At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. Daniel 1:15
Daniel and three of his friends took a big risk in Daniel 1. They had been captured by the Babylonians from their home in Judah and taken to serve in the king’s palace. While the Babylonians did their best to inundate Daniel and these young men into Babylonian culture, Daniel and his friends held tightly to their culture and faith in God. The food that the king offered them went against their faith as Jewish people. The meat was likely sacrificed to idols and likely meat that the Israelites had been forbidden to eat. They could have eaten the food anyway, but instead, they took a risk. They stood up for their faith. They requested that they be given only vegetables and water. The attendant assigned to look after Daniel and these men agreed to let them eat only vegetables and water, and at the end of 10 days, he would examine them to see how they looked. Indeed, Daniel and these men knew the risk of refusing to eat the king's food. He could become furious if he found out they were not eating his food. Despite the risk, they knew that dishonoring God was riskier.
Daniel 1 tells us that for ten days, Daniel and his friends only ate vegetables and drank water. God honored their devotion to him and their faith. Scripture tells us that “at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king" (verse 15). Because of this, the king's attendant agreed to keep serving them water and vegetables. These men remained true to their faith, and God cared for them. When we are faithful to God, He is faithful to care for us.
When we take risks for our faith, we are not alone. God takes care of the details. For Daniel and his friends, His care allowed them to grow physically stronger and healthier than the other young men who ate the king's food. This is only one example of how God takes care of His people who take steps of faith. Sometimes, He provides an unexpected friendship or resources. Whatever His care for us looks like, we can be sure He is with us and walking with us through it all.
My friend, you and I are invited to the table of God. He wants to dine with us. He associates with us and accepts us because Christ has paid the price for our sins. This is good news. This is the best news. So, spend time singing a song of praise to God. Sing your favorite worship song or the song that first comes to mind. Thank God for inviting you to His table because of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 1:17-21
"God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
18 When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
21 Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus."
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