The king of Babylon ordered that young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, would be brought in to serve. “The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table…Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But DANIEL RESOLVED NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE ROYAL FOOD AND WINE, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel…” (Dan 1:5-9)
Why did Daniel protest the kings food? “When you sit down to dine with a ruler…Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food…Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper.” (Pro 23:1-3, 31-32)
They ate very simple food and looked much healthier than the others and God blessed and used Daniel mightily because of His desire to please God. We do not have to partake of the delicacies of this world to please our flesh our desire must be to please God in all we do and He will bless us and use us for His Glory!!!
TO BE LIKE JESUS, ALL I ASK IS TO BE LIKE HIM…
-Bill Stockham