08/07/2019 FOOD, DRINK & FAITH
DANIEL 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. [King James translation]
Daniel 1:11 Daniel talked it over with the steward who was appointed by the superintendent to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Misha-el, and Azariah, and suggested a ten-day diet of only vegetables and water: then, at the end of this trial period the steward could see how they looked in comparison with the other fellows who ate the king’s rich food, and decide whether or not to let them continue their diet. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
The king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem with his armies, because GOD allowed him victory, and many of the Israelites were taken to Babylon as captives. The king thinking into the future, decided to bring some of the captured youth into the Babylonian culture, by training them for three years and then taking “the cream of the crop” to become his counselors. Among the chosen youth were three young men from the tribe of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Misha-el and Azariah. The king assigned all of these captives the best food and drink from his own kitchen. (Daniel 1:5)
One of these young men, Daniel, “made up his mind” (the King James translation states “purposed in his heart”) not to eat the king’s food and wine. Much speculation has been given why Daniel was so resolute about rejecting the King’s food and drink and instead proposing a simple diet of vegetables and water. Some believe that the refusal was based on “not defiling himself” it was a matter of Daniel not wanting to go against his faith or the WORD of GOD. Some believe that King’s meat probably included meats that under the law of Moses, were unclean animals. For example, the law forbade eating camel, hare, pigs (i.e., swine), vulture, ravine, owl, swan, pelican, hawk, eagle, the cuckoo, heron, bat, stork and water creatures without fins or scales. (See, Leviticus 11:12-19).
Some believe that following Proverbs 23:1, Daniel did not want to eat with a ruler or desire his delicacies, knowing that the food was just a trap and step toward Babylonian indoctrination and the worship of Babylonian gods instead of the worship of the one true GOD.
Some believe that Daniel was familiar with Proverbs 23:20-21, which warned young men [which wisdom today extends to everyone] about the dangers of becoming a drunkard and which describes excessive alcohol use as a path to poverty. Proverbs 23:29-35 describes a number of problems of drinking too much, including: bloodshot eyes, delirious tremors, hallucinations, the tendency to fight and quarrel, saying foolish things or silly thing that would embarrass a person if he (or she) were sober, staggering about and not even knowing when he (or she) is hurt or beaten; instead, just looking to find another drink. (See Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35; Living Bible translation).
One old testament scholar, Robert Dick Wilson, speculates that the Babylonians may have been fond of drinking blood with wine, a practice which Daniel would have also again considered defiling. See, Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17. See, Robert Dick Wilson, Studies in the Book of Daniel, one vol. ed. (n.p.: By the author, 1917; repr., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1979), 2:251.
Others have speculated that Daniel’s rejection of the king’s food and drink was because it was first offered to idol gods.
Some might suggest the Daniel test as to whether to eat or drink included the following:
- Is eating or drinking this consistent with scripture (e.g., is it consistent with scripture that I treat my body as a temple of GOD’s Holy Spirit (See, 1 Cor 6:19);
- Are my motives and the giver’s motives pure? (e.g. Am I drinking too much because everyone else is drinking too much? Am I trying “to look” or act like someone else I envy? Does someone else have an un-pure motive in trying to influence me to eat or drink this?
- Would eating or drinking this do harm to me or others? (e.g., Will I likely do something that will be embarrassing after drinking or eating this? Am I role-modeling the right behavior?)
When presented with his food or drink test, Daniel chose his faith and won.