first they changed their names. Daniel’s name meant, “God is my judge“ Belteshazzar, the name given to Daniel, means “Bel protects his life.” Bel was one of the many false god’s. That’s why the Bible says, “…do not be conformed to this world…” (Rom. 12:2)
Then they tried to change their diet, “…the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank…But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would NOT DEFILE HIMSELF with the portion of the king’s delicacies…therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself…Daniel said, “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water…” (Dan. 1:5, 8, 12) Daniel committed himself TO CONTINUE BEING GOD’S DANIEL no matter how they tried to conform him. “At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables…God gave these four young men an UNUSUAL APTITUDE FOR UNDERSTANDING every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to INTERPRET THE MEANINGS OF VISIONS AND DREAMS.” (Dan. 1:15-17)
LET US CONTINUE BEING WHAT GOD DESIRES FOR US TO BE…
-Bill Stockham