In the previous article, we looked at Daniel 1:8, where exiles from Jerusalem (in training for King Nebuchadnezzar’s service) were offered high-end food, but one of them (Daniel) realized that eating this food would defile him, so he asked for an exception. This account continues in the next couple of verses.
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has assigned your 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.”
Daniel 1:9-10 NIV
The chief official (or “commander” [NASB]) understood the importance of sticking to the rules when it came to serving King Nebuchadnezzar. He appreciated that if he were to be caught breaking the rules and his exception-making produced inferior graduates from the program, he would have to pay – probably with his life.
However, Daniel wasn’t working on his own, here. Verse 9 confirms that, with God’s help, the official was already sympathetic to Daniel. Without God’s help, we can push on others, trying to prevail and get our own way. Sometimes, when trying to achieve things on our own, we might even make some progress, but often at the cost of ruining relationships. However, when God has prepared the path for us, working in the hearts of those who He wants us to ask for help, it can be like the Red Sea parting so that we can walk right through.
Or, as we see in this case, maybe the other person still doesn’t give us what we want! God was working in this Babylonian official, but His plan did not involve the official saying “yes”…at least, not right away. Just because someone else doesn’t react the way we would like them to, doesn’t mean that God isn’t working in their lives, nor that God isn’t working for our good.
Daniel is persistent, though, and he has a conversation with the guard.
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
Daniel 1:11-14 NIV
This “program” that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in was meant to last 3 years (see Daniel 1:5), and there are a couple of ways to look at this. From my point of view, 10 days seems like a reasonable time to experiment. If things went off the rails, there should still be plenty of time for the program’s administrators to get these guys back on track.
On the other hand, the Lookout (cited below) suggests that ten days isn’t a lot of time to see a major change in someone’s health due to their diet. Today, we might appreciate the value of a plant-rich diet. While the Bible permits eating meat and fish (and Jesus did so), too much rich food and drink can take its toll on us.
However, I agree that 10 days might not be enough to see a big difference for you or me. If the experiment was to last ten calendar days, there would probably need to be more than just health-conscious eating going on. The participants would also need God to step in and help.
What happened next? Keep reading Daniel 1 on your own and visit here for the next article in a few days for more study.
In the meantime, though, consider this: if the results of this test didn’t turn out well, what would Daniel have done to keep his conscience clear? How far was Daniel ready to go in order to do the right thing? Did he have a backup plan, or was this as far as he was prepared to go for his faith? In the same way, what are you and I willing to endure when following God’s instructions, even if He doesn’t miraculously save us? (Or, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, thinking ahead to Daniel 3:16-18!)
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 2, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, June 2, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 