I am fascinated with the stories of the Old Testament, particularly with the period we know as the Divided Kingdom. These stories remind me that, though we live in a very different time, there is nothing new happening today that hasn’t happened in the past.

The nation of Israel was divided into two sections, Israel and Judah. Both nations were disobedient to God and worshipped idols. They would sin; God would send someone to overtake them; they would repent; then they would fall into idol worship again. You would think they would learn their lesson!

God finally destroyed the tribes in Israel, and He promised to do the same thing to Judah. Eventually, after giving them many chances to repent, God sent Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to take captives of the people of Judah.

The king wanted, “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful 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 Caldeans”, Daniel 1:4.

Among the young men the Babylonians captured were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. We have no idea how many were taken, but these four were among the captives, and they were special.

This is the part of the story that fascinates me. There is no indication that any of the others captured made any appeal for anything. It would seem that they just did as they were told. That was not the case with Daniel and his three friends.

These young men were put in the care of Ashpenaz, who was instructed to give them a daily portion of the meat served to the king. They were also given the same wine the king drank. They were to do this for three years, and then they were to be presented to the king.

This diet did not suit the Hebrews. They had very strict dietary requirements, and this concerned Daniel. Daniel approached Melzar, a steward who was set over these four. He asked that they be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. He said, “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 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 they servants”, Daniel 1:12-13.

Ten days later it was apparent that these four young men were fairer and fatter that all the children that ate the king’s meat. So Melzar continued this diet for them until they appeared before the king three years later.

If you continue to read the book of Daniel, you will see that this was not the last time he did things differently. This was not the last time he stood up for his beliefs. Why?

First, Daniel was a man of purpose. Verse 8 says, “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…” Daniel made a choice to do right. He didn’t try to convince himself that going against God would be ok because he was in captivity. He chose to do right in a place where others were doing wrong.

We find ourselves in this same situation today. We find ourselves among friends that chose a path different than what we know is right. We find ourselves tempted to go against God’s Word, but the story of Daniel shows us that we have to purpose to do right.

Second, Daniel was a man of principle. He was not afraid to say “no”. Daniel 6:3 says that Daniel was preferred because, “an excellent spirit was in him”. It is not just the youth that struggles with having the courage to say “no”. We all face those temptations everyday, those that tempt us with works of the flesh. Daniel was persecuted for his beliefs, but he stood firm. We have to learn to stand on the Christian values we learn from God’s Word.

Third, Daniel was a man of purity. Remember that Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8. Having a pure heart will give us the courage to reject those works of the flesh.

Fourth, Daniel was a man of prayer. When the princes of Babylon tried to set Daniel up, Daniel didn’t change his routine. He did what was his custom. He prayed, three times everyday. He gave thanks to God. Prayer was a way of life for Daniel, and it needs to be a way of life for us.

Daniel was a man who was successful, but he didn’t compromise his values. That situation is no different today than it was then. We are still tempted to go against what we believe. We are still tempted to follow the devil instead of God, our Father, and it will be that way until the end of time.

When we get discouraged, we need to remember that even our Lord was tempted. We read about some of His temptations in Matthew 4 and the book of Luke. Luke 4:13 says, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he (the devil) departed from him for a season”. The devil didn’t go away for the rest of the time Jesus was on earth. He continued to tempt Jesus the entire time He was on earth. If the devil tempted Jesus who was perfect, we can be assured that he will tempt us who are not perfect.

Sandra Oliver