Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, fought against Jerusalem, God gave
the king of Judah and part of the vessels of the house of God into his
hands. Nebuchadnezzar caused certain children of Israel to be
brought and eventually stand before the him ...
Daniel 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his
eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of
the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish,
but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge,
and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in
the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue
of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of
the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them
three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Daniel, Hananiah (renamed Shadrach), Mishael (renamed Meschach), and
Azariah (renamed Abednego) were among those brought. Although being
chosen like this can excite the flesh and make a person desire to do well
and impress those who had chosen him, Daniel maintained integrity,
purposing to not defile himself.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not
defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine
which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that
he might not defile himself.
As Daniel purposed to not defile himself, God gave him favor with the
prince of the eunuchs who allowed them to prove the results of eating
pulse instead of the king's meat. ...
Daniel 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the
king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see
your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then
shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to
Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days;
and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our
countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the
children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest,
deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and
proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days
their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
God also gave them knowledge, skill in learning,
and wisdom, as well as giving Daniel understanding of visions and
dreams, all according to the will and purpose of God, causing them to stand far above others in the sight of the king ..
Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring
them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all
was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore
stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his
realm.
While reading this I thought of times we are faced with opportunities to
compromise in order to please and impress others. Daniel maintained
integrity and allowed God to work out the situation according to HIS
will. In this case, God gave Daniel favor with the prince of the
eunuchs and the king. Sometimes we are removed from situations if we
maintain integrity and seek to serve only God.
We can safely place our trust in God to work out the situation according to His purpose and for our good if we seek to please Him, led by the Holy Spirit, rather than compromising to please men.
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek
to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of
Christ.