Daniel was determined to live pure in an apostate culture.
It is fascinating that Daniel was a teenager when he was taken to Babylon; he was determined to live a pure life in an apostate culture. He was raised in the culture and trained in the culture, yet Daniel knew where to draw the line and set good boundaries; he would not bow to the culture or false gods or a mere mortal; he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies or wine. Daniel was not into materialism or human rewards. Daniel was faithful and of an excellent spirit; he had the spirit of the Holy God. Accusers could find no error or fault in Daniel.
It is astounding to study the lives of Biblical men and women in the Bible who love and have a deep reverence for the LORD; they had a fear of the LORD.
We should press on to know the Lord and to know what God’s Word says about our lifestyle and how we can bring God glory in the culture in which we live. Let us live uncompromised, no matter the scoffing and the pushback. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (Acts 14:22, 1 Corinthians 15:19, 2 Corinthians 4:9, Titus 2:12)
Here is an account of Daniel:
Daniel 1:1-8, In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of [a]the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Question to Ponder:
How do you live in the culture but not be of it?
We need Biblical wisdom.
Daniel and his friends demonstrated uncompromising faith, even at the risk of their lives. They could have used their exile, distance from Jerusalem, and the destruction of their worship sanctuary as excuses not to practice their faith or follow the rules of their faith. Yet, in the years of their youth, well into adulthood and old age, they had uncompromising faith.
I pray we, too, would have uncompromising faith as we walk by faith and not by sight. I pray we would walk in God’s grace with a heart of repentance and live to please our God. Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”
Jesus Prays for All Believers
(John 17:15-21)
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
As women, we can find comfort in reading the Book of Daniel because it gives us assurance that God is in control of the times of nations and governments. It shows us God’s sovereignty over history as He reveals the future to His servants. God is above time and human history. This Book encourages our faith that we can trust God. God is in control of History; He has planned for it, and its destiny is something good and glorifies Him. We can look beyond our personal circumstances and have an eternal perspective. We have the promises of God and the Promise of His ultimate triumph over all evil!
Read the Book of Daniel for yourself and study God’s glorious Word, the Holy Scriptures.
KEYS TO BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD
Here are some suggestions to bring God glory in our lives.
+ Look beyond personal circumstances
+ Have an eternal perspective
+ Make it your aim to have godly friends and godly fellowship
+ Limit cultural influences
+ Find out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:10)
+Pray and never stop praying
+ Live a set-apart life + study God’s Word
+ Be devoted to Christ
+ Shun evil and wickedness
+ Turn away your eyes from looking at worthless things
+ Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-19)
+ Do not believe the lies of this sinful culture that seduces with promises of greatness in exchange for moral and spiritual compromise.
+ Seek counsel and wisdom from the Lord, from the Bible
Further Study
BIBLE INTRODUCTIONS – DANIEL
