Daniel 1:12-13 – “12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”
After seeing their homeland destroyed and laid bare, after being taken captive, after being selected to be perpetual servants in a foreign land, Daniel (along with Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael) had not lost their resolve to remain devoted to God.
Where some people would jump at the chance to fill their bellies with the meat and wine of the Babylonian king, these four Hebrew men rejected such sustenance. Partaking of this food would have defiled them before God, being a sin to consume such foods under the law. They instead petitioned and persuaded their minder to allow them a different menu than the rest of the captives taken out of Israel. Of all those that were selected of the Hebrews to become servants to Nebuchadnezzar, the four who chose to eat pulse (beans and lentils) were found to be the strongest and most well nourished.
This passage can be likened to the charge to keep the spirit of revival aflame in our church. We are pilgrims and strangers in a sinful world that will give us ever opportunity to defile ourselves before God. We must serve in a world that is diametrically opposed to all our spiritual goals; yet, through Christ we can overcome.
In order to ensure that we remain infilled with the offering of the world, we must first persuade ourselves that there is no gain in the meat and wine offered to us. Anything that will deprive us of the presence of God, the favor of God, and the blessings of God must be seen as worthless. No matter how much the flesh may gain pleasure from such, we must be persuaded that God is more important.
Furthermore, we must pursue our true source of nourishment: the Word of God, both the scriptures and the person of Christ.
Finally, we must be persistent to guard against cracks in our resolve and fatigue. When you are at your weakest it is certain that Satan will lay out the most appealing buffet.
Always keep your eyes fixed on the Savior and I can assure you that you will be filled to bursting relying on Him.
Your fellowservant in Christ, Bro. Jordan Foster
Comments