Title Seeking Help (Daniel 1:8-10)
Contents
Lesson 5 Seeking Help (Daniel 1:8-10)
1:8-10
Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies and with the wine he drank. And he asked the chief of the eunuch that he would not defile himself, and God gave Daniel grace and mercy on him. I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordained your food and your drink, and what will make him see what your face is haggard, and that of the young companions? Then my head will be put in jeopardy before the king because of you.
Daniel made up his mind. And he resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies and with the king's wine. In other words, because of eating and drinking, one cannot betray allegiance to God, betray faith in God, and swear allegiance to King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the world.
Like Daniel, I know how to become us who do not defile ourselves by eating and drinking. We should not defile ourselves with material things. If you look at our country today, how many people contaminate themselves with material things? If you look at the two former presidents, they are now in prison because of material things, and the incumbent president also sees his son being defiled because of material things. What to eat, what to drink, what to wear? We should be like Daniel, who is clear in our will so that we do not defile ourselves with our material concerns.
Daniel went and explained his decision to the eunuch, Asbunas, who was training them. To refuse the king's food is to disobey the king's command. Moreover, it is a matter of ignoring and despising the king. From a human point of view, it deserves death. But God worked. God moved the eunuch's heart. Daniel's God literally became Daniel's judge, guarding, guiding, and protecting Daniel's steps. God moved the eunuch's heart so that Daniel received grace and mercy from the eunuch.
The eunuch Asbunas was quite sympathetic to Daniel. But he was a realist. In the end, Daniel's request was denied. Let's see how it was rejected. Look at verse 10 of today's text. "The chief eunuch said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king." Who is "my lord" to this eunuch? The eunuch said, "I am my lord the king." The eunuch made the king of the world his lord. And he was afraid of the king.
But Daniel was different. Who is Daniel's Lord? Let's see 1:1~2 together.
"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it; and the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah and some of the house of God into his hand, and he brought them to the tomb of his god in the land of Shinar, and he I put it in the treasury of God."
Who is Daniel's Lord? King Jehoiakim of Judah was not Daniel's lord. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was not Daniel's lord. Who is Daniel's Lord? Jehovah God was Daniel's Lord. Daniel was not afraid of the world. Of course, he was well aware of the great power of the king. He knew how strict the king's orders were. However, Daniel did not fear the king of the world, but lived a life of fearing only God, having as his master Jehovah God, the one who should be feared, who saves and kills human life forever.
Let's see. “He has ordained your food and your drink, so what will make him see that your face is haggard and that that of your companions? Then my head will be jeopardized before the king because of you.” What is the role of the eunuch? It was the mission of the eunuchs to teach and train the boys whom the king had entrusted to him to train, so that they would be flawless and beautiful. However, if the king is dissatisfied with the examination, not only his position but also his life will be lost because he has not fulfilled his assigned mission.
In fact, King Nebuchadnezzar was a very cruel king. Let's find 2:5.
"The king answered the Chaldean magician, saying, "I have given you a command, and unless you make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be split in pieces, and your houses will be used as manure."
The power was great. What is a king? He was a person who could split a human body and use a house as a manure place. Then look at 2:12.
“The king became angry and furious because of this, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.”
that it feels bad. I ordered them all to be killed. He was a terrible king who could kill all the wise men of Babylon with one word. So the eunuch had no choice but to be afraid.
But guys, there is something we need to remember. Did Daniel and his three friends become weary when they ate only vegetables and water, not the king's delicacies and wine, just as the eunuch was concerned? It's not like that. See 1:15. What did you say about your face?
"After ten days, their faces were more beautiful and their flesh was more supple, and they looked better than all the boys who ate the king's delicacies."
Man's thinking and God's work are different in this way. Don't be afraid of people. You don't have to depend on people. It seems that we should not always look to God, ask for God's help, and go according to God's guidance, but that is the way to victory.
This is when the United States intervened in the Vietnam War. The United States took Vietnam very lightly. He was confident that he could defeat a country the size of a snot in an instant. So many troops were sent to Vietnam. State-of-the-art equipment has been put in. But what happened in the end? Did America win? I lost. The US, boasting of the latest equipment, could not withstand the Vietcong attack with shovels, hoes and hoes. How troubled America is because of that? In this way, in my strength, in my ability, in my opinion, it is not. It seems like it will, but it doesn't.
It should be a life that seeks God's help. That's how you win. May your life depend on God. I hope that your family will depend on God. The same goes for livelihoods. My thoughts, my talents, and my hard work, do you think it will work out well? It's not like that. You must depend on God. We must pray to God and ask for His help so that we do not fail. It seems slow, but it seems slow, but the road is fast, and that road is the road to victory.
I pray in the name of Jesus that you will not be afraid of the people of the world today, but that you will lead a blessed life in the name of Jesus as you fear the Lord God, whom you should fear, and that you have only God as your Lord and go on the path of victory while looking at God.