May 12: COOPERATE WITH THE LORD

“Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So [the steward] consented with them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. Daniel 1:13-14

All four of the young men were in agreement, based upon their upbringing in the Scriptures. Daniel’s confidence that the ten-day period would make a marked, visible improvement in their appearance was behind his words, “and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” They knew the writings of Solomon, who humbled himself at the end of his life and wrote many things so that others could avoid his follies. When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you; And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food (Proverbs 23:1-3).

Much strife and debate has resulted because of some who single out a verse: Genesis 9:3, and claim that God gave all animals as food. This was just after the Flood, after all of the creatures had been let out of the ark to multiply (8:17) and before the new produce from the ground sprang forth. But Noah and his family would have had to ignore the vivid distinction laid out only two chapters before (see 7:1-3). It is clear that Noah did not ignore the distinction between clean and unclean animals (see 8:20). The understanding of the Savior to come was exhibited by Noah—just as Abel had understood (Genesis 4:4)—hence the soothing aroma to the LORD (Genesis 8:21). The ancient ritual begun by God Himself when He clothed Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21) was the gospel of salvation in symbol. The blood of the spotless, innocent lamb pointed forward to the atoning blood of Christ. His word illustrates what His children are to become: a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), holy and without blemish [in character] (Ephesians 5:27).

Daniel and his three close friends were extremely courteous and respectful as the request went forth for this ten-day test. Rather than attempt to navigate which of the meats from the royal kitchen were clean (as opposed to unclean), they knew that even the clean ones were not properly butchered, drained of blood and trimmed of fat. A popular pagan method of killing animals was to strangle (see Acts 15:20,29; 21:25), with no draining of blood from the flesh (muscle). Thus, a pre-flood diet (Genesis 1:29) would safeguard both their health and their witness among pagans.

Paul designates clean animals as foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving …sanctified by the word of God (1 Timothy 4:3,5 – see also Leviticus 11:3), whereas unclean were not even considered food at all. Their function as “garbage collectors” was the noble job—by the Creator’s design—of helping to keep the earth’s environment clean. This was well-understood by the Jewish New Testament believers, but as the gospel spread rapidly to the Gentiles after Stephen was stoned (Acts 8:4), it took time and patience to help them overcome their pagan backgrounds. Only the Lord Himself can sanctify us (see Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8; 22:32; Ezekiel 20:12), but our God-given will to cooperate with Him in that process must be exercised. To leave Him out is a deadly mistake!

“Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves . . . eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:17