©Kris Gerbrandt
Chapter 1:15-21 (ESV) - At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Question to consider: How did the steward demonstrate faith in the God of Daniel?
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, the Hebrew name, Daniel, means “God is my judge”. When we think of a judge, we think of a person in a black robe presiding over a court proceeding or jury trial. However, in this case, we think of a judge in the sense of “the one who rules over” him. His name was a recognition that the one who created all things ruled over him. Belteshazzar had a similar idea to it but ascribed rule to the Chaldean god, Bel. I find it interesting that out of all of the Israelites who were held captive by the Chaldeans and eventually by the Medes and Persians, Daniel was the only one who was consistently referenced by his Hebrew name.
I don’t think it impugns the faith of the others who were addressed by their Babylonian or Persian names, but it points to the respect given to Daniel in recognizing his devotion to the LORD. We’ll find out later that Daniel had a copy of Jeremiah’s writings. I believe at the very least, Daniel received a copy of Jeremiah’s letter to them which stated, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
He appeared to have taken the phrase, “eat their produce,” literally by rejecting the king’s meat and asking to receive only vegetables and water. I believe that Daniel prayed for the welfare of the steward and of Nebuchadnezzar and therefore was blessed by God. His faith was credited to him as righteousness, and it is obvious that his faith had an impact on the steward and eventually Nebuchadnezzar himself.
To the one who asks in faith, we are given a promise by the New Testament epistle of James that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5) Even though Daniel and his friends received an education in Babylonian schools, the LORD made sure they grew in wisdom as well as their understanding. This means that although they were given understanding of Babylonian culture, they were able to contextualize it in light of the truth of God’s word.
Dear heavenly Father, we ask that You would help us to understand how to interact and reach our own culture while growing in the grace and wisdom of Christ Jesus. May His name be glorified in us. Amen.