11 Daniel 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. 13 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.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. Daniel was very smart. It's not that it was wrong for Daniel to have these things but Daniel didn't want the luxury to keep him from being altered or separated from God. It very much reminds me of what we face in this world. Do we partake and allow ourselves to be separated from God or do we resist like Daniel?
____________________________________________________________________________________
John Burnett:
8 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. 9 Now God had caused the official
to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I
am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[a] 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.” Again God’s sovereignty is
displayed as he causes the one of the most evil king’s guards to show favor on
Daniel. For the guard to stick his neck out literally for Daniel and his
friends is God being in complete control of the situation.
11 Daniel
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.13 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.”14 So he agreed to this and
tested them for ten days. God obviously had given Daniel
wisdom when it came to his diet and the ability to persuade people like the
guard.
____________________________________________________________________________________
-
We have to ask ourselves, "Do I have this type of resolve today?"
Are we willing to stand up for what we know to be right even in difficult
situations? What an example Daniel is for us!
9 Now God had caused the official
to show favor and compassion to Daniel,
-
God knew Daniel's resolve and was willing to help him out bc of his trust in
Him.
10 but the official told Daniel, “I
am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c]
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.”11 Daniel 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. 13 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.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
- His statement shows the great trust he had in how the Lord would
work.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Allen Michaels: 8 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. It is easier to resist temptation if we have thought through
our convictions well before the temptation arrives. We will get ourselves into
trouble if we have not previously decided where to draw the line. Before such
situations arise, we must decide on our commitments. The when temptation comes,
we will be ready to say no. 9 Now God had caused the
official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, God
moved with an unseen hand to change the heart of this chief official. The
strong moral conviction of these four young men made an impact. God promises to
be with his people in times of trial and temptation. His active intervention
often comes just when we take a stand for him. Stand for God and trust him to
protect you in ways you may not be able to see. 10 but
the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned
yourfood 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.”
11 Daniel 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. Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a practical,
creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his companions. As God’s
people, we may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God’s
laws. 13 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.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for
ten days.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday's reading for Daniel 1:15-21
15 At the
end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the
young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away
their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables
instead.
17 To
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.
18 At the
end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief
official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked
with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so
they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom
and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And
Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
No comments:
Post a Comment