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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. Daniel 1:8
D.L. MOODY
I can imagine men saying to Daniel, “Look here, young man, you are too puritanical. Don’t be too particular; don’t have so many religious scruples. Bear in mind you are not now in Jerusalem. You will have to get over these notions here in Babylon. You are not now surrounded by friends and relatives. You are not a Jerusalem prince now. You have been brought down from your high position. You are now a captive. And if the monarch hears about your refusing to eat the same kind of meat he eats, and to drink the same kind of wine he drinks, your head will soon roll from off your shoulders. You had better be a little politically acceptable.”
But this young man had piety and religion deep down in his heart; and that is the right place for it; where it will grow; where it will have power; where it will regulate the life. Daniel had not joined the company of the faithful few in Jerusalem because he wanted to get into “society,” and attain a position, it was because of the love he had toward the Lord God of Israel.
ERWIN LUTZER
As exiles, the Jews in Babylon reflect us, the church, living in today’s world. And as such, we must learn from men like Daniel and his friends how to be in a culture, but not of the culture. They had a price to pay for faithfulness; we also must be willing to pay the price of faithfulness. Daniel continued to pray with his window open even though he was threatened with the lion’s den.
Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult circumstances threatening to divert our allegiance away from Christ. In those moments, we need to emulate Daniel.
PRAYER
Lord, fortify my resolve to stand strong for you, no matter the outcome.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Where are you tempted to shrink away from rather than stand firm for God?
How can you remain engaged with the world without adopting its values and priorities?