And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel lived on and served through the whole Babylonian supremacy and its successive rulers until the first year of Cyrus. His long continuance was the fruit of loyalty under trial, holding to right early training and obeying God's physical and moral law even at risk of the king's displeasure. Strict temperance in eating and drinking and in all things preserved his physical strength and clearness of mind, and his resolve to honor God was met with increased physical, mental, and spiritual understanding. God set him and his companions in places of honor and influence to show Babylon His supremacy, the holiness of His requirements, and the sure results of obedience. The brief record of his faithful life as a statesman and bright light amid the moral darkness of heathen courts stands as encouragement to all who must endure trial and temptation.
Setting and Life Story
The verse closes the first chapter of Daniel, a consistent chapter full of valuable instruction about enduring testing when tested. It means Daniel continued in life and service through the Babylonian period and across the reigns of its rulers until the first year of King Cyrus. His long service followed faithfulness to right principles, and he and his companions were raised to positions of honor and influence in the empire. Taken captive so they could bring other nations the blessings of knowing God, they treated captivity as serving God's purpose, preserved true worship, represented God without compromising with idolaters, honored Him in both prosperity and adversity, and were honored by Him in return.
The verse belongs to the history in which Daniel and his Hebrew associates, chosen to be educated in the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans that they might stand in the king's palace, were appointed a daily allowance of food and wine from the king's table. Because the appointed food included meats pronounced unclean by the law of Moses, Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine, and simpler fare was sought from the officer in charge. The officer hesitated, fearing abstinence would make their appearance unfavorable and bring himself into disfavor with the king, but a ten days' trial was granted. At its end they were found far healthier in appearance than those who ate the king's dainties, so the simple pulse and water first requested became thereafter the food of Daniel and his companions. After their education they were examined and found unmatched in wisdom and understanding, their faithfulness to God and commitment to obey His word accompanying their learning and ability. Tested at the end of the three years, keen apprehension, choice language, and extensive knowledge testified to unimpaired mental vigor, so that Daniel stood before the king without rival among the youth on trial and ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.
Temperance and Integrity
Daniel 1 gives a comprehensive and forcible illustration of true temperance and its attendant blessings, and stands as an example of Christian temperance. Chosen to be educated in the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans that they might stand in the king's palace, Daniel and his Hebrew associates were appointed a daily allowance of food and wine from the king's table. Because the appointed food included meats pronounced unclean by the law of Moses, Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine, and they asked the officer in charge for simpler fare. The officer hesitated, fearing their abstinence would make their appearance unfavorable and bring himself into disfavor with the king, but a ten days' trial was granted, and at the end they were found far healthier in appearance than those who ate the king's dainties, so pulse and water became thereafter the food of Daniel and his companions. Strict temperance in eating and drinking and in all things helped preserve physical strength and mental ability, and the resolve to honor God was blessed with increased physical, mental, and spiritual understanding. Intelligence depends on what is eaten and drunk, so by refusing wine and the king's rich food Daniel and the youths kept clear intellect and a clear presentation of the knowledge of God and truth that was to be brought before the king and their associates, proving that education for present and future good works and preparing them for exceptional usefulness as gifts from God through faithful choices.
Daniel's continuance even unto the first year of Cyrus shows the success that came from that course, for his long service through the Babylonian period followed faithfulness to right principles of temperance. His long continuance was the fruit of loyalty under trial, built on right early education honored when separated from home, with self-denial joined to earnestness of purpose, diligence, and steadfastness for the honor of his downtrodden people and the glory of God, obeying the divine law both physical and moral even at risk of the king's displeasure. Placed as a captive in a strange court among those who neither knew nor feared the true God, not by pride or ambition but by Infinite Wisdom, he chose in the fear of God to be true to the religion of his fathers. The blessing of God gave him strength and comeliness and intellectual power, with erect form, firm step, fair countenance, undimmed senses, and untainted breath certifying the nobility with which nature honors obedience. Tested at the end of the three years, his keen apprehension, choice language, and extensive knowledge testified to unimpaired mental vigor, so that he stood before the king without rival among the most promising youth gathered from all lands, ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.
The four youths studied diligently while receiving their education, using their abilities and opportunities through effort rather than treating divine blessing as a substitute for work. When examined after their education they were found unmatched among the young people on trial, and the king found them exceptionally wise and understanding. Their faithfulness to God and their commitment to obeying His word accompanied their learning and ability. The chapter shows integrity and firmness in temperance principles, daring to stand alone and remain firm in purpose. Tried and proved, Daniel stood firm to principle and became a representative man and a pattern of integrity. God raised him and his companions to positions of honor and influence in the empire.
Divine Purpose and Witness
God used the loyal Hebrew captives to show Babylon His supremacy, the holiness of His requirements, and the sure results of obedience. Daniel's continuance in service through the first year of King Cyrus followed his faithfulness to right principles of temperance, and God raised him and his companions to positions of honor and influence in the Babylonian Empire. They had been taken captive so that they could bring other nations the blessings of knowing God, and they treated their captivity as serving God's purpose, preserving true worship and acting as God's representatives. Their life and service in Babylon spanned the reigns of its rulers and continued into the first year of Cyrus, and through it they represented God and remained faithful without compromising with idolaters, honoring God in both prosperity and adversity, and God honored them.
Daniel remained faithful in his service to God and his duty in heathen Babylon, serving with the abilities God had given him. He stood as a faithful statesman and a bright light amid the moral darkness of Babylon's wicked courts. His experience in the king's court shows that when duty brings God's people into trial, God protects them, while choosing temptation instead puts them at risk of falling. His example also shows that God gives grace to those who must work among worldly and scheming people.
The brief account of his life, placing him within that long period to the first year of Cyrus, is preserved as encouragement for people who must endure trial and temptation.
Daniel lived on and served through the whole Babylonian supremacy and its successive rulers until the first year of Cyrus. His long continuance was the fruit of loyalty under trial, holding to right early training and obeying God's physical and moral law even at risk of the king's displeasure. Strict temperance in eating and drinking and in all things preserved his physical strength and clearness of mind, and his resolve to honor God was met with increased physical, mental, and spiritual understanding. God set him and his companions in places of honor and influence to show Babylon His supremacy, the holiness of His requirements, and the sure results of obedience. The brief record of his faithful life as a statesman and bright light amid the moral darkness of heathen courts stands as encouragement to all who must endure trial and temptation.
Setting and Life Story
The verse closes the first chapter of Daniel, a consistent chapter full of valuable instruction about enduring testing when tested. It means Daniel continued in life and service through the Babylonian period and across the reigns of its rulers until the first year of King Cyrus. His long service followed faithfulness to right principles, and he and his companions were raised to positions of honor and influence in the empire. Taken captive so they could bring other nations the blessings of knowing God, they treated captivity as serving God's purpose, preserved true worship, represented God without compromising with idolaters, honored Him in both prosperity and adversity, and were honored by Him in return.
The verse belongs to the history in which Daniel and his Hebrew associates, chosen to be educated in the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans that they might stand in the king's palace, were appointed a daily allowance of food and wine from the king's table. Because the appointed food included meats pronounced unclean by the law of Moses, Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine, and simpler fare was sought from the officer in charge. The officer hesitated, fearing abstinence would make their appearance unfavorable and bring himself into disfavor with the king, but a ten days' trial was granted. At its end they were found far healthier in appearance than those who ate the king's dainties, so the simple pulse and water first requested became thereafter the food of Daniel and his companions. After their education they were examined and found unmatched in wisdom and understanding, their faithfulness to God and commitment to obey His word accompanying their learning and ability. Tested at the end of the three years, keen apprehension, choice language, and extensive knowledge testified to unimpaired mental vigor, so that Daniel stood before the king without rival among the youth on trial and ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.
Temperance and Integrity
Daniel 1 gives a comprehensive and forcible illustration of true temperance and its attendant blessings, and stands as an example of Christian temperance.
Chosen to be educated in the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans that they might stand in the king's palace, Daniel and his Hebrew associates were appointed a daily allowance of food and wine from the king's table.
Because the appointed food included meats pronounced unclean by the law of Moses, Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine, and they asked the officer in charge for simpler fare.
The officer hesitated, fearing their abstinence would make their appearance unfavorable and bring himself into disfavor with the king, but a ten days' trial was granted, and at the end they were found far healthier in appearance than those who ate the king's dainties, so pulse and water became thereafter the food of Daniel and his companions.
Strict temperance in eating and drinking and in all things helped preserve physical strength and mental ability, and the resolve to honor God was blessed with increased physical, mental, and spiritual understanding.
Intelligence depends on what is eaten and drunk, so by refusing wine and the king's rich food Daniel and the youths kept clear intellect and a clear presentation of the knowledge of God and truth that was to be brought before the king and their associates, proving that education for present and future good works and preparing them for exceptional usefulness as gifts from God through faithful choices.
Daniel's continuance even unto the first year of Cyrus shows the success that came from that course, for his long service through the Babylonian period followed faithfulness to right principles of temperance.
His long continuance was the fruit of loyalty under trial, built on right early education honored when separated from home, with self-denial joined to earnestness of purpose, diligence, and steadfastness for the honor of his downtrodden people and the glory of God, obeying the divine law both physical and moral even at risk of the king's displeasure.
Placed as a captive in a strange court among those who neither knew nor feared the true God, not by pride or ambition but by Infinite Wisdom, he chose in the fear of God to be true to the religion of his fathers.
The blessing of God gave him strength and comeliness and intellectual power, with erect form, firm step, fair countenance, undimmed senses, and untainted breath certifying the nobility with which nature honors obedience.
Tested at the end of the three years, his keen apprehension, choice language, and extensive knowledge testified to unimpaired mental vigor, so that he stood before the king without rival among the most promising youth gathered from all lands, ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers.
The four youths studied diligently while receiving their education, using their abilities and opportunities through effort rather than treating divine blessing as a substitute for work.
When examined after their education they were found unmatched among the young people on trial, and the king found them exceptionally wise and understanding.
Their faithfulness to God and their commitment to obeying His word accompanied their learning and ability.
The chapter shows integrity and firmness in temperance principles, daring to stand alone and remain firm in purpose.
Tried and proved, Daniel stood firm to principle and became a representative man and a pattern of integrity.
God raised him and his companions to positions of honor and influence in the empire.
Divine Purpose and Witness
God used the loyal Hebrew captives to show Babylon His supremacy, the holiness of His requirements, and the sure results of obedience. Daniel's continuance in service through the first year of King Cyrus followed his faithfulness to right principles of temperance, and God raised him and his companions to positions of honor and influence in the Babylonian Empire. They had been taken captive so that they could bring other nations the blessings of knowing God, and they treated their captivity as serving God's purpose, preserving true worship and acting as God's representatives. Their life and service in Babylon spanned the reigns of its rulers and continued into the first year of Cyrus, and through it they represented God and remained faithful without compromising with idolaters, honoring God in both prosperity and adversity, and God honored them.
Daniel remained faithful in his service to God and his duty in heathen Babylon, serving with the abilities God had given him. He stood as a faithful statesman and a bright light amid the moral darkness of Babylon's wicked courts. His experience in the king's court shows that when duty brings God's people into trial, God protects them, while choosing temptation instead puts them at risk of falling. His example also shows that God gives grace to those who must work among worldly and scheming people.
The brief account of his life, placing him within that long period to the first year of Cyrus, is preserved as encouragement for people who must endure trial and temptation.