2024-02-18 - Daniel 1:3-21

A New Diet

Intro: There are all kinds of popular diets out there. I mainly follow the keto or paleo diet because of its low-carb focus, which helps manage my diabetes. Remember the grapefruit diet from back in the day? But the most interesting one I've heard about recently is the bean and onion diet. A friend in Nebraska wanting to lose 20-30 pounds tried it out. It certainly had restrictions, a lot of them actually, but there was one unique point: he could eat as much beans and onions as he wanted. He stuck with it for a month or two and reached his weight loss goal. However, I did feel bad for his wife since his diet became almost entirely beans and onions.

Link: When is the last time you started a new diet or to diet again? It’s hard and it takes determination. It takes will power. But this is just what Daniel and his 3 friends did. Not to loose weight or for health reasons but b/c they loved God and had determined in their hearts to follow God and His will for their lives and to bring Him glory.

Review:

A few weeks ago, we talked about the 4 covenants in the Bible and that how the Mosaic or Sinai Covenant was a conditional covenant, when the Jews in Judah broke that covenant with God, they were going to have a consequence, that being an exile to Babylon.

We looked at the book of Daniel and how it is divided into 2 sections.

And two weeks ago we talked about how God was putting Judah into the hands of the Babylonians for their punishment.

Daniel 1:3-7

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,

As far as to the definition of what a eunuch was here, the Biblical scholar jury is out on this.

Either they had been physically altered

Or the idea of them being set apart.

Both of these ideas would be plausible per the culture and understanding of the times. At any rate they were set apart for the Babylonian empire.

4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Qualifications for Jews to be trained in affairs of state included being:

1. Physically free from bodily blemish or handicap and handsome, i.e., a pleasing appearance in the public eye;

2. Mentally sharp; and

3. Socially poised and polished for representing the leadership. The ages of the trainees was most likely fourteen to seventeen.- John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Bible Commentary

Chaldean language and literature refers to an ancient university-style education in Sumerian, Akkadian, and Aramaic. - Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary

5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary A. Daniel and His Friends in the Babylonian Captivity (1:1–7)

Chaldean language and literature refers to an ancient university-style education in Sumerian, Akkadian, and Aramaic.

6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

A key factor in the “brainwashing” process of the Babylonian training was a name switch. This was to link the inductees with local gods rather than let them continue to support their former religious loyalty.

In the ancient world, a name was not a mere label, as it is today. A name was equivalent to whomever or whatever bore it. A person’s name could indicate his or her character, personality, or allegiance. Knowing a person’s name therefore amounted to knowing a great deal about him or her.

Hananiah (1:6): His name means “Yahweh has been gracious.” Note that the iah ending (or yah) is an abbreviation for God’s name Yahweh.

Mishael (1:6): His name means “Who is what God is?” Again we see the EL ending, a Hebrew name for God.

Azariah (1:6): His name means “Yahweh has helped.” Again, the iah ending (or yah) is an abbreviation for God’s name Yahweh.

Babylon influenced Daniel and his friends very little. Instead, they greatly influenced Babylon by remaining faithful to the one true God. - Rhodes, Ron. 40 Days Through Daniel

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Four possible reasons to why Daniel wouldn’t eat of the king’s delicacies:

The food was:

Prepared by Gentiles, so it was “unclean” according to the Mosaic Law.

Also it probably included foods forbidden by the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 11:1-23; Deuteronomy 14:1-21

Pagan nations often offered the food to deities first.

If Daniel and his friends ate it, they would be defiled themselves by rendering honor to the false gods. Exodus 34:15 “lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice,”

They may have rejected the luxurious lifestyle perhaps due to such materialism might defile them or lure them away from their complete commitment to God.

Jewish people drank wine diluted by water. The Babylonians didn’t dilute their wine, and “Strong Drink” was unacceptable to the Jews. They also poured their wine on pagan alters and Daniel wouldn’t have wanted any part of this.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

God has the power to turn the hearts of unbelieving leaders so they are favorable to God’s people. Exodus 11:3 “And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.”

When a Christian loves, follows and honors God, God will allow him/her to be honored and respected among unbelievers.

Application 1: God can give you as a Christian and us as a church, favor in difficult places. Perhaps our outreach in our own lives or as a church is daunting to us, but God can do it if we honor Him with what He is inviting us to do.

10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

Daniel and the guys, they didn’t react, they saw this coming and they had already made a plan that was aligned with God.

They didn’t retaliate or rebel, they presented there plan which we see in Vs. 11-13

11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”

The Old Testament word translated “vegetables” means “things grown from seeds.” The word could refer either to fresh vegetables or even to wheat or barley grain. Vegetables—things grown from seeds—were a safe choice, for the Mosaic Law did not categorize any vegetables as unclean. Therefore, no matter what vegetables were brought to Daniel and his friends, they would not be defiled. - Rhodes, Ron. 40 Days Through Daniel

14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

So Daniels proposal was accepted for a 10 DAY TRIAL!

15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.

16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

God honored them b/c they honored God.

5901 When one seeks the honor that comes from God only, he will take the withholding of the honor that comes from men very quietly indeed. - George MacDonald

This should not be a means to say that the Bible endorses vegetarianism.

1 Timothy 4:3–5 “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

Genesis 9:3 “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”

Exodus 15:26 ...“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

As a result of the 10 day trial, the steward made permanent their diet of vegetables and water.

Application 2: God can give you as a Christian and us as a church, favor in difficult places. Perhaps our outreach in our own lives or as a church is daunting to us, but God can do it if we honor Him with what He is inviting us to do. So when we meet again to look at our list of things we feel God may be inviting us to do with Him. Like Daniel lets:

Now, determine in our hearts that we will:

Join God

Honor God

Serve God no matter how hard it is.

17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

God blessed them abundantly.

Perhaps a question you have is one that others have had over the millennia. “Was it wise for Daniel and his friends to learn the worldly wisdom of these false religions?”

2 arguments here are this:

1. We should only study God’s Word and from this we can share the Gospel and we should not get involved in unbiblical and false materials.

2. This is the Moses’, Daniel’s and the Apostle Paul’s approach and it is mine. However it MUST be said and with caution and warning. Don’t do this without first having a good understanding and knowledge of the Bible. Or you could fall prey to false teachings. The approach is, yes a man or women of God who knows his or her Bible throughly should study the false teachings so that he or she can address them in his or her community when sharing the Gospel.

Examples:

Moses: Acts 7:22 “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.”

Apostle Paul:

Here Paul quoted the Greek poet Menander in 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Here Paul quoted Epimenides (poet), Aratus (poet) & Cleanthes (stoic philosopher) in Acts 17:27&28 “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;” “28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.”

Here Paul quoted Epimendes Titus 1:12 “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.””

And here we see that Paul asked Timothy to bring him his books and parchments, which were probably copies of some of the Old Testament Scriptures and possibly some of the classical writers.

THE POINT HERE IS THAT: Paul knew the classics and sought to use what he knew to reach people with the truth of God’s Word.

“Beware of the atmosphere of the classics,” Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote in a letter to a friend. “True, we ought to know them; but only as chemists handle poison—to discover their qualities, not to infect their blood with them.”

By understanding the mind-set of the Babylonian people, especially the king’s magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers, Daniel and his friends were able to show them the superiority of God’s wisdom.

18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.

We don’t know how many there were that went through the schooling for the past 3 years here but we do know the king was wise in being the one to test them, especially if they were to advise him.

What we do know also is that its interesting how many more times wiser Daniel and his 3 friends were. Again they honored God and God honored them.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.

Ten Times is an idiom meaning many times. Also it could mean completeness, the number 10 meaning complete. Also its interesting to see that they did the special diet at the beginning for 10 days and now it says that the king found them 10 times wiser...

The Magicians - Were men who dealt in the occult

Enchanters - used incantations to accomplish their purposes

Sorcerers - Specialized in casting spells

Astrologers - Studied the movements of the stars and their influence on events

Diviners - Sought to see the future by using various methods.

AND ALL THESE WERE FORBIDDEN BY THE LAW OF MOSES (Deut. 18:9-13)

21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

Conclusion:

Application #2

Saved: Friend, if you have trusted Christ as your savior, God wants you to grow closer to Him. Daniel and his friends did this. What step does God want you to take next in order to follow and serve Him faithfully?

Be Faithful to God and he will give you favor as he did for Daniel. Be like Daniel, be a person of integrity.

Unsaved: Maybe some of this doesn't make sense, its hard to understand whey Daniel would do this? Does the idea of God and who He is seem distant? Perhaps its b/c you don’t have a personal relationship with God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

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