Daniel 1

Read Daniel 1

Verse chosen for meditation: Daniel 1: 8 ESV: 

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Reflect

When we find ourselves in a new and harsh environment, how do we adjust to the new code of rules and living?

When we feel that God has let us down, would we be quick to forget him as well and choose a side that is more favourable?

What if we choose to stand by our convictions, how far would we go and how would we go about it?

What if we decide to accept the ways of the new culture or system that is different from our convictions, would it be considered a compromise? 

What is our personal take on Daniel 1: 8?

Relate

The book of Daniel focuses on the sovereign hand of God in human history. It shows the great might of God overpowering those of the world's greatest empires, whether in the days gone by like the Jewish Babylonian exile, in which era Daniel lived, or the present day, or the future that's waiting on the horizon. 

All the records in the book bear testament to the faithfulness of God and his loving care for his people, which are unmatched by anything known or unknown.

The book is not a fiction, neither is it a potboiler, but a true - life account of Daniel and his friends surviving in a foreign land. After being taken away against their will, they were made to serve a powerful king whose every word was a command. That meant their lives were not their own, they could be nothing more than meat for the lions or objects to be discarded into the furnace anytime they were found short on compliance with practices of the land.

One such practice of the land was the worship of many gods. To give an example, they had to live by the new names that were given by the king, which were after one of the Babylonian gods. And having been seemingly abandoned by their own God, their hitherto free and familiar world was dramatically upended overnight in the wake of the Babylonian siege.

Caught in such a situation, it would not be any surprise if they actually switched sides. After all, God had left them. But to hold on to faith in the face of agonising death would be the last thing anyone would expect of them.

But here's where the story of Daniel and his friends really shines. It is not just a show of conviction or a test of faith. More than that, it is a means for God to display his power. For him to do that, he needs a medium. This medium is provided by the prevailing adverse circumstances of Daniel and his friends and their unwavering faith in God despite the confusion, change and crises. 

Speaking of conviction, they were not sticking to their guns to defend their reputation and prevent others from thinking differently of them. Rather, it was a personal matter between them and God, not between them and others, not even between them and themselves.

On the issue of faith, they were not affected at all by a name change as they knew their God. They knew that nothing could change them, least of all by a name change, as God is sovereign over all things and faithful regardless of what had happened or might happen.

As for God's power, they were willing to be used by God for the display of his power. God can easily carry out his plans without us, but he chooses instead to work through men and women who are committed to him. For his power is most evident in the crucible of adversity when men and women are not fighting for credit or attention, but trusting him with their lives.

Lastly, my take on Daniel 1: 8 used to be that of an inspirational verse, especially for exams, treating it as a kind of magic bullet for success after emerging top five of the whole cohort in an undergraduate exam from sheer denial and discipline. That was how superficial my understanding was back then, lacking a theocentric outlook. It was all about self and the result I craved. There was certainly conviction, but it was largely misplaced. 

For that reason, I'm glad to be given the opportunity to revisit the verse. The subsequent years of failure amid growing in faith have brought a new understanding of the verse, which remains to date one of my all - time favourites.

Rest

Lord, teach us what real conviction is. Free us from the misuse of it and also from any guilt trip. Tell us when we are compromising and when we are not. May its end be to your glory in spite of us and because you chose us.

Naville Chia