‘But Daniel set in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank … Now God granted Daniel lovingkindness and compassion before the commander of the officials’
- Daniel 1:8-9 -
Daniel 1:5 says the king of Babylon ordered Daniel and his friends to eat from the same menu as he. This meant the best foods and finest wine. Daniel, however, had strong convictions and an excellent spirit: ‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies’ (Dan. 1:8). This wasn’t about food. Daniel was resolving in his heart to keep his identity. He would live for God by reminding the people that he was not Babylonian. Yes, he was in Babylon, but he was not a part of Babylon. He was a child of God who even used food to tell his captors he was different.
Those of us with excellent spirits don’t want to be like everyone else. They don’t want to blend in with the crowd. They want to be led by the Holy Spirit, not by fleshly appetites. Daniel didn’t want to get drunk on the king’s wine. He wanted a clear mind; to be in tune with God in order to walk in wisdom. Paul taught: ‘Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness, corruption, and stupidity, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly guided by Him’ (Eph. 5:18). Daniel had such a resolute heart. This young man of God was unwavering in his convictions. He wouldn’t reject who God knew him to be.
We too must make up our minds on our core values. Then, with bold determination, we must never let anything move us. The world wants us to compromise on standards found in the Word of God. But Daniel stood his ground and fought for what he believed. Simply put, we aren’t to be ‘tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine’ (Eph. 4:14). Daniel wasn’t only determined but he was gracious. He wasn’t rude or ill-mannered. No, he kindly ‘requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself’ (Dan. 1:8).
Most people purpose something in their heart and insist they get what they want. Not Daniel. He was kind and considerate, always showing reverence to those in authority. It took faith to be this way. Real faith is confidence in God and it is anchored by His grace, so next we hear that ‘God had brought Daniel into the favor and good will of the chief of the eunuchs’ (Dan 1:9). This was God’s doing but it wouldn’t have happened had Daniel acted rudely. So learn from Daniel and take your stand with God, but never by rudeness or arrogance.
Being excellent means having no deformity of character and showing grace to others no matter the cost. One is reminded of Proverbs 16:7 that says: ‘When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.’ Consider what happened to Joseph in Egypt: ‘The Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer’ (Gen. 39:21). This same favor shown to Daniel reminds us how our kind God often makes us objects of compassion even in the presence of our captors (Ps. 106:46). Spurgeon said: “In our very worst conditions, our God has ways and means to find us helpers among those who have been our oppressors.” Such was true of Daniel throughout his exile from Judah.
Looking ahead to this exile, Solomon prayed centuries earlier: “Forgive Your people who have sinned against You and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them” (1 Kings 8:50). If you have an excellent spirit, God will open doors for you and bring you before great men (Prov. 18:16). But couple your gift with a spirit of graciousness and you soon see God’s favor in your life and in all you set your hand to. As those who love and represent God, we are to ‘let our speech at all times be gracious, pleasant, and winsome, seasoned as it were with salt’ (Col. 4:6).
The chief eunuch answered Daniel’s gracious request, saying: “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” (Dan. 1:10). He feared for his life, so in the process of walking in excellence, we must consider others. He was afraid, but Daniel had such confidence in how things would turn out that he said: “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be examined before you, and the countenances of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies. And as you see fit, so deal with your servants” (1:12-14).
Daniel’s grace persuaded him to test them ten days. We live in an evil world that will always test our faith and we must be prepared. Spurgeon said: “Fair weather may not outlast a single day. There is but a short space between one battle and another in this world.” So we need a solid foundation under us when the storms of life blow. Consider Paul’s warning to ‘be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything in love’ (1 Cor. 16:13-14).
One way to stand firm is prayer. Our enemy is evil so we must ‘put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Eph. 6:11-12).
Go to your prayer closet and repel the enemy who’s trying to discourage you. Wage war on spirits that would put fear into your heart. In this dark world, your light only shines if you stand for the work of the Lord. ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Cor. 15:58). The NIV says: ‘Stand firm. Let nothing move you.’ Live with unshakable confidence as God is on your side. Throw yourself into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort. Put your hand to the plow and don’t take it off until your work is done.
Being steadfast like Daniel means being dedicated, dependable, single-minded. and unwavering. David said: ‘O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise’ (Ps. 108:1). Psalm 112:6 tells how the righteous ‘will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ When we stand, we are immovable. We are like boulders that cannot be washed away or trees that cannot be toppled. Jealously guard your high moral standards when you take a stand for God. You are defending His honor and His glorious name. As Jesus said: “Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven” (Matt. 10:32).
When we stand, Jesus stands with us. Stephen stood and said as he was martyred: “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). Jesus sits beside the Father (Col. 3:1) interceding for the saints (Rom. 8:34). But when He sees one of His own stand, so stands too. Moses said: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid” (Deut. 31:8). So stand up to evil knowing you are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37) and Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). Stand because no weapon formed against us can prosper (Is. 54:17). Finally, remember Paul’s words that ‘he who serves the Master will stand because the Lord is able to make him stand’ (Rom. 14:4).
Daniel trusted God’s faithfulness. He was convicted that after ten days he would look as healthy as those who ate the king’s food. With a gracious determination and confident expectation, Daniel was ready for the test. As a man of excellent spirit, his faith was unwavering and his actions proved it. Such faith and obedience stemmed from a heart-to-heart relationship with God. It let Daniel abstain from the king’s food and wine, knowing he would otherwise be defiled. He wished to be better equipped to serve – not in the palace of Babylon – but in the palace of the true King of kings and Lord of lords.
Daniel talked to the chief eunuch softly and gently as faith doesn’t need to be loud. Faith doesn’t boast for all to hear. Often those who shout the loudest are most insecure. Their jabbering is just noise. Therefore Daniel was resolute in his heart and gracious in manner. With his confidence in God, he didn’t need to be boisterous. Men of excellent spirits aren’t after applause or acclamation. All they seek to hear God say is “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23).
Daniel kept in the shadows, as it were, knowing that God “who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt. 6:18). He knew a miracle would soon take place, and the text draws that out. ‘At the end of ten days their countenance appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies’ (Dan. 1:15). This reversal of the natural laws of nutrition pointed away from Daniel and toward God’s supernatural power; confirming how God ‘granted Daniel favor and compassion’ (1:9).
It’s worth noting that Daniel chose his battles wisely. He didn’t object to being assigned a Babylonian name, being trained up in the language, or learning the alien culture of his captors. But when it came to defying the revealed law and will of God, Daniel was upright and immovable. This was Daniel’s first exercise of faith and it prepared him for greater tests yet to come. We will examine and enjoy them in the weeks ahead.