Introducing the man who needs no introduction…
Daniel. Everyone’s heard of Daniel. He’s the hero of Sunday School tales and the man behind the phrase ‘Dare to be a Daniel’.
But now we come across Daniel in context as part of a narrative. The Book of Daniel is a strange mix of history and visions. No one really knows who wrote it or when. The history part fits chronologically within the scene set for us by Ezekiel in the book before – the exile of God’s people in Babylon, when they were deported from Jerusalem in 597BC. However the visions concern the revolt of the Jewish Maccabees much, much later in the second century BC. By this time, the Jews were back in Jerusalem, but were being ruled over by an emperor determined to impose a Greek way of life on the Jews. And so the Jews were revolting about the introduction of Greek gods and culture into Jerusalem – maybe Daniel’s tale of standing up for his faith in a pagan society was just what these people needed to hear at that time. Maybe it was retold here in this book or recorded for the very first time.
Daniel has become a legend, a hero for oppressed people in every age.
Daniel was a special young man. Especially selected to serve in the king’s service. Chosen for his upbringing and skills –
young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. Daniel 1:4
These men were well cared for, nurtured, educated for three years to be fit to enter the king’s service.
Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Daniel 1:6-7
Already we see Daniel ready to take a stand. He is not prepared to eat the royal food and drink the royal wine. He will not defile himself in this way. His respect and fear of his God is stronger than his respect and fear of the king. The official is afraid however – afraid that Daniel and his friends will look less well if they eat a reduced diet. Daniel suggests they try it for ten days and see. He has absolutely no doubt that his God will honour this intention. And so Daniel and his three friends eat nothing but vegetables and drink nothing but water for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1:15
The young men work hard at their studies and at the end of three years, the king can find none better than these four to enter his service.
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel 1:20
This isn’t one of the stories that Daniel is remembered for, is it? But think about it. Those amazing stories would never have happened without this initial act of trust and obedience in his God. Daniel is immediately faithful in the small things. He does not compromise his faith through fear and ambition. He is faithful when it is unseen by the world. He may have been given a Babylonian name but Daniel is clear about his identity.
He is given a task to do, a role to play and he does it to the best of his ability without compromising his faith. We all could learn from this.
Whatever role we have to play in any situation, we can dare to be a Daniel. We can work hard and study hard and be committed to giving of our best, without compromising our integrity and faith in the one true God.
The is the foundation of what is to come. The preparation.
Daniel has no idea what he will be asked to do in the future. But for now, he will serve his God diligently and faithfully, trusting his God for the future.
Trusting and obeying.
