October 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading:

Daniel 1:1-16

¹In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
³And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
⁴Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
⁵And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
⁶Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
⁷Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
⁸But 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.
⁹Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
¹⁰And 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.
¹¹Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
¹²Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
¹³Then 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.
¹⁴So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
¹⁵And 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.
¹⁶Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Devotional:

The Hebrew youths who took such a strong stand in the court of the king of Babylon are a tribute to fathers and mothers who faithfully trained them in the home. They are a testimony to the keeping power of their God. Chosen to be educated in the court of the conqueror along with the children of the king himself and the children of princes! Given to eat of the delicacies of the king's table! Children outstanding in appearance, intelligent, well-educated, full of promise! They were to be taught 'the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans' (1:4).

This was a difficult spot in which to be. Not only did they experience social pressures such as our children experience in kindergarten or in college or in military service; there were, too, the powers of an unsympathetic 'administration.' This is a story to which our youth should be able to relate!

It would have been very easy to capitulate to the life style of the Babylonians. It would have been a temptation to compete for first place among the youth at the court. It would have been the easiest course to adapt to the Chaldean style of life. But God was with them. He enabled them to hold out against the ways that would have compromised their faith. Then He went a step further and enabled them to surpass all the others!

We may assume that, back home, parents were praying for God's care over these boys. They had done what they could in training them. Now the discipline had to be in the hands of the youths themselves. Away from the parental apron-strings they would have to maintain their own faith and relationship to the God of their fathers. We believe the parents prayed to this end.

So, too, must we.