Jump to content
JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q3. Taking a Stand


Recommended Posts

Daniel was taken captive and stripped of his nationality, name, status and posterity being made a eunuch. This was Babylon's master plan to take the best captives and make them better to serve the best rule, Babylon. For Daniel these changes were outward. His stand revealed that he kept his name, 'God is my Judge', inwardly and did not submit in worship to the Babylonian king or their gods. He would not eat the king's rich food which would display defilement of his conscience and infidelity on his part: feasting on Babylonian food and enjoying the finery of culture and pagan worship. Daniel's resolve shows that he pledged allegiance to the true God and would worship Him alone, even in his new position as a servant to the king.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 60
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Daniel evidently knew what a healthy diet should be like, and perhaps the rich foods offered by the king were truly a detriment to overall wellness. The meats were probably from animals deemed unclean in the Jewish law, and they were not to eat fat or blood of animals. Regardless of speculation, the only reason Daniel gave for asking to eat vegetables for 10 days as a test was physical health.

 

I think it may be a valid consideration that Daniel didn't want to associate himself with the implied covenant of friendship from eating the king's meals. With everything taken from him, it could have been that this was one issue that Daniel could control, one connection to Yahweh that he could retain, one clear witness and testimony of his faith and reliance on Yahweh – not the king. Daniel was a young man with a relationship of faith that was strong, even in the most desperate of situations.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q3. (Daniel 1:8-10) Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king’s food and wine? How do you think eating the king’s food would cause defilement to Daniel’s conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel?   

 

Daniel as the "leader" of the group wanted as much as possible to maintain whatever traditions that he could as a devout Jewish person.  Being held against his will, he would at least want to have a say in what he and his friends ate.  Eating the food from the kings table would have been a defilement against what they ate and probably against God's Laws at that time.  Certain meats were not considered  "kosher" and therefore unfit for consumption.   ​
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Q3. (Daniel 1:8-10) Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king’s food and wine? How do you think eating the king’s food would cause defilement to Daniel’s conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel?

Daniel was very adamant about not participating in the rituals and culture of this nation and refuse the King's food and wine. A defilement of Daniel's conscience would be in thinking that God could not keep them in an healthy state unless they participated in the King's food and wine. I think Daniel and his friends chose to use this time to show the King and the Babylonians that there God can sustain and keep them on the very basic of foods.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king's food and wine because either the food had been offered to idols or else some of the meat came from animals that were forbidden according to the Jewish dietary laws.

Eating the king's food would cause defilement to Daniel's conscience because he had been taught that eating certain foods was forbidden according to the Jewish dietary laws.

What this tells me about Daniel is his willingness to stand up for what he believed and not to give in for the sake of conveyance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q3. (Daniel 1:8-10) Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king's food and wine? How do you think eating the king's food would cause defilement to Daniel's conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel?

 

To not take a stand against food defilement is to willingly sin against his conscience. Daniel feared God.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Daniel took a stand because, he had never ceased his reverence to the one True God. Going against all of his teachings would weaken his mind, body and soul. Even though he was told that the kings food was the best tasting, and quality, it is against his knowledge of God's word.

This tells me that Daniel was strong and steadfast to the Lord.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king's food and wine? How do you think eating the king's food would cause defilement to Daniel's conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel?

The issue of food is a serious issue to the Hebrews. Not only are there restrictions about what meat and fish can be eaten but also restrictions about how it is to be prepared before cooking. Same with how wine is prepared. No deviation is acceptable. To eat or drink anything not properly prepared is a sin in Daniel's eyes. Obviously sin is something this young man takes very seriously! Anything is preferable to the breaking of God's law. Daniel is a young man that is truly faithful to God and apparently loves the Creator. This faith and love helps him in his acclimation to his life changing situation. We should all take lessons from this young man! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...
On 8/15/2015 at 6:42 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q3. (Daniel 1:8-10) Why do you think Daniel took a stand concerning being defiled by the king’s food and wine? How do you think eating the king’s food would cause defilement to Daniel’s conscience? What does this tell you about Daniel?

Daniel did not want to compromise his faith by eating from the king's table. He would have been aware how food and wine can be offered to gods and how certain foods are unhealthy. He made a stand for his right to be true to his LORD.  Daniel was very courageous and confident in the LORD's ways to make this stand as it could have cost him his life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...