Because many of those meats provided for the king's table, were forbidden by the Jewish law. Verse 8 begins with the phrase “But Daniel” (cf. They are waiting until they can do some great thing, and think that if a great crisis were to come, they would then have nerve to meet it, and do something triumphant. He is a horseman without a bridle, carried by the animal in him whither it will. 2:20, 23; Job 32:8; James 1:5] God gave them learning and # ver. It has often been pointed out that there is no mandate here for vegetarianism. It is given to the disciple of Christ to walk through the fire of temptation, and feel no harm. it is a cross we are called to carry, but we bear it in worthy company. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto … On religious grounds he shrank from the food and wine daily set before him. Balaam prophesied of the children of Israel that they should dwell as a people alone, and should not be reckoned among the nations. 5. It is a grand sight to see a man cleaving to principle, abiding by what he believes right, even though he should stand alone, when influences seductive and influences coercive bear strongly upon him. Now, the greatness of Daniel, shown at this early date, was the cause of his vows of abstinence. Their land was in ruins; the temple where they and their fathers had worshipped had been desecrated and plundered; their kindred and countrymen were pining in exile; everything called them to a mode of life which would be in accordance with these melancholy facts, and they, doubtless, felt that it would be in every way inappropriate for them to indulge in luxurious living, and revel in the pleasures of a banquet. The next lesson which the Euphrates sends to the Mississippi, and reads to us from the early life of Babylon’s vizier or prime minister and his friends is, that a man is no loser for maintaining right principles. Daniel "purposed in his heart"... this is where it begins - in the heart. Because he was away from home.--One of the worst situations for a young man to find himself in, is to be away from home and home influences, in a strange city, especially when surrounded by those who have no sympathy with the religious training and principles of his home life. 1. You see, then, what religious principle can do for a man. So God uses natural abilities for his service. Of this they were not ignorant, for the chief of the eunuchs had made them aware of it (1:10). (W. A. Scott, D.D.). Singularity is often the characteristic of a weak or erratic mind, and sometimes the result of mere self-conceit. (Deuteronomy 10:12.) Daniel 8:1-2 “In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. We do not dwell upon what must have been the influence of their example in the sphere in which they moved, but pass to the express and positive records. It is too late to make a good resolution not to fall after you have fallen, The time to purpose in one’s heart not to defile oneself is before the defilement has been produced; when you are sitting at your own fireside in your own room, or on your knees, there and then is the time. You are brought into contact with roughness, with profanity, with those who make light of God’s name and Christ’s religion. It is abuse of the creatures and abuse of the body we seek to pamper. There is honour, too, from God, in accordance with His ancient promise, “Them that honour Me I will honour.” The honour that arises from the world and the honour that arises from good men He ultimately communicates, and then He imparts further and most delightful communications of His love. But when tried, they were found to be pure gold; and their triumph proves that a pious education is one of the greatest blessings that can be bestowed upon youth. (verse 17.) And do not think of this will as a matter of nature only. II. No doubt he had his faults, for he was only human, but in so far as the record goes he stands forth as one of the most superb specimens of manhood that the world has ever seen. - Webster's BibleBut Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.- World English BibleAnd Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeketh of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not pollute himself.- Youngs Literal Bible But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the officers that he might not defile himself.- Jewish Publication Society Bible. The excellent character of these youths was the direct mean of their success in life. Daniel himself gives us the secret of his power. That is the greatest thing in the world--a heart that purposes always to serve God. Happy and holy liberty of grace, glorious privilege with which the Spirit of adoption enriches the believer, through communion with his Saviour! And so with the children of heaven. We see, then, the intention of Daniel. Without doubt it was for the glory of God, and the eternal benefit of these pious young men, that their lot was cast in Babylon. In accordance with the Old Testament way of putting things, that good influence is said to have been brought about in this way, that God gave Daniel great favour in the sight of the officers. But we see the mighty hand of God in guiding the king to place him among the chosen youths, in permitting him to live unlike the rest, in giving him favour with his master and skill in his studies, in causing him to be selected for wisdom and exalted to the chief place in the gates. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Doubtless, also, a considerable part of the food which was served up at the royal table consisted of articles which, by the Jewish law, were prohibited as unclean. On the one hand you have everything moving on, working in perfect harmony and in eloquent silence--never a jarring note heard, never a momentary pause in the ceaselessmovement: one great vast harmony in praise of the Creator. He prayed alone (Daniel 9:3). “So also,” St. John says, “you will never render to God what love alone can render Him, so long as fear and its torments are found in you.” (1 John 4:18.) No sliding scale between them; no fading off of the one into the other. So the first characteristic of Daniel was his fidelity to religious convictions. [ 1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. There is a lesson here for us too. They have no trusted adviser, no learned and astute rabbi to whom they may apply for a solution of this ethical problem. I mean that stupendous, supreme fact there is a God! Daniel had this happiness at twelve or thirteen. They will find, as Daniel did, that religion is an aid to study. He was, doubtless, conscious of his own infirmity, and this also is to be reckoned to his praise, since; through distrust of himself he desired to escape from all allurements and temptations. (2) Describe some of the major features or characteristics of Daniel 8. New King James Version (NKJV) Bible Book List. "Pulse ... (Daniel 1:12). It is erected, it is uncovered before the eyes of the world and of all peoples, for all desires and for all lusts and hungerings, even the most irregular: meat and beverages are lavished there, to draw to it, to nourish and satiate at it, all passions and all inclinations. The Phoenicians made the first known sea journey around Africa. White. The apple tree is rooted in the soil, yet this orb of luscious fruit is not of the earth. Remember the case of Joseph in the house of Potiphar, resisting the temptation in the spirit of inquiry, “How shall I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Then imprisoned by the revengeful lie of the tempter, but emerging at length from his ignominy and his peril, and set on high to be ruler over the land of Egypt. A Saviour more worthy of being loved, than he whom you?! 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