Daniel 1
LOIPreparation For The Work Of God (1:1 – 1:21)
Daniel was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar after the latter’s first venture into the land of Israel (2 Ki. 24:1-4). At that time, Nebuchadnezzar not only took Daniel, but he also took Daniel’s friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, plus other captives from the land of Israel. Later, in 597 B.C., he would make an additional raid into the land and carry away the prophet Ezekiel and others (2 Ki. 24:10-17; cf. Isa. 3:1-3). Finally in 586 B.C., he would return to destroy Jerusalem and either kill or take captive most of the remaining people.
Upon their arrival in Babylon, Daniel and his friends were assigned to the royal court and given new names. Instead of their names containing “ El ” and “ Yah ” signifying the true God, they were assigned names containing derivatives of “Bel,” “Sheshach,” “Rak ” and “ Nego,” all relating to pagan gods and goddesses. Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar and his three friends were given the following names: Hananiah was named Shadrach; Mishael was named Meshach; and Azariah was named Abednego (1:6-7). We will soon see that their new names did not diminish the power of the Almighty God of Israel as displayed in their lives.
The four were also assigned royal food to eat. Daniel immediately resolved “ not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (1:8). Instead he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink (1:12). The king’s official who was placed over Daniel and his friends was fearful to comply with Daniel’s request. He did so only after doing a ten day test and after seeing that their physical appearance was better than the others under his care (1:15). As Carson states, “Human resources provide meals, but only God provides physical nourishment.” [2]
We may think, “What’s so bad about royal food?” Unfortunately, the king’s royal dainties probably included a few items like catfish from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and perhaps some good ole Babylonian barbecued pork chops. The commands of the Torah or Law (Deut. 14:1-21) would have forbidden such foods, so Daniel and his friends didn’t want to take any chances. In addition, some of the meats and wines offered them would likely have been tainted through idolatrous sacrifice.
Thus one of the first lessons we learn from Daniel is that we cannot feast on the fare of this age and accomplish great feats for God. For instance, we cannot become “couch potatoes,” watching six hours of TV a day and expect to accomplish great things for God in our time. Daniel had commitment to God and it paid off for him and for all Israel many times over.
Perhaps one very important reason for Daniel’s early deportation and his subsequent usefulness to God was his great preparation. We read that Daniel and the others taken were from the nobility. They were all not only handsome, but well informed, quick to understand and qualified (1:4). It is interesting how God always seems to use prepared people. I remember the story of an old country preacher who proudly prayed this prayer: “God I thank you that I am ig-nur-runt. Make me ig-nur-runt-er!” God is not impressed with such a prayer, and such an attitude certainly does not qualify as biblical humility. God mightily used the Apostle Paul, but Paul was mightily prepared. Paul had sat at the feet of one of Israel’s brightest scholars, Gamaliel. Paul apparently went to the top of his class and excelled over all his contemporaries in his knowledge and zeal for Judaism (Gal. 1:14).
Many people in the scriptures did not have the benefits of formal education like Daniel or Paul, but they nevertheless demonstrate a thorough preparation of spirit. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was probably not a formally educated person, but one look at her prayer in Luke 1:46-55 will assure us that she had a deep and profound knowledge, with much preparation in the things of God. The same was true with the disciples of Jesus. They were unlearned fishermen, but their hearts were prepared to immediately accept the Messiah and to commit everything they had to him as soon as they saw him.
The problem of lack of knowledge is no problem for God. When we are prepared, God will give us what special knowledge we must have do his work. We read of Daniel and his friends: “ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning “ (1:17). James 1:5 tells us that he will do the same for us. We must remember that God always seems to use prepared people. We also see here that God does not necessarily spurn the learning of this world. Some of it may at times be useful in the kingdom of God (cf. Acts 17:28).
We see that Daniel was not only prepared, but he continued to prepare himself for God’s use. He was truly “set apart” or sanctified. Later the king would find the wisdom and understanding of Daniel and his friends “ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom” (1:20).