The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, gave an order. He appointed a daily portion of his wine and delicacies to be given to certain young men who were in training for positions in his government as wise men and leaders. Yet, four of the young men could not accept the allotments.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were from Jerusalem. These four were among the best young men in Judah. When the Babylonian king besieged Judah, He carried them and many others like them back to Babylon to train for his courts.
Daniel and his friends knew that the appointed food would be delicious to eat. They also knew what God had spoken through Moses to their ancestors. They could neither taste these delicacies nor drink this intoxicating wine. Doing so would make them unclean before God and cause them to sin against His commands.
They requested an alternative for themselves. Daniel petitioned the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. The petition was met with hesitancy by the head of the eunuchs. Why should he endanger his life so that Daniel might do this?
Daniel sought an alternative. Daniel 1:12-13 reads, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 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 test was approved. “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” (Daniel 1:15). God blessed Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael for their faithfulness. Upon examination by the King, they surpassed all his magicians and astrologers in wisdom and understanding.
There are a few lessons here for us today. When we are faced with a choice to do good or evil, we ought always to choose the good. After we decide to do good, we must not back down from that choice when unbelievers stand in our way. Finally, when we choose the right action and persevere, we should prepare ourselves for God’s blessings and give thanks to the One who cares for us.
