In preparation for the king’s service, Daniel and the other youths captured from Judah were going to be fed with food from the king’s table. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself. The food they were offered did not conform to the requirements of the Mosaic law. It was rendered unclean because it was prepared by Gentiles. It would certainly have contained elements forbidden by the law and most likely would have contained food sacrificed and offered to their gods, which would be contrary to Exodus 34:15. He would also have had an issue with the wine offered. The Jews would abstain from drinking “strong drink” by diluting wine sometimes with up to 10 parts of water. The wine the king drank, and what was offered to them, would have been undiluted. Even though he was no longer in Jerusalem, Daniel still resolved to please God by remaining obedient to His law. Daniel requested permission to abstain from eating the king’s food. God honoured Daniel’s decision to remain pure and moved the chief of the eunuchs to be sympathetic to Daniel’s request. The official’s initial response was fear. If they didn’t eat the choice food provided that would show in a deteriorated physical condition compared to the others and he would have to answer to the king with his life. So Daniel proposed a test. He requested permission to eat only vegetables and water for ten days and then to be compared with those who ate the king’s food. The word for vegetables is “things sown” which could have included seeds and grain. This was a safe diet because the Mosaic Law designated no vegetables as unclean. After the ten days were over, he proposed the official make a final decision based on what he saw. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and those with him looked healthier than those who ate the king’s food and so they were allowed to continue their diet of vegetables and water.

During their three years of training, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. In addition to this, Daniel was given the gift of understanding visions and dreams. When they were presented to the king, the king found that they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the kingdom. God had prepared these faithful young men for service in the king’s court. Daniel continued to serve in the king’s court until the fall of the Babylonian empire by Cyrus in 539 BC.

When we look back at the story, the outcome seems obvious. But Daniel didn’t know how the story of Daniel would end. He made a decision to remain pure and obedient to God’s word and trusted God with the outcome. He was presented with a life of luxury and assimilation into this new culture but he resolved to remain pure and obedient. He drew a line in the sand and God honoured his decision (“those who honour me, I will honour”, 1 Sam 2:30). In your life, where do you need to draw a line in the sand and resolve to do things God’s way?