Daniel Chapter One

V. 1-2 – In the last post, I talked about the timeline of Daniel. We discussed that he was taken into captivity in approximately 606 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar is the new Babylonian king, and he has taken some of the most intelligent, noble, high-ranking young men to Babylon as a guarantee of Judah’s good behavior. These boys were all likely between thirteen and seventeen years old. They were at a highly impressionable age, and Babylon would have been overwhelming by any standard. Last week, we left Daniel at the feet of a lifeless god, Marduk. The vessels of the Temple were used as a visible reminder that Nebuchadnezzar’s god was stronger than their God (supposedly). We pick up this week in verse three.

V. 3 – I am not going to belabor the question of if Daniel and his friends were made eunuchs. Better Bible scholars than me have debated this issue and still disagree. I’m going to present a few arguments on both sides and then we’ll move on.

For argument:

It was a common practice to avoid those of high rank challenging the king’s position on the throne.
We are never told that they married or had children.
1. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den alone vs. the wise men who were thrown in with their families.
Isaiah did prophecy (39:7) that some of the sons of the kings would be made eunuchs by the king of Babylon. We can’t know if this was specifically applied to Daniel and his friends.

Against argument:

It is never stated that they were made eunuchs. They were in the care of a eunuch, but that does not necessarily mean they were subject to that fate.
“Eunuch” in the Bible can have a variety of meanings, including court official.
Some wise men were married so it was not a requirement for the office.
Ezekiel 14:14-20 may be a more theoretical argument on God’s part, but it does mention daughters and sons and Daniel’s name is included on the list of examples.
Daniel 1:4 specifically notes that these young men were to be without blemish.

Regardless, these young men were forced to abandon everything familiar. They were thrown into an environment that was hostile to their faith and customs.

V. 4 – Here, we have a description of these young men. They were handsome, noble (they were of the highest ranks in Israel and familiar with life at court), discerning, intelligent, free from deformity, and were able to stand in the king’s court. In other words, they had a certain level of self and situational awareness that allowed them to comport themselves with dignity.

Now we know what the young men were like, but what were they to learn? The king wanted them to be taught the literature and language of Babylon. Literature would have included Babylon’s history, traditions, and customs. Language would have covered a new way of speaking and what came out of their mouth. Both things made it easier to communicate in the king’s palace. However, this training was also a form of control. The king was trying to indoctrinate them with new philosophies and ideologies. Apparently, it worked for most of the boys being taught. This is such a point of challenge. What are we learning? What are we assimilating as truth that are actually lies from the enemy? Who are we listening to?

V. 5 – This food was considered extravagant. They were receiving the best of the best. However, it was not kosher. It has been cooked in blood (and often served with quite a bit of blood), and it had often been sacrificed to idols. By the time we get to the New Testament, we are no longer under law and Peter is told that he can eat things that are not kosher (Acts 10). Paul teaches that you can eat food sacrificed to idols if it does not violate your conscience (1 Cor. 8). However, this certainly violated Daniel’s conscience (and the Law at that time) and gave the appearance of him approving of the practice of idolatry. That is why he proposes an alternative later in this chapter. For three years, these young men were subjected to indoctrination. If you think about it, they basically went through a process of brainwashing. Seemingly, there were only four who arrived on the other side still believing in God’s truth.

V. 6-7 – The last thing the Babylonians changed was their name – their identity. Names are important, but they were vital in Jewish culture. They were reflective of character and often linked to family members. Look at the names below and consider what the Babylonians were trying to communicate to these young men.

Daniel: God is my Judge

Belteshzzar: Favored by Bel – Lord/Marduk

Hananiah: The Lord’s beloved

Shadrach: Illuminated by Rak – sun god or Aku – moon god

Mishael: Who is as God?

Meshach: Belonging to Shak – wine goddess

Azariah: The Lord is my Help

Abednego: Servant of Nego – literally the equivalent of Satan

These new names were not arbitrary. They were a deliberate effort to counter the focus on Jehovah and truth. It was an effort to re-orient these young men. I love that verse seven opens with the word “but.”

V. 8 – “But Daniel resolved…” Despite all of this, despite the pressure and uncertainty, Daniel made a choice. This literally has the idea that he purposed or chose ahead of time. Before his world had been turned upside down, he counted the cost and chose to be faithful. Nebuchadnezzar was not a nice man. He would eventually put out Zedekiah’s eyes after killing the king’s sons in front of him (Jeremiah 39:6-7). There are reports that he would roast other kings alive. He eventually destroyed Jerusalem and threatened to kill anyone who would not worship him as god. Into that reality, Daniel, a young man (likely 13-15 years old) decided to challenge the system of power.

V. 9-10 – The verse says that “God gave Daniel favor.” However, his request was initially denied. This is an important point. Just because God’s revealed will doesn’t work on the first try, doesn’t mean it is not God’s will. Daniel knew that God did not want him to eat defiled food. He knew that it went against the revealed Word of God. Daniel trusted that if God issued a commandment, he would provide a means of obedience. Daniel had no guarantee of Nebuchadnezzar’s response, but he trusted God. He understood that his responsibility was to be obedient.

V. 11-16 – Daniel returns with a plan. Again, he trusted that if he was obedient, God would take care of the results. Too often, we fret over the end. We want to see into the future and understand how everything will work. Daniel had no earthly guarantees, but he did have the promises of God. He (likely) spent the rest of his days eating bread, fruit, and vegetables. God ensured that those foods were enough to compete with the richest and most luxuriant provisions of the king. The plans that God has blessed – his sufficiency – will always be superior to anything we can produce or that the world can provide.

V. 17-21 – None of the other young men were quite like Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, or Mishael. They stood before the king. They received favor. They had honored God in their hearts, minds, and actions. In turn, he honored their faithfulness. There are times that God does not choose to bless so visibly. There are many persecuted Christians that face the wrath of a ruler or a culture. Persecution is not reflective of God’s betrayal. However, in this case, he had a long-term plan for these young men that would span a captivity, deliver intricate prophecies, and influence the culture around them. They were obedient, and God provided them a platform to declare his truth and glory. They were able to stand in the presence of their chief enemy.

In summary, if Daniel and his friends had based their choices on feelings (including fear), this story would have ended very differently. Indeed, this book wouldn’t have been written. The circumstances, people, and thoughts that bombarded their minds could have been overwhelming. It is easy to see the external pressures that would have been in place, but the internal spiritual battles would have been just as (if not more) intense. If they had dwelled on those thoughts or feelings, they would have been crippled. I want to be sure we understand the link between our thoughts, our identity and our purpose. If we live our life based on our feelings or if we fail to understand who God has made us based on the death of his son, we will not have the strength to stand in the presence of our enemies. We may not have a wicked king oppressing us. We do not war against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). However, we do have a real enemy who seeks to destroy and devour. We must destroy unbiblical arguments and take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:4). Make no mistake, this is warfare. Daniel’s battle was not against Babylon. Ultimately, his fight was against a spiritual force that sought to destroy an entire generation of leaders. Daniel’s response? In Christ’s strength, he tremendously influenced three kingdoms (Israel, Babylon, and Persia). We should be challenged to do the same. We must know God, know his Word, and understand the source of truth. Ultimately, this is about obedience and surrender.

Do we know enough truth to see through the lies of the world?

Do we know – are we convinced – of who we are in Christ? Regardless of what the world chooses to call us, regardless of the attempts to rename us, Christ has called us by name. He settled our identity on the cross and that is a reality that will never change – regardless of circumstance. With this knowledge, we can confidently move forward and live out his purpose for our lives. Our world desperately needs more Daniels, but it will take a reckless abandonment of our desires in order to follow our one true king.