Temptation and pressure are always part of integrating into a new social environment or culture. It occurs when we join a new company, move to a new state or city, or perhaps even join the military. Whenever followers of Christ assimilate into a new culture they are faced with various kinds of temptations and pressures; pressures that make us choose. Since the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God’s people have faced tremendous pressure to conform to the world and the people whom lived around them and since the beginning of time God has provided everything His people needed to know right from wrong. With Adam He defined his limits and instituted the first family, with Noah He established the institution of government, and with Abraham He promised to make him into a great nation.
Imagine being a Jewish teenager whose entire family has been taken into captivity to a pagan nation. Imagine being an Israelite who is seeking to honor God amongst a people who don’t respect your beliefs or know anything about the One True God and His Law. This was the life of Daniel. Daniel loved the Lord and was determined to not defile himself within his new Babylonian culture.
King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had chosen Daniel from among other Jewish “youths” for a three year training program. Daniel was described as having no defect, good looking, and intelligent. As challenging as it would be to read the Babylonian literature and learn their language, Daniel was about to face an issue he could not compromise on; his Jewish diet prescribed by God's Law. The scripture reads “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…” (Daniel 1:8).
It’s important to understand that Daniel was a Jew and was strictly forbidden from eating foods and drinking wines that were dedicated to idols, but that is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar wanted Daniel and his buddies to do. It was now time for Daniel to choose, would he compromise his convictions or would he stand with God? His name Daniel meant “God is my judge,” so Daniel knew what was at stake if he compromised. It was an extreme honor to be chosen for the king’s training program which no doubt further intensified the pressure in his mind. Nonetheless, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would no defile himself.”
It’s no different for the modern day soldier of the cross. Like Daniel the more you know about God and His Word, the more courageous and convicted you will be about not defiling yourself. Daniel was gracious towards the king’s officials, he wasn’t defiant nor did he start an argument. He proposed an alternative way, God’s way; and he and his friends would come out victorious.
How convicted are you about obeying God in the face of opposition, temptation, and defilement? Daniel “made up his mind that he would not defile himself”…wont you?
Imagine being a Jewish teenager whose entire family has been taken into captivity to a pagan nation. Imagine being an Israelite who is seeking to honor God amongst a people who don’t respect your beliefs or know anything about the One True God and His Law. This was the life of Daniel. Daniel loved the Lord and was determined to not defile himself within his new Babylonian culture.
King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had chosen Daniel from among other Jewish “youths” for a three year training program. Daniel was described as having no defect, good looking, and intelligent. As challenging as it would be to read the Babylonian literature and learn their language, Daniel was about to face an issue he could not compromise on; his Jewish diet prescribed by God's Law. The scripture reads “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…” (Daniel 1:8).
It’s important to understand that Daniel was a Jew and was strictly forbidden from eating foods and drinking wines that were dedicated to idols, but that is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar wanted Daniel and his buddies to do. It was now time for Daniel to choose, would he compromise his convictions or would he stand with God? His name Daniel meant “God is my judge,” so Daniel knew what was at stake if he compromised. It was an extreme honor to be chosen for the king’s training program which no doubt further intensified the pressure in his mind. Nonetheless, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would no defile himself.”
It’s no different for the modern day soldier of the cross. Like Daniel the more you know about God and His Word, the more courageous and convicted you will be about not defiling yourself. Daniel was gracious towards the king’s officials, he wasn’t defiant nor did he start an argument. He proposed an alternative way, God’s way; and he and his friends would come out victorious.
How convicted are you about obeying God in the face of opposition, temptation, and defilement? Daniel “made up his mind that he would not defile himself”…wont you?
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