Thursday after Invocavit Sunday
Posted on February 22, 2024 by under
Scripture: Daniel 1:3-16 (NKJV)
1:3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 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.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Devotion
Daniel would confess his faith without unnecessarily offending the pagan ruler. Quietly living out the true faith while serving the king until such time as a bolder and more open confession was necessary or more likely to be heard (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1-3, Eph. 6:5–8) was not unfaithfulness, but good stewardship of God’s Word. For us who may have an unbelieving boss or customers, or who serve in a secular government or its armed forces, Daniel shows how we “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17), remembering that when these conflict we “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Three things were mandated for acceptance in the king’s employ. Learning the ways and ‘wisdom’ of their captors was not a violation of God’s Law any more than it would be for us today, so long as all such learning were kept subject to the true revealed wisdom of God’s Word. Even having their names translated into the Babylonian tongue—complete with stripping the honor to Yahweh with which their parents had named them and giving it to Babylonian idols—could be tolerated. Names are given by another and don’t necessarily reflect your own values. However, these pagan names would actually end up magnifying the confession of God’s people! Eating from the king’s table, though, would participate in things sacrificed to idols, so Daniel tactfully refuses, and the Lord miraculously confirms his testimony to the chief eunuch!
Collect: O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
