Daniel Draws a Line

Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself, and this is his story. It also begins a twelve-part series on peer pressure and going along with the crowd. We're calling it Stand Firm.

Daniel 1 opens with a city under siege. The text says, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” The Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand, and part of the vessels of the house of God were carried off to the land of Shinar.

The king told the master of his eunuchs to bring in some of the children of Israel, from the royal family and the nobles. He wanted young men with no defect, skillful in all wisdom, who could stand in the king’s palace. They would learn the language of the Chaldeans, and be fed from the king’s food and wine for three years, then stand before the king.

Among them were four from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs gave them new names. Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego. New teaching, new names.

Then comes the turning point. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank.” The text doesn't spell out exactly why that food would defile him, so we won't guess. What we can see is that Daniel made up his mind.

Notice what Daniel did next. He made a request to the prince of the eunuchs, “that he might not defile himself.” And the text says, “Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.”

But the official was afraid. He said, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink.” If the king saw their faces looking worse than the other youths, the official said it would endanger his head. So this was not a small ask.

So Daniel offered a plan. He spoke to the steward and said, “Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.” Then he asked him to compare their faces with the others, and “as you see, deal with your servants.”

The steward listened. He tested them for ten days, vegetables and water, while the other youths ate the king’s food. Then came the result: “At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king’s dainties.” So the steward gave them vegetables instead.

“God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” Look at who gets the credit there. At the end of the days the king had set, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

“The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king.” In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king asked about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his realm.

And then one quiet line: “Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.” The text never tells us how Daniel felt about it, but it does say he purposed in his heart before he made his request.

Here's what this means for your week. Daniel purposed in his heart, then made his request, before the ten-day test. So think now, while it's quiet: where are your lines? What will you say yes to, and what won't you go along with, even if everyone else does?

And this isn't about being scared of the world. Daniel was to be taught Babylon's learning and language, and the text never says he refused that. Not everything out there is bad. Wisdom means deciding ahead of time which few things you won't do, and then holding that line calmly, not in fear.

Notice that Daniel wasn't alone. When he asked, he asked for all four of them: “let them give us vegetables to eat.” Standing firm is easier beside people who are walking with God. So choose those friends, and be that friend for someone else.

Look at how Daniel stood firm. He said, “I beg you,” and offered a fair ten-day test. He asked politely, and nothing in the text shows him looking down on anyone. You can stay humble and kind at school, at work, online, or at home, and still be clear about what you won't do.

Standing out can feel lonely. Remember who held Daniel up: the text says God made Daniel find kindness, and God gave the four of them knowledge and wisdom. You don't hold your line on willpower alone. Stay close to Jesus and his Word, and tell a parent, a pastor, or another adult you trust when it feels heavy. Your local church is a good place to find people walking with you.

Scripture: As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

Think about it quietly: what's one line you want to settle with God before anyone asks you to cross it? Let's pray. Lord, thank you that you hold us steady, the way you helped Daniel. Help me settle my lines in my heart before the pressure comes, and help me stay kind while I stand firm. Amen. I'm glad you're here. Walk in him. Stay rooted. Follow Rooted for part two of Stand Firm, and here's a verse to carry with you this week.