Today’s passage: Daniel 1:8-21
Helpful thoughts:
- The king’s food consisted of items that were forbidden in the law and most likely would have been used as part of the worship of the Babylonian gods. Eating it, at different times, would have been against the Jewish Law but also a part of the worship of false Gods.
- It seems Daniel was the only one who was concerned with this issue among all the royals and nobles from Judah. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah seemed to be the only ones who were willing to follow his lead.
- In staying true to his conviction, Daniel was going against the king’s desire for the young people to become Babylonian.
- Daniel had to make a second appeal. Ashpenaz (The chief eunuch) did not grant his request at the fear of his own head. The steward who was directly responsible for these four young men was only willing to grant Daniel’s request on the trial basis suggested.
- Daniel adjusted his appeal to make it less risky for the steward.
- Daniel entrusted the steward with the judgment of the results.
- The Hebrew word translated as vegetables could have included fruits, grains, etc. It was a vegetarian diet.
- The four young men not only exceeded the abilities of the rest of their exiled peers, but they were found to be ten times better than every aid in the king’s service in all of Babylon.
Questions to consider:
- Why did Ashpenaz and the steward hear Daniel out before rashly rejecting his request? Who gave Daniel favor?
- What made Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah so smart and wise? Where did their intelligence and skill come from?
- Why were these four young men given roles in the king’s service? Why had God put them there?
- Where has God placed you for His service? How does He give you wisdom and knowledge for service?