Proven in Purity

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. (Daniel 1:14)

             Daniel and his friends were put to the test.

             First, they had to choose whether they would conform to the worldly culture around them or follow God’s law. They passed that test. Daniel and his friends did not want to defile themselves with worldly things.

             Second, would they handle this situation with pride and arrogance because they knew they were in the right? Or would they approach their captors with submissive attitudes, humbly asking for different food? They also passed this test, and because of their humility, God granted them favor with the prince of the eunuchs.

             Now the ten days of eating vegetables and drinking water were over. How would Daniel and his friends fare when compared to the others who had been indulging in the king’s dainties?

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.  (1:15-16)

             Daniel, Azariah, Mishael, and Hananiah obeyed God and only ate the food that He commanded. Because of that, God blessed them with healthier appearances after the ten-day trial. They passed this test with flying colors. God rewarded these men for their obedience and their determination to remain pure.

             Melzar also honored them by allowing them to continue to eat the food they preferred rather than forcing them to eat the king’s meat. This was merely the beginning of God’s blessings and protections for Daniel and his friends.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (1:17)

              God further blessed Daniel and the others with special abilities. They were wiser and more knowledgeable than the other captives who turned their backs on what God required of them. Verse 17 also specifically mentions that Daniel had a special gift to interpret visions and dreams. God was already preparing Daniel for his future.

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. (1:18-19)

             At the end of the three years of Babylonian training, Melzar presents Daniel, Azariah, Mishael, and Hananiah before King Nebuchadnezzar. Because they determined to be pure in their bodies, God blessed these four men. Out of all the captives that the Babylonians took, the king found these four men better than all the rest.

             King Nebuchadnezzar even appointed them to special service for him because of how much better they appeared than the others. They had the privilege of standing before the king, which we will see in the future was very beneficial to the kingdom.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (1:20)

             It is worth noting that these four faithful men were ten times better than all the king’s magicians and astrologers. They became experts in Babylonian literature, language, and culture without abandoning their faith in the Lord. They were great examples of what Jesus told His disciples to be in Matthew 10:16—“wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

             The account of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is the direct opposite of the people of Judah. Daniel and his friends were determined to follow God’s commands and remain pure. Because of their purity, they were proven to be ten times better than everyone else.

             One of the central themes of the Book of Daniel is God’s continued sovereignty for His people who trust and obey him. Because Daniel and his friends obeyed God’s commands, God blessed them above all others and protected them from their enemies.

             However, the people of Judah chose to disobey God even after the prophet Jeremiah warned them that the Babylonians would conquer them if they continued in their rebellion. God will always keep His promises, whether they be for blessings or for judgment.

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