May 8: THE WILL TO ALIGN WITH GOD’S WILL

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

The practices of pagans were well-known to God’s people. Daniel’s resolve to keep his body pure was more than just about the physical, but also the mental and spiritual aspects of life, and the inextricable connectedness of all three. He and his friends well understood that healthy growth in all of these areas was promoted by honoring the Biblical standard regarding eating and drinking given by God. Though sharing from the king’s table was a way, in the minds of the pagans, to honor those who were to receive training in Babylonian ways, the knowledge of the LORD’s word gave Daniel and his three friends numerous reasons for their resolve, a few being: 1) the pagan practice of eating unclean (scavenger) animals (see Leviticus 11:3), 2) the lack of proper preparation and draining of blood, in both clean and unclean meats (see Leviticus 17:14), 3) many had been first sacrificed to idols, the eating of which was considered an act of worship of a pagan deity, 4) contrary to God’s principle of temperance in all things (Proverbs 23:2), 5) intoxicating drink being strictly forbidden in the service of God (Leviticus 10:9).

All of these come together under an acknowledgement that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Many will argue that the guidelines in Leviticus are for the priesthood only. But what is the purpose of the priesthood? Is it not to communicate the Way of salvation to a hurting world? Daniel and his three friends understood themselves to be in this very role! They knew that submission to God’s rule overrules the misery and dread brought about by the ungodly principles of sin. Peter addresses Christ’s followers as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

Therefore [Daniel] requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. It is beneficial to get to know Daniel, a boy whose love for his God guided and shaped his life; even the manner in which he made his request. Daniel’s plea could easily have been misconstrued as an insult to the gesture of good will extended by the sharing of the king’s royal food; he was acutely aware of the awkwardness of the situation, and the potential danger of appearing ungrateful or judgmental toward the lifestyle of the Babylonians. Discernment and the ability to make distinctions that were not important in the eyes of others came only by the grace of God through understanding of His holy word.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

See also: Philippians 2:13; James 1:12; Revelation 1:6