Dare to Be like Daniel
October 22nd, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
No one would argue that we live in a world of compromise. In fact, compromise is often touted as a virtue; it’s diplomatic and reasonable. On the other hand, those who hold fast their integrity are viewed as difficult, hard-nosed, and unconcerned about the common good. You can understand how the world thinks that way, but shouldn’t Christians be different?
Unfortunately, too many believers worry about what people will think, say, or do if they take a stand on godly principles. So instead, they compromise their convictions or maintain them under the cover of darkness. If you’re one of those faint-hearted Christians, or if you know people who are, I’d like to encourage you to take a lesson from the life of one man, a man with a backbone.
The Test of Integrity
Following his first invasion of Judah and siege of Jerusalem in 606 B. C., King Nebuchadnezzar took hostage dozens of quality Jewish youths (who were probably in their teenage years) to help ensure the success of his long-range plans for world dominance. One of those youths was especially destined for greatness, and today his name is synonymous with integrity and an uncompromising spirit. His name is Daniel.
It wasn’t captivity that tested Daniel’s integrity, it was privilege. When the king ordered his chief official, Ashpenaz, to choose from among the Israelites, he sought youths with certain qualities. They were to be without defect, good looking, “showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge,” with the ability to serve in the king’s court (Dan. 1:4). They were to receive privileged instruction for privileged positions.
The king ordered Ashpenaz “to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans” including mathematics, astronomy, natural history, agriculture, and architecture (Dan. 1:4). They were to eat the king’s food and drink the king’s wine, and after three years, they were to have a guaranteed position in the king’s personal service. I doubt the other exiles were getting along as well.
Now you say, “Privilege, education, good food and drink, one of the most sought after jobs in the kingdom—who could have a problem with that?” Daniel.
Daniel didn’t argue with the education, the training program, and the future in the king’s court. He didn’t even balk when Ashpenaz named him Belteshazzar, after a Chaldean god. Daniel drew the line where the Scripture did—he wouldn’t eat the king’s food or drink the king’s drink.
“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:8). Those enticing morsels and vintage wines—perks of the king’s service—had been ritually dedicated to Babylon’s false gods. What’s more, eating food prepared to Babylonian standards was likely to put the young exiles in violation of God’s laws concerning unclean foods (cf. Lev. 7:23-27; Lev. 11).
Daniel wanted no participation in any pagan feast, even to the slightest degree. That would be a form of idolatry that would provoke the wrath of a jealous God (Ex. 20:4-5). His decision, though immediately dealing with food and wine, was ultimately a decision about who he worshiped.
The Results of Integrity
Daniel’s decision constitutes a basic part of genuine integrity and the uncompromising life: you must draw lines where Scripture draws them. If the truth of God’s Word opposes the world’s wisdom on a certain issue, you must align yourself with God’s Word.
The more you read about and analyze the life of Daniel, the more clearly his personal integrity comes into focus. His uncompromising lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to the way many believers live out their convictions. Many Christians tend to waver and offer ambiguous explanations for abstaining from certain secular activities. But that wasn’t how Daniel approached the opportunity to state his convictions.
Unashamed Boldness – If Daniel wanted to abstain from eating and drinking what the king provided, he could have gone about it a number of ways. He could have thrown it away when no one was looking and sneaked other food from the kitchen; he could have made arrangements with the kitchen staff; he could have started a vegetable garden out back. But Daniel, having made up his mind, chose the route of open boldness. “He sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8). He was respectful, but unbending. That’s called courage.
Unearthly Protection – Daniel was in a foreign country, at the very heart of the empire that had just destroyed his homeland. And yet, “God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials” (Dan. 1:9). He proved the truth of Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Don’t compromise and forfeit God’s protection. Stand firm in obedience to God’s Word and trust Him—He’ll take care of you.
Unhindered Persistence – In his boldness, Daniel didn’t hesitate to go right to the top. But when Ashpenaz feared the forfeiture of his head for granting the special menu, Daniel was undeterred. He appealed to a lower-ranking overseer who monitored him–presumably a man who would not be as afraid of Nebuchadnezzar since he didn’t report directly to the king. Daniel showed another vital trait of integrity: persistence in doing what is right.
Unblemished Faith – When Daniel sought permission to go on a water and vegetable diet, he demonstrated unwavering faith in God. He said, “Please test your servants for ten days … then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see” (Dan. 1:12-13). Daniel did what was right, and trusted God for the results, no matter what. In this case, God caused Daniel to look healthier than all the other youths (Dan. 1:15).
If it had turned out that Daniel’s appearance failed the overseer’s scrutiny, I believe he would have trusted God without wavering, maintained an uncompromising lifestyle, and humbly accepted the consequences. I also believe that all true Christians will show the same fortitude in the midst of trials.
If you’ve fallen into a pattern of compromise, confess it as sin to the Lord. Repent and look at Daniel as an example of unwavering integrity. Then seek the Lord’s help to live like he did. You must resolutely set your heart as Daniel did to fear the Lord, and the Lord alone. Borrow a little backbone from him, and you’ll live your life with integrity before God.
Today’s Post Adapted from The Power of Integrity (Crossway, 1997).
Thank you for this encouragement. Faith may be the most important thing for the average Christian to have, and integrity may be the most important thing for anyone in the ministry. I think our integrity is tested even more than our faith, or to put it another way our faith is tested through the testing of our integrity.
Thank you! I will confess, repent and pray that I may seek the Lords help and borrow a little backbone to seek and live my life with integrity before God…
I have always wondered why Daniel is not mentioned in Daniel 3 in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were his peers were they not? Why is that the Bible does not mention Daniel as one who did not bow? Is it because he succumbed to the pressure and bowed down to the golden image? His stand against compromise that resulted in his being thrown into the lion’s den took place long after this event did it not?
I don’t offer this comment in an attempt to be argumentative or divisive, only to offer a thought…Perhaps sometimes a failure of integrity in the face of those who have kept theirs intact strengthens our own integrity when it is tested again.
Any thoughts?
Very good post and most encouraging example of godliness in the middle of the enemy camp.
A much needed word of encouragement from the Word of the LORD. It is tough going up againts systems, powers and principalities, even within the Church where compromise on essential and clear salvation doctrines is very prevelant. May we be reminded that “salvation is of the LORD” and that “He has become my salvation” (cf Isaiah 12:2).
Soli deo Gloria.
I served as an elder in a LibProt church. I didn’t know at the time it was a LibProt church, nor was I aware of the “women in ministry” controversy aka complementarianism vs. egalitarianism.
Lo and behold, the issue came up. I searched the Scriptures, I read the arguments, I talked with people on both sides of the issue, and I could not find biblical justification for the LibProt promotion for women elders. In fact, the contrary. There are clear biblical and normative injunctions against women serving as elders.
I was a “Daniel” exactly like the blog article said: “you must draw lines where Scripture draws them. If the truth of God’s Word opposes the world’s wisdom on a certain issue, you must align yourself with God’s Word.”
Price? High. False accusations, distortion, back-biting, rumor-mongering, gossiping, tongues of fire. Eventually, I stepped down along with several other deacons and we all left the church.
Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
Peregrin Joe
Not to criticize but let me suggest to you that speculation can be a dangerous thing because then we read into the text things that aren’t there, as opposed to reading from the text what is there. When we read Daniel, his integrity shines forth from being tossed into the lions den to calling Nebuchadnezzar to repentance after interpreting Neb’s dream.
If I were going to speculate, I’d speculate that Daniel is showing that he was not some spiritual superstar who alone displayed this type of godly character but at least three others did as well.
Now we could assume that because Daniel alone was thrown into the lions den that the three others did not pray as Daniel. However, all of this is inconsistent with the book Daniel.
Let us therefore read from the text rather than engage in needless speculation or endless geneologies.
John’s gospel ends by telling us that the works of Jesus cannot be contained in one book… but we have the gospels and we know what we need to know.
Deut. 29:29 tells us that the secret things belong to the Lord and the things revealed in His Law, the Scriptures, are for us and our children…
Who knows what Daniels reasoning was for not commenting on himself? We cannot know. But we do know that Daniel was written by the Spirit of God through a man like Daniel to instruct us on the importance of integrity and to show that God is faithful… and to give us insight in the latter chapters to the end times…
Keith:
Understood. Thanks at least for responding.