Just Say No! [Daniel 1 v 8-21]

How can we live a godly live in an ungodly world? Certainly it’s not easy but praise God it’s not impossible for with God nothing is impossible. We noticed in our previous study how Nebuchadnezzar was changing the names of Daniel and his three friends from names associated with Jehovah to names associated with Babylonish gods. Nebuchadnezzar was more or less saying, in his clever way, our gods have beaten your God, now let’s worship them.

As we continue our studies in the book of Daniel we will notice how these four young men took their stand for God against all odds. We are reminded that sometimes, “It’s right to say no.” or like the anti drugs campaign slogan,” Just say no!”

Let’s begin at verse eight:

The Resolve.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Some things we should notice here about Daniel that will help us to say no when faced with temptation.

The company.

Daniel had made friends with these three other boys. What an encouragement they would be for each other, what help they would be and what strength they would get from each other. This stresses once again the importance of the company we keep.

The circumstances.

There are some things that happen in our lives and we can do nothing about it. The same is true for Daniel here. He was in a heathen land and he was powerless to do any thing about it. He was subjected to heathen education; he couldn’t do anything about that either. He had been given a heathen name; again he was powerless to do anything about it. We cannot help the land in which we live or the education, which we are subjected, to indeed there are certain circumstances which the Lord permits in our lives over which we have no control.

Daniel and his friends had made good company and accepted that God was sovereign in all that was taking place. The real test came with a new diet. What would Daniel do? There were at least two reasons why Daniel couldn’t accept what the king provided.

Firstly the food was not prepared by Jewish methods and certain food was not permitted to be eaten at all.

Secondly the wine especially would be toasted in honour of a heathen deity.

Daniel had a decision to make. Like in Daniel’s case many important decisions are made in our youth. Decisions that shape the rest of our lives, for instance, whom will we marry? What career will we pursue? Who our friends will be? Some of these decisions will have repercussions for the rest of our lives. Daniel has to make a decision, a decision that would shape his life.

Will it be?

When in Babylon do as the Babylonians do?

Would he blend in or would he be separated from the world?

We too face many similar decisions; Paul exhorts us in 2 Cor to be separate.

2 Cor. 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Today too many Christians decide just to go with the flow, so to speak. For Daniel however compromise wasn’t considered. Do you dare to be a Daniel?

The Consequences.

Let’s see the real danger that Daniel faced if he refused the king’s food, if he refused the Babylonish dainties. What could happen? Look at verse ten.

Daniel 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Notice what the Prince of the Eunuchs said, “I fear my lord the King.” Nebuchadnezzar’s own trusted man was afraid of him. What would Nebuchadnezzar not do to Daniel, a rebellious Jew? Lets recall what Nebuchadnezzar did to King Zedekiah.

2 Kings 24:20 For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

King Zedekiah we are told rebelled against the King of Babylon. What was his punishment?

2 Kings 25:6-7 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. [7] And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

This was a strict regime, Daniel could loose his head and this was a real problem, what would Daniel do? I wonder what the other captives said to Daniel about this problem?

· “Well we are far away from home no one will ever know what happens.”

“It’s only a small thing Daniel.” [For Daniel to give credence to idols was no small thing]

“Daniel you are too tight, too legalistic.”

“Daniel, we are going to use it as an opportunity to witness.”

What peer pressure Daniel and his friends would be under to compromise but Daniel was saying no. What pressure is on our young people to conform, indeed upon all of us. May we just say, “no!”

What circumstances and what consequences these young men faced. What would Daniel do? Compromise was never considered.

Daniel had something that is evidently missing in so many Christians, let’s see:

The Conviction.

This was something Daniel had to decide, notice it says, “Daniel purposed in his heart.” Opinion polls, popular opinion, political correctness, the media, and the majority view doesn’t come into it. Daniel had firm convictions and he was sticking to his guns. Sometimes we can profess to be firm on certain Biblical issues until tested, then we realise we had no firm convictions. The convictions were never from the heart; unlike Daniel he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.

There is no point in laying out a set of rules for Christians. Don’t do this or you must do that. Don’t go here or there. Genuine obedience is something that should come from the heart.

Salvation is a heart matter.

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The Christian life is a heart matter.

Barnabus when he arrived at Antioch hoping to see how these gentile believers were doing gave them some good advice.

Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

He advised them with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. To cleave to the Lord means abide with the Lord. It involves loving, walking, obeying, and serving him. It’s truly a matter of the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

How did Daniel know what was right and wrong for him? It wasn’t just because his mum and dad told him, it wasn’t just because of the godly king Josiah and perhaps some prophets had said it, it wasn’t because it was the done thing in his hometown. No, it was because Daniel knew the word of God; his conviction was real heart felt conviction. He must have known from Leviticus what was right and proper for him as a Jew and he wouldn’t become defiled. He had taken David’s advice from Psalm 119.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The word of God was hidden in his heart, his conscience was healthy and Paul reminds us of the importance of a good conscience.

1 Tim. 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Sadly many have rejected the word, ignored the conscience and are now shipwrecked.

Daniel was in a corner, Daniel was in a crisis, and Daniel had a choice to make. Praise God, he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. If we all could have this purpose of heart, so easily we cave in, so easily we compromise. However, with Daniel, compromise was not a consideration. He was willing to just say no!!!

He requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. We have considered Daniel’s resolve let’s look secondly as the prince of the eunuchs and his reservations.

Reservations.

Take a look at verse number nine.

Daniel 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

This is truly wonderful; do you see the relationship Daniel had with this man? Tender love that would speak of sympathy. God was working in this man’s heart, Daniel had convictions but he wasn’t a cranky cheeky, or a cantankerous person in fact such was Daniel’s demeanour that he found favour with the prince of the eunuchs. What a testimony he had.

Remember what the Lord said?

1 Samuel 2:30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Like Joseph who also honoured the Lord and God honoured him.

Genesis 39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Perhaps Daniel worried about facing this man, how would he tell him? What does proverbs assure us of?

Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God gave Daniel favour; God was working away in the background. Oh it’s good to have convictions but we must conduct ourselves graciously and reverently. Strong conviction is no excuse for rudeness and bad manners.

We see the Prince of the Eunuchs reservations in verse ten.

Of course the prince was thinking of himself. As much as he liked Daniel he had to think of number one. To give in could cost him his head, so Daniel’s request is refused. What would Daniel do? Surely he may have thought this must be the Lord’s will, surely he must want me to go along with the rest and compromise. I have been wrong, I have been silly, perhaps it’s best to play it down and go with the crowd. It was as if Daniel had read this New Testament verse from James.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Daniel’s convictions were the same. God’s word doesn’t change in spite of circumstances, and we cannot change the word of God to suit our circumstances. What would Daniel do now? Daniel didn’t want an excuse to compromise, if he had wanted an excuse, he had a golden opportunity. Many would have said, “He did his best,” but Daniel had real, strong, sincere and Bible based convictions. Look at verse eleven as we continue.

Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Melzar is probably the rank or title of the next man; he is described as the one the prince of the eunuchs had set over them. Daniel took the fears of others into consideration and he comes up with an idea, look at verse twelve.

Daniel 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

“Let us off your diet for ten days, let us have pulse [grown in the ground] and water.” Read verse thirteen.

Daniel 1:13 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.

Daniel had great faith or he had faith in a great God. He believed God wouldn’t let him down. Daniel really trusted the Lord, for ten days they would stick to this diet and then look and see how they were doing. If he was wrong, it would be upon their own heads. We can see from verses fourteen and fifteen that Daniel’s request was accepted.

Daniel 1:14-15 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. [15] And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

God didn’t let Daniel and his friends down. Praise God for men and women of conviction, praise God for young people with real convictions. May God raise them up in our midst today.

You can see from verse fifteen that Daniel and his friends would really stand out, you could see the difference. How this reminds us that when Christians are going on with the Lord the difference will be clearly seen.

The Psalmist recalls the lament of the children of Israel in Babylon.

Psalm 137:1-2 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. [2] We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

The weeping willows, how could we do any thing for the Lord here? We are in a foreign land, we are captive, we better just sit back and blend in, or we will sing that is, we will sing dumb. Look at verse four of this Psalm.

Psalm 137:4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

Praise God we can sing the Lord’s song in this strange land. We cannot help where we live, we cannot help many things, but praise god like Daniel who was living in an ungodly world, he could sing the Lords song, he could sing the blessed first psalm.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. [2] But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. [3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Are you singing the Lord’s song or dancing to the world’s tune? May God help us to be Daniels. Do you dare to be a Daniel? Dare to be different? Just say no!

Daniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

We see how Daniel and his friends experienced the grace of God, while the Babylonians could witness the power of God. See the result in verse sixteen.

Daniel 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Let us consider thirdly their Reward.

The Reward.

As we can see from verse seventeen God really blessed these young men.

Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

They would not only know the facts but would know what to do with them. Daniel was give understanding in visions and dreams. God knew Daniel was a man he could trust with some mighty revelations. As we shall see later on in this great book of Daniel. God really rewarded and blessed these young men who took their stand for him. Look at verse twenty.

Daniel 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Daniel is mentioned again in verse twenty-one and it is a wonderful thought to finish the first chapter upon.

Daniel 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel would live to see the end of Babylonians reign. But apply it spiritually.

In verse eight we are told Daniel purposed. In verse twenty-one, we are told he continued. The Lord gave him favour, the Lord gave him wisdom, and knowledge, skill and understanding and in other words the Lord gave him everything he needed. He was protected, preserved and given a position of pre - eminence. God really blessed Daniel; God will really bless you too if you purpose in your heart not to defile yourself, he will give you everything you need to continue.

Chapter one has given us some knowledge of this great man called Daniel He was a young man who lived a life that pleased God. He is living proof of 1 Tim 4 v 8.

1 Tim. 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

A famous preacher was once taken around New York. That night he prayed, “Lord I thank you for showing me all the sights, but most of all I thank you that I didn’t see a thing I wanted.” May we like Daniel live for God in this sinful world.