Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Daniel, Chapter 1, Verse 9-10
9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 10 he said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look thinner in comparison to the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king.”

The chamberlain was afraid because the king had taken Daniel and other sharp, young Hebrews (as well as other defeated nations youth) to groom them as leaders to ensure the subservience of those defeated nations by developing them as devoted protégés of the king and should the Daniel and the others appear sickly the chamberlain would suffer disgrace. The king's reasoning was sound but good treatment by the king would not dislodge Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah's faith and trust in the God of Abraham. They refused to eat the rich food which most likely included pork and other banned foods noted in the Torah. Daniel proposed a test to reduce the chamberlain’s fear which was to let them eat just vegetables and water for ten days. After the ten days Daniel and his friends features appeared healthier than those who ate rich fair. Daniel and his friends never lost their faith and trust in their God.

Men are fickled things for when faith and trust in God leave; fear and pride enter. We see this type of response of the Jew’s to Pilate’s plea for Christ.

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:13-15)

Again in the Acts of the Apostles we see the same lack of faith and trust in God’s fullness through Christ by the Jews in their martyring of Stephen.


“Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” (Acts 7:51-53)

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