Daniele Had a Purpose

When wicked old King Nebuchadnezzar came into Jerusalem and took it, among those taken captive was Daniel. Let’s learn an important lesson from Daniel and apply it spiritually to our own lives.

Out of the children of captivity, the king wanted to pick out the best ones with particular qualities. Children who had no blemish, well favored, skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding in science.

You know, I think our King has some qualities that he looks for when he chooses children for his work. Yes, God can use anything, but don’t you think he looks for certain qualities? One verse that comes to mind is Galatians 5:22. Do you think that God looks for the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, gentleness, meekness, and temperance? What about a broken spirit or a broken and contrite heart? Psalm 51:17.

Now among these children taken captive were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs changed Daniel’s name to Belteshazzar. He changed Hananiah’s name to Shadrach, and Mishael’s name to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.

So the king got these children together and wanted them to be taught the Chaldean language. He wanted them to be trained in all the ways of the Chaldeans. The children had to go through this training process for three years. During that time the king wanted them fed well. So he would send to them portions of his meat and wine daily. At the end of three years he wanted them to stand before him nice and healthy, and knowledgeable in all the ways of the Chaldeans.

BUT- Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s meat nor with his wine. Instead he asked Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over them, to feed him pulse and give him water to drink. Pulse is lentils, beans, or seeds of any kind, also uncooked grain of any kind such as barley, wheat, and millet.

Now when the prince of the eunuchs heard this, he was troubled. He just knew that at the end of three years Daniel would look scrawny, and sickly. If that happened the king would be mad at him, and his life would be in danger. So Daniel came up with a plan. He told Melzar to feed Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and himself pulse, and give them water to drink for just ten days. After the ten days was over, he wanted Melzar to compare them to the children who ate of the king’s meat. If he didn’t see a difference after the ten days, then he would do what ever Melzar thought was best to do.

This seemed like a good plan to Melzar. So he decided to try it. After the ten days were up, he looked in on Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego expecting to see some hungry, skinny boys. Instead, to his amazement, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego looked much better than the others. Their complexion was fairer, and their flesh was fatter than all of the children who ate of the king’s meat. So Melzar took away the meat and wine from the others and gave them pulse also.

But as for these four children, the Bible says in verse 17, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the three years, the prince of the eunuchs brought in all the children before the king. The king talked with every one of them, but he found that there were none like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Do you know why I believe Daniel had more wisdom than all of the king’s wise men? I believe that it was because Daniel had a purpose in his heart. He wanted with all his heart to please his God. He purposed in his heart not to let himself be defiled with the king’s meat and wine. We need to learn this very important lesson from Daniel right from the start. We need to purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves with the sins of this world. Go ahead and put that purpose in your heart while you’re young. Just purpose in your heart that your going to do right, come what may. If you do that, God will use you in a mighty way. I think God was pretty proud of Daniel, don’t you think? He brought Daniel into favor, and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
In verse 12, we learn that the prince of the eunuchs had to prove Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, at Daniels request of course. They went ten days with pulse to eat, and water to drink. This is proof that God is all you need. God made those men look fatter, and healthier on just pulse and water, than the others that ate of the king’s meat.

You know, God has to prove us as well. He has to put us to the test to see what we’re made of. How else was the eunuch going to see the worth of these men if he didn’t prove them.

Daniel went on to have understanding in all visions and dreams. The king dreamed a dream that all of his wise men could not interpret, but ole Daniel came through for them. Do you know that those four men became the king’s favorites? They found favor in the sight of the king, especially Daniel. In verses 19-20, the Bible says that the king communed with them. Boy, I’m so glad my king communes with me. I’m so glad that I can enter boldly into his throne room, and find grace and mercy. I can talk to him about anything I want to. I can tell him what’s troubling me. I can talk to him about others. Sometimes I don’t even need to say anything at all, just to be near him is good enough. All that is good, but you know what’s even better? It’s the fact that he communes with me. Me, I’m just a common sinner, and having nothing royal about me at all. The only thing royal in my clutches, he gave to me himself. He gave his only begotten son, and I’ll cling to him for all eternity.

In verse 20, the king found Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ten times better than all the wise men, magicians, and astrologers in his whole realm.

Ummm, excuse me kids while I talk to any adults that might be reading this book. We as Bible believers should be found ten times better than those without the truth. But to our shame, it’s not that way. I have found through personal experiences, that the lost people, and even people with other religions show more likeness to the fruits of the Spirit than Bible believing Christians. What a shame. The problem is this. We don’t give our all to God like Daniel did. We don’t purpose in our hearts, and don’t dare ask us to eat pulse and water.

Come on brethren, wake up. Look what God did for Daniel. He can do the same for us. Daniel’s God is our God. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. God never changes. With the Jews, it was physical signs, and wonders. With us it’s spiritual wonders. We don’t need the physical signs that God gave the Jews. The Bible says that the Jew and the unbelieving are the one’s who need signs, not believers. 1 Corinthians 1:22, 14:22. The Bible says that a wicked, and evil generation seek after signs. Why? Because they don’t read, and study the scriptures and they don’t believe what God says. The worst thing you can do, is not believe what God says. The very first sign was given by God to Moses. Why? Because the Jews would not have believed Moses unless they had a sign to go by. As a Christian our signs, and wonders should come from that old King James Bible and it’s fruit in our lives.

When God speaks to me every morning from his word, it’s a sign to me that I’m his child. That precious book is filled to the brim and overflowing with wonders. And guess what, there’s nothing physical about it. It’s all spiritual. The Bible says that if you want to worship God, you must worship him in spirit, and in TRUTH. I receive all kinds of spiritual signs, wonders, and blessings when I’m walking in the spirit, and not in the flesh.

Here’s a wonder we should look for in our lives, to love one another, to love our enemies, to do right yet suffer for it but take it patiently. Those are God given signs and wonders on the spiritual level. It shows the lost world that the Spirit of God can dwell in man.

I don’t know how I got off into all that. I reckon I’m weary of these Christian brethren who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God in their lives. Anyway we will go on with our story.

In chapter 2, and verse 20, When God shows Daniel the interpretation of the king’s dream, Daniel gives all the glory to God. In verses 22 and 23, Daniel praises God, and blesses God for his wisdom. He acknowledged where his wisdom came from. In verse 28, Daniel points the king to God. He doesn’t take the glory for himself.

God blesses Daniel, and uses him in a mighty way simply because Daniel had a purpose in his heart. Do you have a purpose in your heart? Is it to please God, your creator, or is it to please yourself? If it is to please yourself, that will pass away. If your purpose is to please God, it will last for all eternity.

Another good thing we can learn about Daniel is, he didn’t let anything stop him from communicating with God. No, not even if it meant getting thown into the lions den. What’s stopping you from communicating with God? Is it just your flesh? We really have no excuse not to pray to God. Even when Daniel was thrown into the lions den, God was right there with him. Remember, God is the creator. When the creator speaks, the animals listen. And I bet God had a word or two with those lions before Daniel came along. Not only that but I bet God talked those lions through those three days. God said to them, “Look, I know this guy looks mighty tasty, but if you just hang on I’ll give you a much better feast. You won’t be able to finish it all, there will even be leftovers.

You know, from what I’ve learned from Daniel I’d much rather please the Lord than please the flesh. Wouldn’t you?