Day 02 of Journey Through Daniel | THE DIFFERENT ROAD TO SUCCESS

COMMENTARY
In yesterday’s reading, we were introduced to Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These men were taken captive in Judah and brought to Babylon because of Nebuchadnezzar’s foreign policy, a policy which aimed to thwart future rebellions by capturing and indoctrinating the elite citizens of defeated nations. As we read in Daniel 1:3-7, these four men were placed into a program of forced cultural assimilation. They were given Babylonian names, a Babylonian education, and even a Babylonian diet. That is to say, they were being molded into good and loyal Babylonians.
In today’s reading, Daniel takes a stand against his new Babylonian diet, but it’s not entirely clear what problem he had with it. Some suggest the food and drink were not kosher. Others suggest it had been previously offered to idols. Still others think the food was given with an expectation of loyalty. Perhaps accepting and eating the food equaled giving allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar. Whatever the case, Daniel understood that the diet would “defile” him (Daniel 1:8). Despite the dangerous penalties he could face, Daniel rejects his assigned diet out of faithfulness to God.
In the end, Daniel’s courageous faithfulness results in his success. In spite of his defiance of the Babylonian program, Daniel and his friends are granted positions of prominence in the Babylonian kingdom. Their example teaches us an important lesson. We tend to believe that getting ahead requires playing by the rules of this world, no matter what we have to do or whom we step on along the way. What we see here, and will continue to see throughout the book, is that success doesn’t require us to abandon our values. God honors faithfulness. Whether in the present or in the eternal future, God will elevate the humble who choose to be loyal to Him (cf. Daniel 2:48-49; 3:30; 5:29; 6:27-28; 7:13-14, 21-22, 27; 12:2-3, 13).
SCRIPTURE
Daniel 1:8–218
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
QUESTIONS
1. Daniel 1:9 says, “Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.” The words translated here as “favor” and “compassion” are important. They are used together in many places in Scripture to describe how God characteristically acts toward His people (e.g., Exodus 34:6; Psalm 40:11; 69:16). In this situation, God reveals His favor and compassion through the actions of others. What might this verse teach us about God and how He operates?
2. When have you recently experienced pressure to compromise like Daniel when you knew a decision was wrong? How did you respond?