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Wellness
71
all around them in the luxurious and corrupt court. No power, no
influence, could move them from the principles they had learned
earlier by studying the Word and works of God.
If Daniel had desired, he certainly could have found an excuse
in his surroundings for giving up his strictly temperate habits. He
could have argued that since he was dependent on the king’s approval
and subject to his power, there was no other option for him than to
eat from the king’s food and drink his wine. If he followed God’s
teaching, he would offend the king and probably lose his position,
and even his life. On the other hand, if he ignored the commandment
of the Lord, he could keep the approval of the king and guarantee a
highly successful career.
But Daniel did not hesitate. The approval of God was more
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important to him than the approval of the most powerful earthly
monarch, more important than life itself. Whatever the outcome,
he would stand firm. He “resolved that he would not defile himself
with the royal rations of food and wine.”
verse 8
. His three friends
supported his position.
The Hebrew youth were not arrogant in coming to this decision.
They relied totally on God. They didn’t go out of their way to be
odd, but if being peculiar was necessary in order to honor God, they
were willing. If they yielded to wrong in this situation because of
the pressure of circumstances, that compromise would weaken their
sense of right and their hatred of wrong. The first wrong step would
lead to others until their connection with heaven would be cut off,
and they would be swept away by temptation
Daniel appealed to Melzar, the officer in special charge of the
Hebrew youth, requesting that they might be excused from eating
the king’s food and drinking his wine. He asked for a ten-day trial
of simple food, while the other captives ate royal gourmet.
Melzar, though worried that going along with this request would
bring on the displeasure of the king, nevertheless consented. Daniel
knew that his case was won! Sure enough, at the end of the ten
days’ trial the outcome was exactly opposite of what the officer
feared. In personal appearance the Hebrew youth were much more
fit and strong than their other friends. As a result, Daniel and his
associates were permitted to continue their simple diet during their
entire course of training.
