8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs 9 that he might not defile himself. Now God made Daniel to find favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of the 10 eunuchs. 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 youths which are of your own age? so should ye en- 11 danger my head with the king. Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over 12 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; Prove thy servants, 13 I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them 15 ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths 16 which did eat of the king's meat. So the steward took away 17 their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse. Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel 18 had understanding in all visions and dreams. And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebu- 19 chadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among 20 them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all 21 the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus."
Golden Text: "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Verse 8.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) On entering the king's school, what did Daniel "purpose in his heart"? Therefore what request did he make? Verse 8. Note 1. (2) On account of this purpose, what did God do for Daniel? V. 9. Note 2. (3) How did the prince regard this request? V. 10. Note 3. (4) What was the name of this prince? What was his position? V. 11. (5) What proposition did Daniel make to the prince? Vs. 12, 13. Note 4. (6) How was this proposition received? V. 14. Note 5. (7) What was the result of this test? V. 15. Note 6. (8) What then did Prince Melzar do? V. 16. (9) What special favor did they receive besides healthful appearance? V. 17. Note 7. (10) What occurred at the end of their school-days? V. 18. (11) Who examined the students? With what result? V. 19. Note 8. (12) How was their superior wisdom further demonstrated? V. 20. (13) How long did Daniel continue? V. 21.
NOTES.
1. Daniel's condition and purpose.—The seventy years of Babylonian captivity, foretold in Jer. 25:11, had begun. From the first instalment of prisoners, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and other young princes, were selected to be taught in the Chaldean language and customs. In this way they could be made useful to the king in governing the captives. The king wanted to give them every opportunity, not only from an intellectual standpoint, but in the matter of good living. But there were articles of diet at the king's table which Daniel and the three companions named above could not conscientiously use. Yet they ran a great risk in declining the honor of eating that which was set before the king. It would have been a great risk even for a nobleman of Babylon to have declined such an honor, much more for a Jewish captive—a slave—to do so. But there was a purpose of heart behind the action of these young princes not to defile themselves. It was respect to the law of their God that actuated them; therefore the king's commandment, and the consequences of disobeying it, were of secondary importance. Like Peter and John, these faithful servants could say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29.
2. God helped Daniel's purpose.—When Daniel "purposed in his heart," that secured the help of God. He had only to request the prince who had charge of him; he was not driven to the necessity of refusal. God had a future purpose in Daniel and his three companions, and a refusal to obey the king's order would have been death to the young men. So the Lord brought Daniel into such "favor and tender love with the prince" that the latter was willing to discuss the matter.
3. Perilous position.—If the prince who was charged with the duty of providing food for the captive students would endanger his life by neglecting to give them the prescribed diet, much more would the captive who should refuse to eat that which was given him, especially when the refusal was not of disregard for the king's god. The king meant the best good for the young men; he was, as he supposed, providing for them in the best possible manner then, as well as looking to their future honor and the good of their people. Therefore to slight his good intention would have been adding insult to the capital crime of disobeying his order. Thus when Daniel took his stand on principle, he did so at imminent risk.
4. "Prove thy servants."—Daniel did not say in words, "Prove the God whom we serve," but that was just what it meant. Daniel was standing on the Word of God, and not in his own strength. The sequel proved that it was the power of the Almighty that was being put to the test.
5. The power of God's Spirit had already prevailed upon the prince to the extent of imbuing him with a feeling of "tender love" for Daniel. Although he had no faith in Daniel's God, he was willing to indulge Daniel in a test of the food which he desired. The prince was not so careful to carry out the king's decree as he was to save his own life.
6. The result was a vindication of faith, as shown in the mere physical condition of the young men who had a purpose not to defile themselves with unwholesome or forbidden food. Here was one result of recognizing that they were not their own, that their bodies were "the temple of the Holy Ghost," and must not be defiled. See 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.
7. The reward was more than temporal blessing, for God added knowledge and wisdom which the students could not get in the king's school, besides skill in learning the language of the country and the science of government in which the king desired that they should become proficient. And Daniel, as the leader of the movement, was given understanding of visions and dreams, that he might be a marked instrument in the further purpose of his God.
8. The victory which the Lord had wrought out in His faithful servants (Phil. 2:13) was still more manifest at the close of their college course. On this occasion the king examined them himself, and in all the school was none the equal of these captive students. As a recognition of their superior qualifications, they "stood before the king." So much for integrity, for faith in God, for "temperance in all things."
