Daniel 1:8-16
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 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. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Daniel and his friends were basically slaves in a foreign country. The easy thing for them to do would be to go along with the prevailing culture so that no one gets upset with them. But they held their ground and even offered to be put to the test (verses 11-13). This illustrates an important point about God's design for living: it is actually good for us! Purity is not just an imposition by a killjoy God, but is rather a path to greater health and happiness. Studies have even shown that purity and faithfulness lead to happier marriages and longer lives. But unfortunately it is a counter-cultural message in our modern society, so we need to be "resolved" (verse 8) like Daniel to stick to our values.
Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Your instructions. Help me to see how your commands are good for me.
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 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. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Daniel and his friends were basically slaves in a foreign country. The easy thing for them to do would be to go along with the prevailing culture so that no one gets upset with them. But they held their ground and even offered to be put to the test (verses 11-13). This illustrates an important point about God's design for living: it is actually good for us! Purity is not just an imposition by a killjoy God, but is rather a path to greater health and happiness. Studies have even shown that purity and faithfulness lead to happier marriages and longer lives. But unfortunately it is a counter-cultural message in our modern society, so we need to be "resolved" (verse 8) like Daniel to stick to our values.
Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Your instructions. Help me to see how your commands are good for me.