by Don Ruhl

What a man was Daniel! To serve as a wise man of Babylon he had to be,

3 …of the king’s descendants [or] 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 (Dan. 1:3, 4).

There was another trait that he had that is not listed in the qualifications in the above verses, but which the rest of the Book of Daniel demonstrates. It was conviction. Think about this. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians attacked Judah and Jerusalem. To get a feel for that picture in your mind and to feel the horror in your heart, think of the terrorist attacks of September 11th happening all over our country. Do you remember how you felt that day? Multiply that terror a thousand times.

Daniel witnessed a war. Do not race over that thought, but hold on to the imagery. Now imagine further that the Babylonians, those bloodthirsty soldiers, capturing him and taking him back to their capital. He is now living in the capital of his nation's enemy. Everyone around him was a potential enemy who may have been glad to have him dead.

However, for a moment he finds favor in the sight of the king himself and is asked to be part of a council that will advise the king. Part of the training for this new job involves eating and drinking what the king ate and drank, but it was food that was unclean according to the religious law by which Daniel lived. Picture further what he does next.

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 (Dan. 1:8).

As the story goes on to say, this could mean death for the one training and providing for Daniel, as well as death for Daniel. Nevertheless, this man of God in a land of hostility maintains his conviction. For it God blesses him mightily.

If you live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, hostility will surround you, but stick to your principles. You will be blessed after you have suffered for them also.