Purposed in His Heart

Daniel 1 opens with a hard moment for God's people. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it, and the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand. The book makes clear from its first verses that this did not happen outside God's control. Some of the vessels of the house of God were carried to the land of Shinar.

The king wanted young men skillful in all wisdom to serve in his palace. They would learn the learning and the language of the Chaldeans for three years. Their names were changed: Daniel became Belteshazzar, and his friends became Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. He requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel proposed a careful test: Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer. Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. In the New Testament, Paul writes, Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).