1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babyloniaa and put in the treasure house of his god.
3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.b 5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.7The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8But 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. 9Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned yourc food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Daniel 1)
Thoughts: Daniel and his 3 friends saw their city invaded, army defeated, and the leaders (including them) were taken into captivity. In a few more years they would hear of the Temple burned, and most of the population killed. But they did not give up in their devotion to God. It showed in their diet. They refused to eat non-kosher food, preferring just vegetables. Calvin says he believes they ate more than vegetables outside the court, but there is no evidence of that. God blessed them for wanting to be faithful. He blessed them with health, with wisdom to interpret dreams and visions. They were the ultimate long range planners, and this was an asset to the Babylonians who over-valued fortune telling and astrology. God blesses those who are faithful to Him.
Thoughts: Daniel and his 3 friends saw their city invaded, army defeated, and the leaders (including them) were taken into captivity. In a few more years they would hear of the Temple burned, and most of the population killed. But they did not give up in their devotion to God. It showed in their diet. They refused to eat non-kosher food, preferring just vegetables. Calvin says he believes they ate more than vegetables outside the court, but there is no evidence of that. God blessed them for wanting to be faithful. He blessed them with health, with wisdom to interpret dreams and visions. They were the ultimate long range planners, and this was an asset to the Babylonians who over-valued fortune telling and astrology. God blesses those who are faithful to Him.
Prayer: Lord, even in the face of obstacles, help me to be faithful to you.
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