DCLM Daily Manna 7 November 2022
KEY VERSE: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” – (Daniel 1:8).
TEXT: Daniel 1:1-8 (KJV)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
Hundreds of years before Apostle Paul cautioned the Corinthian brethren about consuming food offered to idols, a young Hebrew lad was put to the test over his convictions on the matter. How would he apply his religious principles to small details of daily life like dietary choices? Would he submit to the desire of a king who had exiled him and his people and now was bent on denationalising them by stripping them of their culture and religion?
Daniel was the young man in question. According to the Bible, he passed the test because he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” While held captive in a hostile land, Daniel never forgot the unambiguous commandment of Jehovah to His people way back in Judah not to meddle with idols. Despite distance and the absence of monitoring influences like family and priests, notwithstanding, Daniel held to the divine instructions he had received.
Our spiritual faithfulness is revealed when we contend against tempting deals from powerful quarters, which the majority might be falling for. Such offers may be seemingly harmless political appointments with hardly discernible spiritual expressions. Daniel saw through the veil because he stuck to the word of God. The Babylonians uprooted him from Judah. But they could not root out the word of God deposited in him way back in Jerusalem.
Believers must diligently teach their children the Scriptures, “and when [they are] old, [they] will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Good teaching produces strong conviction.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 13-14
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Having a Strong Conviction – by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
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Daily Manna 7 November 2022
