Daniel and his friends–all sixty or so of them–were here being offered the chance of a lifetime—to be employed in the greatest empire on earth at the time, one with untold wealth and opportunities. All they had to do was go along with their education and the perks that went with it. One of them, a key one as we see from our text, was being offered the “daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank” (Dan. 1:5).
However, as we saw last week, “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.” He had made a firm resolution that this was something he could not do. Whatever the reason might have been, Daniel knew he had to say “no.”
But notice that Daniel said, “no thanks.” Although he was taking a stand, he was not offensive in the way that he did it. Again, Daniel and his friends sought to maintain their faithfulness to God largely by working within the Babylonian system rather than against it. So we read the rest of verse 8, “Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.”
9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
Isn’t it interesting that the very first temptation in history also had to do with food? And the first temptation Jesus faced publicly had to do with food. Now Daniel is facing a temptation regarding food.
To eat or not to eat, that is the question. And, as the balance came down, “two worlds were at stake—this one or the world to come” (John Phillips, Exploring the Book of Daniel, p. 36).
Servers appeared with great trays of exotic food: pork products, shellfish, beef fragrant and tender—meat offered to idols. Others were digging in, marveling over the taste. Consider the fact that these are teenage guys . . . they’re always hungry . . . they don’t eat, they graze.
You can imagine some of the comments: “Hey Daniel – you got to taste some of this honey baked ham . . . you got to try some of that shrimp salad over there – is God good or what?” (adapted from Phillips, Exploring the Book of Daniel, p. 37). But Daniel and his friends stood their ground.
Then the prince of the eunuchs arrived. Behind him was the shadow of a king of uncertain temper, one likely to be personally offended by the prisoners’ refusal to accept joyfully the king’s bounty and goodwill. What was good for him to eat was certainly good enough for them.
But Daniel and his friends weren’t eating. And Daniel “asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” Other versions say he “sought permission … that he might not defile himself.”
Daniel’s request of the chief of the eunuchs was calm, courageous and courteous. He didn’t demand a different diet. He didn’t stage a “sit in” in opposition to the king’s menu. He didn’t express a “holier than thou” attitude, like “I’m right and you’re all wrong.”
We learn from this that obeying God is only one side of the coin, for we are also responsible as to how we obey God before others. Daniel’s obedience toward God was balanced by a respect for authority. While we live in this world, we will often be in situations where we are placed under the authority of non-believers. God still expects us to honor them; and we honor God by honoring the lines of authority that he has permitted to exist (cf. Rom 13:1–7; 1 Tim 2:1–2; 1 Pet 2:13–15).
This unexpected request must have filled the chief eunuch with surprise and dread—even for his own safety.
Now, notice that Daniel was not offensive in his demeanor or his actions. He was able to take a moral stand without being rude, without attacking the Babylonian religious system. He remained, however, steadfast in his belief, defining himself without getting anxious or angry.
This is what is called being a “non-anxious presence.” In his article, “How to Be a Non-Anxious Presence in a Politically Anxious World” (and who doesn’t think we need that?), Keith Simon remarks on how Daniel and his friends all throughout the book of Danel demonstrate a “calm, cool, and courageous demeanor” and “the more things spun out of control, the more he was at peace.”
He identifies four ways in which Daniel and his friends maintained a “non-anxious presence.”
First, they remembered God. Despite all that Nebuchadnezzar did, either intentionally or not, Daniel and his friends continued to “remember God,” to live their lives as before the face of God (coram deo). Back in verse 2 Daniel reflects on the reality that “the Lord gave Jehoiakim and Judah into [the hand of Nebuchadnezzar].” They reminded themselves often that their God was real and that He was in control of all things. A non-anxious person looks both back to the present and forward the future and sees that God is enthroned—now and forever. Even now, in these difficult circumstances.
Second, Daniel remained connected to a Christian community. When we get to chapter 2, as Daniel is challenged to repeat and interpret the dream of Nebuchadnezzar he calls together his friends to pray to God (Daniel 2:17-18). Simon says, “Anxiety thrives in isolation. If you want more stress, spend more time alone, disconnected from others. Doomscroll with all the doors shut. The non-anxious person has deep relationships with Christians who listen and pray with them when life feels overwhelming. They remind one another of God’s reign and encourage one another to stay calm and faithful.
Third, these men remained submitted to God’s will. Even when they mighty pay with their lives, they continued to worship God alone (Daniel 3) or pray as he normally did (Daniel 6). Daniel’s three friends have this amazing statement in Daniel 3:16-18).
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
They are confident that their lives are in God’s hands, no matter what the king does. They do not presume upon God’s will, they just remain faithful, whether they live or die.
Finally, a non-anxious person confesses their own sins. When anxieties and anger run hot, we are prone to quickly point the finger at others and blame them. But the non-anxious person confesses their own sins.
While meditating on Jeremiah, in Daniel 9, Daniel realizes that Jeremiah had predicted that the exile would last 70 years, and that 70 years was almost up. Knowing that, he confesses his sins and the sins of his people, just like Deuteronomy 30 commands. He doesn’t confess Babylon’s sins, even though there were many, but his own sins.
Reflecting upon our own anxiety during an election year, Simon remarks, “While Christians are pointing an accusatory finger at the culture, Daniel hands us a mirror so we can do some self-examination.”
Edwin Friedman talks about a “non-anxious presence,” and we see this side of the equation all throughout the book of Daniel because Daniel makes himself available to every ruler who calls upon him for help. Even when Darius made an edict that God Daniel thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel didn’t cut himself off from Darius, but responded to him with calmness and courage.
Daniel knew that there were all kinds of excuses for giving in and eating the food and wine offered to him.
• These were not “normal circumstances.”
• After all, what had God done for us lately?
• This could cost us our lives.
I love Jonathan Edwards Resolution # 61; Resolved, That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find relaxes my mind from being fully fixed on my [conviction] . . . whatever excuse I may have for it.
Daniel and his friends certainly took a risk in making an issue of the king’s diet. Probably they were also prepared to pay the consequences of their choice. (We should keep in mind that there are times when we must suffer for choosing to obey God.) In this particular case, however, God honored their obedience.
What was the result of Daniel’s calm and courageous request? Verse 9 says, “And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs…” God enters the picture. He works in Ashpenaz’ heart. God did this for Joseph as well, when Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, Genesis 39:21 tells us that the LORD, the covenant-keeping God, “gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” God gave these men favor in the eyes of those in charge, who were over them.
God specializes on working on people’s hearts. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” And a few decades from this event, “the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” to allow Jews to return to their homeland (Ezra 1:1).
The chief of eunuchs was able to express favor and compassion towards Daniel and his friends because God had placed this grace and love within him. Had Daniel prayed for this? It is quite possible that he did. In fact, this is an explicit answer to a prayer that King Solomon prayed for when God’s people ended up in exile. That God would “grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them” (1 Kings 8:50).
Whether or not Daniel had prayed for the favor of the chief of the eunuchs, because Daniel trusted God it “pleased God” (Heb. 11:6) and God brought Daniel the favor and compassion of the chief of the eunuchs. When the text tells us “Yet Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself,” we must understand that this was a choice of faith, in which obedience to God became more important than what might have been momentarily more convenient or beneficial for him.
God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of eunuchs – much like Joseph many centuries before in Egypt (Gen. 39:21), or Esther years later in Persia. This is one of the ways that God, although working behind the scenes, exhibits his sovereign control. So, in reality God is working way ahead of Daniel. Even before he had made his commitment, God was preparing the chief of the eunuch’s heart to be open to his suggestion. Amir Tsarfati reminds us, “God knows whether we will say yes to righteousness, and He has already begun working out the situation” (Discovering Daniel, p. 32).
Proverbs 16:7 lays down the general principle that, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
So this is exactly what God did in the case of the head of the court officials who was over Daniel. Rather than being resistant and completely fearful of the king, or wrathful and vindictive towards Daniel, God caused him to be favorably disposed towards him, even sympathetic to his cause. Without a doubt, God used Daniel’s respectfulness as part of the process.
Obviously, God was at work, both in Daniel’s heart to encourage him to obey with calmness and courage, and He was at work in Ashpenaz’ heart to make him favorable to Daniel and his request. Depend on it, God works on hearts.
When you are in a difficult, disagreeable situation, stay committed to do your part, but in a respectful way, and God can work in the heart of the other person to look with favor and sympathy towards your need.
Having conviction does not excuse us from acting with sensitivity, tact, and respect. Daniel had clearly made up his mind that he would be obedient to the Lord, but he went about it in a courteous way. That is especially important to do when relating to those whom God has put in authority over us.
There are several attractive features in the way Daniel made his proposal. First, he was tactful in the way he spoke. He didn’t demand anything, he simply made a request. Second, he was obedient in following the chain of command. Third, his request was reasonable. The test would be over in ten days and didn’t require the preparation of unusual food. Fourth, it was easy to evaluate. The guard simply eyeballed the four versus the others and drew his own conclusions.
As a result, the eunuch’s defenses were down even before he knew they were being stormed. He sensed at once that this strange and unexpected request was quite appropriate and possibly that it had something to do with Daniel’s God.
However, although the official was sympathetic to Daniel’s request, he was also afraid of the potential consequences of bucking the system. He knew he would be held accountable and his head would be on the block if he let Daniel have his way and some physical deterioration would occur, so he was very hesitant. We see this in verse 10, “and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.’”
D. A. Bayliss notes:
This verse, suitably paraphrased, is a verse that has stopped untold numbers of believers from following through on a right stand for God. Almost every clause is dripping with traps into which an undetermined believer can fall and never fully escape. These manipulative statements can be taken in sequence:
First, notice that this was from the chief of the eunuchs. We know that Daniel had the tender love (favor) of the chief eunuch, and we may probably intuit that Daniel had already gained some fondness or trust for this eunuch as well. As a young lad stripped of his past and future he would naturally cling to any friendly soul. Thus, it is exactly that friendly soul that the adversary uses in an attempt to dissuade Daniel from his mission. That’s why Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived, ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”
Second, he said, “I fear my lord the king.” The appeal to a ‘higher’ authority with an added note of fear. Daniel had probably had to pluck up courage just to talk to the chief eunuch, and how immediately the immensity of the problem was being escalated. Note the way in which any fear Daniel had of the king was now going to be increased by knowing that even the chief eunuch harbored such fears.
Third, it was that king “who assigned your food and drink.” Particularly if we are turning down something we are being offered people will rush to tell us that we should be grateful and take what we are offered. Be it a job, a university position, alcohol or sometimes even a spouse there will always be those who tell us that we ought to take an opportunity just because it is there.
Fourth, “Why should he see that you were in worse condition?” The next ploy is always the “How is this going to look?” The Bible says that ” man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Frequently though, even as Christians we are told that we need to worry about what the outward appearance is, even by those closest to us. There is also a subtle assumption in this phrase: that they will look worse if they follow God’s method. This kind of subtle word play is something we should look for and fight against.
Fifth, “than the youths who are of your own age.” This is a form of peer pressure. Daniel is being told that he is really part of a group and needed to “fit in.” His ‘sort’ has already been categorized, people know what they do and how they should behave. Any behavior outside of the norm is to be avoided. We often think that peer pressure only comes when our children are with their friends. But that’s not true; often we apply peer pressure to them by expecting them to behave as their friends do. “All your friends go to the youth-group, why don’t you?”
Finally, “So you would endanger my head with the king.” When all else fails try emotional blackmail. A straightforward, you cannot do this, think of the effect you will have upon me.
As we shall see, when presented with a barrage like this the trick is to slow down and analyze each of the different arguments and make sure an answer is available for each one. There is a reason we are told to be “wise as a serpent” (Matt. 10:16). The devil is exceptional at using twisted logic to make sin seem not only okay, but beneficial to us and even our very right.
Grace Still Amazes 