By Shawn Jefferies
Synopsis: During the time of the Babylonian captivity, Daniel and his friends show unrelenting faithfulness to God as His faithful remnant. Drawing courage from their example, let us maintain our distinctiveness in an equally alien culture.
By highlighting critical moments in the life of Daniel, the book of Daniel covers the entire seventy-year period of Babylonian exile for the Jews. Daniel’s story is strikingly like Joseph’s in that he also was a teenage slave in a foreign country who eventually rose to a position of political power.
Daniel is most known for being miraculously delivered by God from the lions (Dan. 6:16-24). Like Noah building the ark and Jonah spending three days in the belly of the fish, this is one of those biblical stories that children are introduced to early. As young children begin learning about God, Daniel’s deliverance provides parents with wonderful avenues. They are given an avenue to teach about God’s power, protection, faith, and the virtue of habitual prayer (Dan. 6:10; Heb. 11:33). Many forget that Daniel was not a teenager or a young adult when he was thrown into the lion’s den, but was an aged man—perhaps around ninety years old!
When the book of Daniel opens, Daniel is likely a teenager. God uses King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire to remove the Israelites from their land and punish them for worshipping idols. The finest and brightest Hebrew youths were taken during the first wave of captives in 605 BC (Dan. 1:3-4). Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the prisoners (Dan. 1:6-7). After being educated for three years in the culture of the Babylonians, they were made advisors to the king (Dan. 1:5).
This would be a challenging time for young Daniel. He would be required to change his diet and name, learn a new language, and even take on a new religion. How would he cope under these conditions? What godly qualities did he possess in the days of his youth that helped him develop into the seasoned man of faith who would later be delivered from a den of lions?
Even though he was a mere youth, Daniel did not shy away from expressing his commitment to God. He refused to defile himself with the king’s appointed food. While many of his peers may have been willing to compromise their faith, Daniel resolved to obey God’s dietary laws. Even though he was hundreds of miles from home, and separated from his parents, “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:8). He put his faith in God and proposed to the school leader that he and his friends be allowed to eat vegetables and drink water for ten days. If they didn’t look healthier than the others, they would eat from the king’s menu. God blessed this plan! After the days were complete, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and were allowed to continue their diet (Dan. 1:11-16). God also gave them wisdom and the ability to interpret visions and dreams (Dan. 1:17). These blessings moved them ahead of their class and right to the king’s service (Dan. 1:18-20). This same resolve is also seen when Daniel’s friends are pressured to worship an idol, and decades later, when it became a violation of Babylonian law for Daniel to petition God (Dan. 3:1-18; 6:10).
In our current culture, where Christians are constantly being pressured to compromise godly principles, there is an enormous need for them to have the resolve of Daniel. There is a need for disciples to resolve to live righteously, even though culture detests Christianity and views a life of faith as silly and outdated. There is a need for God’s children never to compromise what scripture promotes about morality and exercise wisdom when voicing their commitment to it. There is a need for young people to be determined to live for the Lord, even when their parents aren’t near to monitor their behavior.
Imagine being separated from your family and sentenced to live out the rest of your life among people whose culture, language, and religious practices differed from anything you had ever known.
While many of the Hebrew captives caved to the pressures of their new environment, Daniel and his friends did not. Even when threatened with death, they boldly resisted defiling themselves and bowing to idols (Dan. 1:8; 3:12). The courage displayed by Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is particularly inspiring. Faced with a literal fiery trial, they boldly told King Nebuchadnezzar, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:17-18). Nebuchadnezzar may have never experienced people having the courage to resist anything he demanded.
As the storm continues to intensify in our current culture against people who stand for godly living, courage from God’s people is needed more than ever before. It takes courage to speak out against the sins plaguing our society and live in a godly manner that exposes the wickedness (Matt. 5:13-15; Eph. 5:11). The fearful are useless to the Lord, but the courageous can be used to influence a sinful society to begin seeking and acknowledging the righteousness of God (Dan. 3:28; Matt. 5:16).
Daniel’s resolve and courage were rooted in a deep trust in God. He trusted that God’s dietary requirements were best for him and that God would bless his efforts to be committed to those requirements (Dan. 1:12-13). This same kind of trust was also present in Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 3:17).
Followers of God continue to have their trust tested by Satan. Will we trust that God knows what is best for our lives? Will we continue trusting in God’s standard for morality? Will we continue trusting that God is on the throne and that He rules in the kingdom of men? Will we continue trusting that a heavenly reward awaits them even while experiencing great trials?
As with Eve, Satan knows that if he can persuade God’s children to waver in their trust, he can gain victory over them (Gen. 3:1-6). The Lord’s people must adhere to the wisdom penned by Solomon. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).
God rewarded the faithfulness of His servants in Babylon. Daniel was blessed with great wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams and was exalted to a high position in the empire (Dan. 1:17-21). Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were also blessed to be officials and were miraculously delivered from the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:30). In each case, God’s people gave Him the glory (Dan. 2:28; 3:17; 6:22).
Humility has always been a virtue blessed by God (Luke 18:14). Whatever kingdom work is performed, souls are converted, or position is gained, God’s people must always give Him the glory. We must acknowledge that He is responsible for every good gift we receive.
While Judah was being punished for having hearts far from God, it is encouraging to read about those who served God faithfully. Jews like Daniel began and ended their time in Babylon with a determination to bring God glory.
May God’s current faithful remnant bring Him the same glory!
