WendJ Posted September 26, 2015 Report Share Posted September 26, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickledilly Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsStreet Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalie 1204 Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 For me, it would show Daniel's strength of character and his assertiveness. He is true to his beliefs and wants to stand by them - he does not want to be subservient to another God/ person other than his one true God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalie 1204 Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 For me, it would show Daniel's strength of character and his assertiveness. He is true to his beliefs and wants to stand by them - he does not want to be subservient to another God/ person other than his one true God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda bass Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophie Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaconmarks Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionwolf Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heath Posted October 6, 2023 Report Share Posted October 6, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clelie Posted July 20 Report Share Posted July 20 Having been captured to live in a foreign country of pagan origin and having their names changed to be given names that were not of their culture must have been the reason for Daniel to fast from rich food and wine as he did also in Daniel chapt 10 when he fasted for 21 days on the same diet. Daniel was very conscious of a Holy God and humbled himself before his God. Daniel has the fear of the Lord in his heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted August 7 Report Share Posted August 7 Personally, I'm not very interested in food/drink so I find it difficult to understand why the four boys used food as their primary vector for pushing back against the King. Frankly, I'd think being made a eunuch would be far more important to young men than eating meat and not vegetables. They were given the king's best food, not something bad. It's interesting that the guy in the king's household responsible for Daniel and his friends was worried that eating vegetables would be bad for their health. He was willing to disobey the king and let them eat as they wish as long as the consequences of their diet didn't show on their bodies. I really don't know why Daniel drew the line at food. By that time he had learned the language, customs and religion of the Babylonians. He was feted by the king and had already been made into a eunuch. Food was just not the big a deal. In the story of Elijah, the raven fed the prophet with meat brought by an unclean animal, a raven. This was obviously against dietary laws, yet God not only overlooked it but planned for the ravens to feed the prophet. So I don't think defilement by food is the cause of Daniel's discomfort, though it could be. My hunch is that Daniel knew the Elijah story as well as the stringent religious teachings of his time, but preferred to act "religiously" rather than see God as sovereign over all creation, including food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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