Determined Not To Defile Himself

The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” Daniel 1:3-4

THE KING OF BABYLON sent his soldiers into the homes of Jerusalem to round up the best and brightest young men —young enough, he hoped, not to be so set in the ways of Jerusalem that they would resist the ways of Babylon. Once they were brought to the king’s palace, the full-court press to become Babylonian was applied. Since each of their names was actually a statement of faith in the God of the Jews, those names were replaced with names that spoke of Babylonian deities. Daniel and his friends were evidently willing to accept new names, learn the language, and read the literature of Babylon. However, “Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king” (verse 8).

We don’t know exactly why Daniel drew the line here, in regard to food. But perhaps he knew that once you get a taste for the high life, it is difficult to do anything that would put you at risk of losing it. Perhaps Daniel recognized the message that was being sent at every mealtime, namely: The king’s palace is the place to be; here’s where the doors of opportunity are; taste the success; this is the fast track; enjoy. Perhaps Daniel knew that if he embraced everything placed before him in Babylon, it wouldn’t be long before his soul would be consumed by it and he would think he simply had to have it. Perhaps Daniel recognized that he needed a daily reminder that Babylon was not his home and that he belonged to another Kingdom and another King.

Lord, as this world opens up the doors of opportunity for ________, seeking to intoxicate ________ with the splendors of life in the kingdom of the world, don’t let ________ become so consumed with the good things the world offers that he loses his sense of identity as a citizen of a holy nation set apart to God. Don’t allow obedience to your law to become a relic, a cultural thing he looks back on but has grown beyond. Help ________ to place a guard on his heart so that every day when he says no to something, he will be reminded that he belongs to another Kingdom, another King.