Or, Preparation for Testimony and Service
The first chapter of the book of Daniel is historical, and God's object in putting it on record in His Word is evidently to show us the way, morally, in which Daniel and his companions came to attain to the eminence accorded them in the land of their captivity; Daniel becoming one of the king's chief counselors, and later, prime minister of the realm. His three companions also take an honorable share in this testimony for God in the midst of the darkness and idolatry of the land of their exile.
As an introduction to the prophecies contained in that book, the importance of this first chapter lies in the lessons it affords believers, especially those young in the faith, as to the moral preparation for usefulness in the kingdom of God. With this sole object in view let us examine its record, and see wherein these youths may be taken as examples for all who would be strong in faith and useful for God in this day, when there is so much need for "young men who are strong," because they "have overcome the wicked one."
Before proceeding with our examination, let us remember that while Scripture says, "Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, but God is the judge:He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Ps. 75:6, 7), He does it not arbitrarily, nor irrespective of fitness or merit. No, His sovereignty does not set aside the question of moral fitness or proper preparation of those He is pleased to advance in His service.
It will be profitable, I believe, to notice the names of these four "children of Judah," Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, with their generally understood significances.
Speaking of these, a writer remarks:"It does not appear that they are mentioned here particularly on account of any distinction of birth or rank; for though they were among the noble and promising youth of Israel, yet it is clear that others of the same rank and promise also were selected (ver. 3). "Daniel" is said to mean judge of God – one who acts as judge in the name of God. This, in a very marked way, Daniel was permitted to do; this high honor was his:he "sat in the gate of the king" (ch. 2:49). And the Christian, taught of God, having his "senses exercised to discern both good and evil," will have "the mind of Christ," and be enabled to assist others in the mind of God, as revealed in His written Word. Thus he is permitted to judge for God, and become in this way a Daniel.
But how did Daniel attain to this high honor. In what way or by what path did he reach this preeminence in the kingdom? Was it through a mere chain of favorable circumstances, or did he leap to the top at one bound? Christians sing enthusiastically and in full chorus, "Dare to be a Daniel!" but it requires something very different from mere daring to become a man of Daniel's stamp; he attained to be a "judge of God" through self-discipline and faithfulness amid great temptations:"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."
This noble attitude of Daniel has been lowered by expositors to a mere natural morality, "refusing," they say, "to indulge himself in the delights of the table, or touch the intoxicating cup." It has been made to do duty as a basis for temperance lectures and sermons innumerable, to the hiding of the highly spiritual significance of the act. We believe Daniel did not refuse to eat of the king's meat
and drink of the king's wine because of anything essentially wrong or dangerous in them, but because heathen monarchs usually offered them to their idols; so, for this, or similar causes, he refused to partake of the provision appointed him from the king's table. (See Ezek. 4:13; Hos. 9:3 and comp. 1 Cor. 8).
Daniel's companions manifestly shared his convictions; and encouraged by his example they associated themselves with him in his holy resolution. Being the leading spirit in the matter, he made himself their spokesman; it is to their everlasting credit that they were prepared to follow him. All are not born for leadership, but in the coming day, both led and leader shall each have his proper praise from God. Happy the man who, like Daniel, leads in ways according to God; and equally happy those sufficiently alert and humble to follow any who like Paul can say, "Follow me as I follow Christ." One raised up of God and qualified to lead will not demand that he be followed; he may invite and encourage, and those who are like-minded with Daniel's companions are only too glad to follow in the path they recognize to be of God:it is the privilege of all to hold with and suffer along with those who are manifestly chosen of God to guide and feed the flock.
Daniel's name was changed to Belteshazzar, which according to Gesenius signifies, "Bel's prince," or "he whom Bel favors." This may have been a snare of Satan to draw Daniel away from the worship of the one true God, by giving him a name and place of honor with the principal god of the land, and so, from loyalty to the God whose name was interwoven with that given him by his parents in Israel. So cunning is the enemy of God and of our souls, who seeks, both by flattery and force, to turn us from loyalty to Christ, whose blessed name is called upon us-"Christians." Flattery is tried on Daniel and his fellows first; and when this fails to seduce them to idolatry, the burning fiery furnace and the lions' den are tried.
Hananiah means, the grace of Jah, which would remind him of the grace of God bestowed upon him. This the enemy changed to Shadrach, which according to one authority means, "Young friend of the king;" another takes ii to mean, "Rejoicing in the way," which Genesius prefers. Of this a godly commentator says:"In either signification it would contribute to a forgetfulness of the former name, and tend to obliterate the remembrance of the early training in the service of Jehovah.
The meaning of the name Mishael is, "Who is what God is?" or "Who is like God?" It would thus remind its possessor of the greatness and majesty of the God of his fathers, and thus be a means to preserve him from rendering homage to the idol-gods about him. Meshach, was the name given him in exchange; its meaning appears to be somewhat doubtful. The word in Persian means, "A little. sheep" (ovicula), according to Gesenius. Why this name was given him by his captors is not clear, If because of his natural beauty, his gentle disposition, nothing would tend more to draw his thoughts away from God, and fix them on himself. Thus pride would find place in his heart, and God be displaced by self. Oh, the cunning of Satan! He knows the baits that the soul is most ready to take, and if he cannot seduce by one means he has a thousand others to set temptingly before us. Pride was his own sin, so he knows by wretched experience its potency to seduce the soul into rebellion and ruin.
Azariah's name means, "Helped of Jah;" for this good Hebrew appellative they fastened upon him the heathen Abed-nego, 1:e., a servant of Nego (or Nebo). This was another false god of the Babylonians whose name was compounded with that of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebushasban, and Nebuzaradan (Jer. 39:13; 39:9), besides others mentioned by classical writers. In this was a suggestion that he was consecrated to the service of this Nego. The king, with many others of eminence, felt themselves honored in bearing this name. It was eminently adapted to natter the young captive's pride, and draw him away from the Jehovah God of his early days. "It was only extraordinary grace," an esteemed writer remarks, "which could have kept these youths in the paths of their early training, and in the faithful service of that God to whom they had been early consecrated, amidst the temptations by which they were now surrounded in a foreign land, and the influences which were employed to alienate them from the God of their fathers."
All honor, then, to the memory of these Hebrew youths, who from the very commencement of their exile stood firm, as they stood together, and would not be denied or drawn away by the subtle allurements of the corrupt court of the mightiest monarch on earth. At a later day there were "those of Caesar's household" who pertained to "the household of faith," who through the imprisoned apostle sent greetings to their brethren elsewhere (Phil. 4:22).
Dear young Christians, begin early to "stand fast in the Lord." From the very start, purpose in your heart that you will not defile your soul by eating of the world's food, which is after all but "husks" to the one who has found and makes all of Christ. And no matter what your circumstances or environment, remember the situation of this quartet of young worthies, and like them, keep yourself clean from things forbidden in the Word. The world has its "meats," to surfeit and dull your spiritual perception, as also its "wine" to intoxicate the spirit, and cause you to forget Him who never will forget you, but who, having died for you, will love you to the end. He is worthy of your loyalty; live for Him, and fear Him alone!
Later in life it was given the three friends of Daniel to prove the faithfulness of God in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace. Daniel himself was cast into the lions' den for his faithful confession of his God. This honor have not all His saints. Few of them, perhaps, would be equal to it; and He only permitted the fiery trial to these confessors after a course of training that would fit and prepare them for such testing. In the beginning He brought them into loving favor with the king's steward, that they might be spared a testing of their faith too soon in their spiritual life-before they were well able to bear it. How gracious, how considerate, how tender is our God, who in the days of yore led not His people "through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt" (Exod. 13:17).
May He help us all, both old and young, to be ever true to Him, and let nothing turn us aside or allure us from Him whose love is so tender and whose grace is so great. C. Knapp