The Living and Active Word

Yesterday, I was digging through the bottom of my fathers bookcase, looking through all his older books. I found two commentaries on the book of Daniel. I wanted to start a new study on a particular book of the bible, but had no inspiration for any particular one. I thought this more than a coincidence, so I asked my dad which one was better, and began my study. The first chapter absolutely came alive to me. I had read it in the past and understood it and even was inspired by it, but nothing like this. I found myself envying the resolve of Daniel. Here is the part that really jumped out and grabbed me, "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. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear that 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." So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 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." So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 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. Thus the steward took away their portions of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." Daniel 1:8-17(NKJV). I know that was long, but there is something very important here. Before, when I read this my thought was simply, Daniel didn't eat the food because it was against his law and God blessed him for it... which is a perfectly good understanding of it, but God impressed on me to dig deeper. I found that it didn't have anything to do with the food being clean or unclean, because all the food in Babylon was ritually unclean. The commentary I was using said this, "The defilement he feared was not so much a ritual as a moral defilement, arising from the subtle flattery of gifts and favors which entailed hidden implications of loyal support, however dubios the king's future policies might prove to be." I'll break that down, because I imagine some of you have very blank looks on your face(not that I am implying that any of you are not smart enough to figure it out). Pretty much Daniel wasn't going to be forced into serving a king because the king was giving him really good food from his own table. This showed Daniels commitment to serving God and not a man, and for this God blessed him... both naturally(verse 15) and spiritually(verse 17). There is a moral to all this banter... it's about morals. If we chose to stand firm on our God given morals even though they may not always be popular, socially exceptable, or even logical, God will bless us. I am excited about the times that we are living in and believe God is calling for his people to set themselves even more apart from the world... that there would be a greater distinction between the Kingdoms of Light and Darkness. Stand firm, share your faith, and recieve the blessings God has for you.