Daniel 1:13
Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see."
Then compare our appearances
Daniel and his friends are requesting a test to demonstrate the effects of their diet. This reflects their faith in God’s provision and wisdom. The concept of comparison is significant in biblical narratives, often used to highlight the difference between those who follow God and those who do not, as seen in Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:21-39).

with those of the young men who are eating the royal food
The royal food likely included items forbidden by Jewish dietary laws (Leviticus 11). This highlights the cultural and religious tension between the Jewish exiles and Babylonian practices. The young men eating the royal food represent those conforming to the Babylonian way, contrasting with Daniel and his friends' commitment to God's laws.

and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
Daniel's proposal is a demonstration of faith and wisdom. He trusts that God will honor their obedience and make their appearance favorable. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God’s people are called to live by faith, trusting in His provision and protection, as seen in Hebrews 11. Daniel’s respectful approach also exemplifies the biblical principle of being wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
A young Hebrew man taken into Babylonian captivity, known for his faithfulness to God and his wisdom.

2. Babylon
The empire that conquered Judah and took many Israelites, including Daniel, into exile.

3. Ashpenaz
The chief official of King Nebuchadnezzar, responsible for training the young captives.

4. King Nebuchadnezzar
The Babylonian king who ordered the training of select young men from Israel.

5. The Royal Food
The diet prescribed by the king, which included food and wine that Daniel and his friends chose not to defile themselves with.
Teaching Points
Faithfulness in Small Things
Daniel's commitment to God's laws, even in dietary choices, demonstrates the importance of faithfulness in seemingly small matters.

Courage to Stand Apart
Daniel and his friends showed courage by choosing a different path from their peers, reminding us to stand firm in our convictions.

Trust in God's Provision
By relying on God rather than the king's provisions, Daniel exemplifies trust in God's ability to sustain and bless those who honor Him.

Influence through Integrity
Daniel's integrity and faithfulness eventually led to influence and respect, showing that God can use our obedience to impact others.

Testing and Proving Faith
The test proposed by Daniel highlights the importance of allowing our faith to be tested, proving God's faithfulness and power.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Daniel's decision to refuse the royal food reflect his commitment to God's laws, and how can we apply this principle in our daily lives?

2. In what ways can we demonstrate courage to stand apart from cultural norms that conflict with our faith, as Daniel did?

3. How does Daniel's reliance on God's provision challenge us to trust God in our own areas of need or uncertainty?

4. What are some practical ways we can maintain integrity in our workplaces or communities, following Daniel's example?

5. How can we allow our faith to be tested in a way that proves God's faithfulness, and what are some areas in our lives where this might be necessary?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 11
Discusses dietary laws given to the Israelites, which Daniel and his friends adhered to, showing their commitment to God's commands.

Romans 12:2
Encourages believers not to conform to the patterns of this world, similar to how Daniel and his friends chose not to conform to the Babylonian practices.

1 Corinthians 10:31
Reminds believers to do everything for the glory of God, reflecting Daniel's decision to honor God even in his diet.
Training for Imperial Office and WorkJ.D. Davies Daniel 1:3-21
Moral HeroismH.T. Robjohns Daniel 1:5-21
People
Abednego, Ashpenaz, Azariah, Babylonians, Belteshazzar, Cyrus, Daniel, Hananiah, Israelites, Jehoiakim, Melzar, Meshach, Mishael, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, Shinar
Topics
Accordance, Appearance, Choice, Countenance, Countenances, Dainties, Deal, Delicate, Eat, Eating, Face, Faces, King's, Lads, Meat, Observed, Portion, Presence, Provision, Rich, Royal, Seems, Seest, Servants, Table, Treat, Youths
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Daniel 1:1-21

     5542   society, positive

Daniel 1:3-16

     4532   vegetables

Daniel 1:5-16

     4436   drinking, abstention

Daniel 1:8-14

     5922   prudence

Daniel 1:8-16

     4293   water

Daniel 1:11-13

     5948   shrewdness

Daniel 1:12-13

     8343   servanthood, in society

Daniel 1:12-14

     5783   agreement

Daniel 1:12-15

     1653   numbers, 6-10

Daniel 1:12-20

     7217   exile, in Babylon

Library
Youthful Confessors
'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. 9. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Whether Curiosity Can be About Intellective Knowledge?
Objection 1: It would seem that curiosity cannot be about intellective knowledge. Because, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. ii, 6), there can be no mean and extremes in things which are essentially good. Now intellective knowledge is essentially good: because man's perfection would seem to consist in his intellect being reduced from potentiality to act, and this is done by the knowledge of truth. For Dionysius says (Div. Nom. iv) that "the good of the human soul is to be in accordance with reason,"
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world,
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

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