Daniel 1:1-17
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of
Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into
the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the
treasure house of his god. 3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his
eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed,
and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful
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 Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily
provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them
three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among
these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto
whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abednego. 8 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:
therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the
eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king,
who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse
liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my
head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had
set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech
thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 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 thy servants. 14 So he
consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten
days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which
did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of
their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 17 As for these
four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Introduction:
Today's message is where the rubber meets the road in the Christian life. Most of us
know how to put our Sunday faces on. We know how we out to dress, the tone our voices
should take, and all the other Christian trappings that we bring to our public worship. The
key is... who are you when no one is looking? If you have trusted Jesus as your personal
Savior, you owe it to Him to live for Him. Most everyone seems like a good person at
first glance. Some of you children and teen agers brought up in a Christian home have
good manners in public... you have not been involved in the sins that your peers have
been, because your loving parents have set limits. But... who will you be when no one is
looking? Who will you be behind closed doors?
Today we will see that there was a teenager who had to face this question in a very
real way. Today we can learn from a young man who knew how to stand up for what is
right... even when no one is looking.
I. There Will Be Times When No One Is Looking.
Daniel 1:3-4
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring
certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 Children
in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful 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
Chaldeans.
The people of Judah were under siege. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had them
in his mighty grasp. God was judging the nation for its transgressions by allowing this
captivity. The first thing that Nebuchadnezzar did was to round up the gifted
young men of Israel, kidnapping them from their families and friends, and taking them off
to a strange, pagan, foreign land. Daniel was one of these young men that were carried
off.
Daniel was raised to fear the God of Israel. He knew the law. He dared not rebel
against the teachings of his parents or the temple priests. With one day this all changed.
He was taken from the watchful eyes of his parents. They were pretty strict. Even though
he was in captivity, surely his pagan captors would allow Daniel to do some things that his
faithful Godly parents would not. He was removed from the supervision of the temple
priests. They were always harping about dietary laws that were supposed to make him
stand out from the rest of the world. To live as a Jew... one of God's chosen people, was
to be different. Surely his new Babylonian bosses would not require these things. He
always wondered what it would be like to taste the food that the world ate. Daniel even
had to learn a new language. Surely it would be too difficult to figure out how to
pray. Daniel was removed from everything that he knew. He had no one looking over his
shoulder. He could do what he would regarding his strict religious background... and no
one would bother him. No one was looking.
'Tis the season for change. Some are going to a different school. There are none of
the old friends, no parents, no peers that know that you are Christian. We could say the
same for those who are starting college, moving to a new town, or starting a new job. We
live in a changing world and sometimes we find ourselves away from those that pressure
us to do right. Some of us enjoy going to work day after day, because it gets us our from
under the watchful eyes of our spouse and our children. You can "relax and let your hair
down" with your buddies. In a sense, you are in a place where you feel that no one is
looking. We are living in an age when even in our solitude, we are connected. When you
find yourself alone in the home, no spouse, no kids... what choices do you make with the
radio, the TV, the internet? It is during these times of being alone and without
accountability that we are the most vulnerable. It is for that reason that we should avoid
that situation as much as possible. Once again we find a good reason to continue to meet
together in church, the positive peer pressure that we need.
II. You Must Determine Not To Be Defiled.
Daniel 1:8
8 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: therefore he requested of the
prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
You must make the decision to do right before you are in the heat of the moment,
tempted to do wrong. Many times someone ends up in sin because he has made little
dumb decisions all along that lead to his fall. If you do not intend to drink, do not set foot
in a bar. If you do not intend to lose your virginity before marriage, do not go on a date
alone with someone of the opposite sex. Determine in your heart not to be defiled. As
soon as Daniel realized where he was, he made that decision. He could have crossed the
line of purity, and no one would have thought any less of him. He was in a culture that
would accept it. DO NOT DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT BASED UPON
CULTURAL NORMS!! Let us not miss the point of this passage. We are not to come
under Old Testament Jewish dietary laws... these have been nailed to the cross. We are
to follow the principle of being undefiled by the world.
Daniel made up his mind not to be defiled. The word "defiled" means to be
"polluted or stained". Daniel was going to remain different from the pagan culture that
had swallowed him. You are surrounded with worldly options for music, videos,
games, dress, talk, and entertainment. When we are surrounded with others who claim to
believe like we do, it is a no brainer... stay away from the world! But, what about when
no one is looking??? You had better make that decision ahead of time.
This decision must be made without trying to pragmatically weigh out the
consequences and ramifications. It is right?? Then stand!! Do not calculate to see if you
will still be able to find a mate, or if you will remain popular, or if you will still have
good standing at work. Take your stand based on God's unchanging truth first!
III. You Must Bring Your Stand Out In The Open.
Daniel 1:8-9
8 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: therefore he requested of the
prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel
into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Here is one of the most practical and important points of the passage. Once you have
purposed in your heart to make a stand on an issue of purity... LET THE WORLD
KNOW WHERE YOU STAND!! Once you commit publicly, it is much tougher to
change your mind. Once Daniel made a big deal about his dietary conviction, it would be
hard to ask some of his Babylonian buddies for a piece of bacon!! If you are going public
with this conviction... it has to be personal. I get concerned when a teen makes a stand by
saying " my parents won't let be do so and so". As soon as no one is looking that teen will
test the boundaries and break their parents hearts! My pastor does not allow... My
church does not believe... Get off it!! Get some conviction of your own!! If you do not,
then you will never stand when no one is looking. Once you make your stand, be willing
to be tested.
Daniel 1:10-16
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath
appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking
than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to
the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set
over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee,
ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 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 thy servants. 14 So he
consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten
days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which
did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their
meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
The world would make you believe that it is ridiculous and harmful to remain pure
and separate. You will never find a good career if you do not go the state "booze it or lose
it" university. God will bless your decision to be pure! You will never find a mate if you
stick with the local church. You will never have a boyfriend if you stick with your stand
to never touch until your wedding day. Listen! The proof is inn the results!! Daniel stood
his ground. The authorities had their doubts. When they got a look at the effect that God's
standards had on the young men, all were on God's diet!
There will come a time in your week this week that you will be alone. You will
have your choice of music, your choice of entertainment, your choice of peers. You had
better make the decision to stand apart from the rot of the world now. Let others know
about your stand. When it comes right down to it, God will bless your stand, and all will
see that you are a person of integrity when no one is looking.
