T-49: Decision Time

Four young men from Judah face a tough decision. They’ve been taken as captives by King Nebuchadnezzar when Babylon conquered Judah. They survived the journey to Babylon and they have been selected to be prepared to serve in the king’s courts. Their Hebrew names have been replaced with Babylonian names; they are strangers in a strange land. Before them, a feast has been prepared; a sample if you will of how they will eat from this day forward. The finest foods and choicest morsels from the king’s table, along with the king’s wine, have been laid out for their sustenance. Of course, there’s that whole thing about the food having been sacrificed to idols and the fact that consuming that food will render them unclean before their Lord.

So, like many of us, our protagonists are faced with a hard decision; yield or stand resolute. Our text today is…

Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
8 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. [1]

Daniel was faithful. Being only a young man, a mere boy, Daniel had been ‘trained up’ in the way of the Lord and in this moment of temptation and adversity, he did not depart from it. From this we can learn that age is not a requirement for obedience and that Daniel, the boy, is set before us as an example for our emulation. If we can learn that lesson, to emulate the faithfulness of Daniel, from this passage then we shall have done well in the sight of the Lord.

But, to say that Daniel was faithful in his resolution not to defile himself, does not adequately describe the nuances of his decision. There is the matter of the decision that we need to explore. The text states “But Daniel resolved…” It sounds so simple yet it does not reveal the desire or the dialog that preceded the decision. No doubt the food, the wine, the courts themselves were appealing. To a young boy the food must have been very attractive. To a slave the exotic nature of the food must have been intoxicating. To someone who has only recently completed a cross-country journey, the food must have appeared nourishing. I believe Daniel wanted the food and also the favor of the king. Though there is no mention of Satan’s presence I have no doubt that he was chattering into Daniel’s ear, encouraging him to eat, assuaging and deceiving. But Daniel was not swayed and he made his decision accordingly.

Some might argue that in light of later scripture, the prohibition against certain foods or against consumption of food sacrificed to idols was meaningless. Some might read this passage and breeze through this with hardly a thought. Some may think that considering the circumstances, the food and the wine proffered by the king’s men is a small or trivial matter. But in the matter of obedience to God, there are no trivialities. Obedience in the small things forms the underpinning for obedience in the larger things. Do not deceive yourself by the false comparison between what we perceive to be ‘big’ or ‘small.’ Failures in the ‘small’ things certainly undermines our ability to be faithful when confronted with the ‘large’ things; faithfulness in the ‘small’ things leads to greater and greater responsibility and trust with the ‘big’ things. This is a fundamental concept of stewardship. When it comes to obedience, partial obedience is disobedience; delayed obedience is disobedience. It is only by obedience in all things, great and small, that we honor God. Daniel was faithful and ‘resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…’

Not only was Daniel faithful and resolute but he was also gracious to the authorities. Scripture does not record that Daniel and his friends refused the food nor does it record that they wailed, lamented, protested or otherwise made a scene. Scripture records for our benefit that ‘he (Daniel) asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.’ He ASKED. In this is revealed that Daniel was meek. Take care not to confuse weak with meek. Daniel was not timid nor was he operating from a position of weakness. Though enslaved, Daniel showed amazing strength and a degree of control to which we all should aspire. That’s what I mean by meek; strength under control. My mentor offered this word picture to me to help me understand this concept. A wild horse is not broken that he may be ridden, rather he is ‘meeked.’ The strength is brought under control, not compromised nor diminished; channeled. So it was with Daniel.

Not only was Daniel meek (and humble) but he displayed great consideration for those in authority over him. God has charged each of us to yield to the authority which God has placed over us. God had placed king Nebuchadnezzar in authority over Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar had placed Ashpenaz in a position of authority of Daniel and his friends. Daniel, nor his friends, challenged that authority. It is true that they resisted the law in order to obey the Lord but they did so in a compassionate, considerate and conciliatory manner. It’s the original non-violent protest! In this behavior we see the power of God overcoming the will of the flesh. Again, the example of Daniel is preserved and presented for our emulation.

As much as we see the power of God overcoming fleshy instinct, I see two further facets of God’s hand in this matter. God gave Daniel the strength to be delivered from compromise. In my own struggles with worldly desires, I often look for the way of escape promised me in 1 COR 10:13. I note in this passage that Daniel did not look for the way of escape; unlike me, he was not looking for ‘how to get out of it.’ He looked for what ‘he could get out of it.’ Inasmuch as God delivered these boys from compromise, he developed them in character. These boys, being confronted with this situation or temptation, was being tested and refined. Their response in this situation would further prepare them for the ever-more-difficult situations that they would face in the coming years. Just as my decision today affects tomorrow, so it was with these boys.

I close today with this charge… lead your lives in obedience to God in all things. By the indwelling Holy Spirit be delivered from compromise and allow your godly responses to temptation to be used to develop your character that you may be perfected in the Lord, equipped for good works.

Warm Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.