But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8 (Daniel 1-2)
While king Jehoiakim was creating problems for Jeremiah, Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar had already begun removing people into exile. Among these early captives was a young man, of noble blood, and three of his friends. They were handsome and noticeably brilliant, therefore, they were chosen to be trained for the king’s court. One of the perks was a lavish diet of gourmet foods sacrificed to the gods of Babylon. Daniel and company gently requested the right to a better way.
Many years ago, God made a covenant with Israel. The laws that were part of this great commitment and promise set a chosen nation apart from the rest of the world. It was not a thing of prejudice or entitlement, but a conduit for God to reach out, in love and blessing, through this Holy people. Daniel, as young and frightened as he probably was, refused to compromise his devotion to these laws of The One True God.
Throughout his lifetime, Daniel remained Holy, and because of this faithfulness, he ministered to an idolatrous king, Nebuchadnezzar, who amidst all the idolatry of Babylon, acknowledged Daniel’s God as The God.
Being set apart isn’t a quest to be better, it’s doing what’s right to be available and ready for what God asks.
Happy Weekend!
Gretchen