God Will Take Care of You (Daniel 1)
“Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you; Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.”
God has always taken care of his people. He took care of Joseph. He took care of Moses. He took care of the Israelites during their wandering in the wilderness.
God took care of Daniel:
In the Face of Opposition, vv 1-7
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. He took some of the vessels of God back to his own country. He used these vessels in the worship of his god. This would have been the ultimate insult to Yahweh.
Nebuchadnezzar took boys away from their home country. They were probably no more than 14 or 15. They were to be of the nobility. They were to be handsome, without defect—this was seen as a characteristic of moral and intellectual ability. They were to be intelligent.
Nebuchadnezzar took these boys out of a godly environment. They were to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans. They were to eat royal rations. They were to serve in the king’s court. They were to be called by names associated with Babylonian idols.
These boys had to deal with much. At an early age, they saw their home country ravaged by invader. They were taken away from their parents. They were taken to a country where they didn’t speak the language, where they didn’t know the customs. They were taken to a country where God wasn’t honored.
But God had a plan for these teens. Throughout the Book of Daniel, we see Daniel prophesying. These teens became powerful rulers (Dan 2:48-49; 5:29; 6:1). They were able to evangelize (Dan 3:29; 6:25-27). Because they didn’t give up, God used them.
We, too, will face opposition. People, by and large, don’t like to hear about God and his church. But if we don’t give up, God will use us. God blesses those who are opposed (Matt 5:11).
In the Face of Sin, vv 8-21
Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s nations. The king’s rations not only would have included unclean foods, but the foods were consecrated to pagan worship. Therefore, Daniel, for his conscience’s sake, refused to eat the king’s rations.
Daniel provides a good example of self-control. A big part of doing right is making up our minds to do right.
Daniel found help. Daniel asked for help from the chief of the eunuchs. The chief of the eunuchs was afraid; he refused to help.
Daniel made a deal with the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had put over him. Daniel and his companions were to be tested for ten days. The steward tested them. Daniel and his companions appeared better than the other youths. From then on, the steward gave Daniel vegetables.
God blessed Daniel. He allowed Daniel and his companions to become more intelligent than the other youths. He allowed Daniel to become more intelligent than all the wise men in the kingdom. He allowed Daniel to stay in the king’s court until the time of Cyrus (more than 70 years).
God blesses us when we are tempted to sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Hebrews 2:18. James 1:12.
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Main Street church of Christ in Pikeville, Kentucky.