The Character of Daniel
The kids and I completed our studies in Genesis and have moved on to the life of Daniel. Ellie asked to study Revelation this year. Knowing that Kay Arthur's two studies wouldn't last the whole school year, Dennis suggested we also study Daniel. The first week has already been very good.
Daniel's story begins with him being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon. He was chosen because he was young and good-looking; he showed intelligence and was endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge and had the ability to serve in the king's court. These youths were ordered to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans and to be given the king's choice food and wine. At the end of three years they would enter into the king's personal service. (Daniel 1:4-5)
Daniel was only about 15 years old when he was taken captive. He was taken from his home and family, given a new name, put in a new school to learn new beliefs and a language he didn't understand. We wouldn't have been surprised if Daniel felt abandoned, fearful or even angry. Instead, we see a youth who showed great character.
First we see that Daniel had faith. "Faith is believing God; it is taking Him at His Word. Faith is when you believe what God says in the Bible, and it shows by the way you act. You decide to do what God says is right. Daniel believes God. He does what God says is right. He chooses to trust God in a very hard and difficult situation." (p. 33)
The question we must ask ourselves is, "Do we have faith?" First and most important, have we put our trust in Jesus Christ? Do we do what God says is right? Some examples: Do we read our Bible every day? Do we obey those in authority over us? Do we want to please God? Do we listen and pay attention to God's Word? Do we believe God means what He says and act like it? Do we ask God to help us not to lie, steal, gossip, or talk about others?
Even though Daniel and his friends were far away from home, where no one would ever know if they gave in to temptation and followed the crowd, Daniel made up his mind (he made a decision in his heart) to not eat the king's choice food or drink his wine because he would be defiled before God.
This shows us that Daniel had integrity. "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking. Integrity is being trustworthy and sincere. A person with integrity has the highest standards and is honest, pure and consistent. Look at Daniel's integrity. He has the highest standards. Daniel makes up his mind not to defile himself. He keeps himself pure. He sets himself apart from the world he is living in. Daniel dares to be different." (pp. 33-34)
How do we know if we have integrity? Can we be trusted to obey those in authority over us when they are not around? Have we made up our minds to live God's way, to keep ourselves pure? Do we go along with the crowd or stand for what we believe is right? Can our conversations be heard or read by others without fear of others knowing what we are saying?
Daniel asked permission from the commander of the officials to be given vegetables and water so he would not defile himself before God. God granted Daniel favor with the commander; and even though the commander feared the king, he gave permission for Daniel and his friends to be tested for ten days. At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends had a better appearance than the others.
Daniel showed courage. "Courage is boldness; it is taking a stand and doing what you know is right even though you are afraid. Daniel took a stand, even though he didn't know what would happen to him if he went against the king's command and refused the food from his table." (p. 34)
How do we measure up in the courage department? Will we be brave like Daniel and stand up for what we know to be right, even if it means we will not be cool, popular, or that others will reject us? It's important to think ahead how we will respond to temptations, especially for young people.
We see that instead of demanding his own way or making a great show, Daniel asked permission from the commander to not eat the king's food and wine. This shows that Daniel had humility. "Humility is a lack of pride. Humility is knowing our weaknesses as well as our strengths. Daniel humbled himself before the commander of the officials. He asked for permission not to eat the king's food and wine. He submitted himself to his authority. He was respectful." (p. 35)
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Daniel's story begins with him being taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon. He was chosen because he was young and good-looking; he showed intelligence and was endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge and had the ability to serve in the king's court. These youths were ordered to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans and to be given the king's choice food and wine. At the end of three years they would enter into the king's personal service. (Daniel 1:4-5)
Daniel was only about 15 years old when he was taken captive. He was taken from his home and family, given a new name, put in a new school to learn new beliefs and a language he didn't understand. We wouldn't have been surprised if Daniel felt abandoned, fearful or even angry. Instead, we see a youth who showed great character.
First we see that Daniel had faith. "Faith is believing God; it is taking Him at His Word. Faith is when you believe what God says in the Bible, and it shows by the way you act. You decide to do what God says is right. Daniel believes God. He does what God says is right. He chooses to trust God in a very hard and difficult situation." (p. 33)
The question we must ask ourselves is, "Do we have faith?" First and most important, have we put our trust in Jesus Christ? Do we do what God says is right? Some examples: Do we read our Bible every day? Do we obey those in authority over us? Do we want to please God? Do we listen and pay attention to God's Word? Do we believe God means what He says and act like it? Do we ask God to help us not to lie, steal, gossip, or talk about others?
Even though Daniel and his friends were far away from home, where no one would ever know if they gave in to temptation and followed the crowd, Daniel made up his mind (he made a decision in his heart) to not eat the king's choice food or drink his wine because he would be defiled before God.
This shows us that Daniel had integrity. "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking. Integrity is being trustworthy and sincere. A person with integrity has the highest standards and is honest, pure and consistent. Look at Daniel's integrity. He has the highest standards. Daniel makes up his mind not to defile himself. He keeps himself pure. He sets himself apart from the world he is living in. Daniel dares to be different." (pp. 33-34)
How do we know if we have integrity? Can we be trusted to obey those in authority over us when they are not around? Have we made up our minds to live God's way, to keep ourselves pure? Do we go along with the crowd or stand for what we believe is right? Can our conversations be heard or read by others without fear of others knowing what we are saying?
Daniel asked permission from the commander of the officials to be given vegetables and water so he would not defile himself before God. God granted Daniel favor with the commander; and even though the commander feared the king, he gave permission for Daniel and his friends to be tested for ten days. At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends had a better appearance than the others.
Daniel showed courage. "Courage is boldness; it is taking a stand and doing what you know is right even though you are afraid. Daniel took a stand, even though he didn't know what would happen to him if he went against the king's command and refused the food from his table." (p. 34)
How do we measure up in the courage department? Will we be brave like Daniel and stand up for what we know to be right, even if it means we will not be cool, popular, or that others will reject us? It's important to think ahead how we will respond to temptations, especially for young people.
We see that instead of demanding his own way or making a great show, Daniel asked permission from the commander to not eat the king's food and wine. This shows that Daniel had humility. "Humility is a lack of pride. Humility is knowing our weaknesses as well as our strengths. Daniel humbled himself before the commander of the officials. He asked for permission not to eat the king's food and wine. He submitted himself to his authority. He was respectful." (p. 35)
Are we humble? Do we submit ourselves to those who are in authority over us? Are we respectful? How do we treat our parents, teachers, bosses and others over us? How do we talk about them to others when they aren't around to hear us?
Lastly, by refusing the king's food and wine, Daniel showed that he had self-discipline. "Self-discipline is learning to train and control your behavior. It is being able to turn away from temptation. It is choosing to do right even when it is hard and difficult. It is sticking with something, even thought it is dull and boring. It requires determination and sacrifice. How tempting do you think it was for Daniel to look at the king's choice food and not eat it? Daniel disciplined himself. He did not give in to temptation. He chose to do what was right, even though it was hard and difficult." (p. 35)
Self-discipline is challenging. Training yourself to eat healthy foods, memorizing God's Word, saving for something you want to buy, doing your work to the best of your ability, taking care of the things God has blessed you with, and forgiving those who have wronged you are just some of things that take self-discipline.
Daniel was an awesome teenager. His character was revealed in his difficult circumstances. He dared to be different by trusting God. We are challenged to be different. By reading and studying God's Word and asking God to help us, we can be a Daniel in our own circle of influence.
I hope I can raise my two children to be Daniels in this modern-day Babylon. I see the importance of beginning this training now while they are still young. First they need to know what God's principals are. Then they need to decide what following them will look like in their own lives. I pray our studies, discussions and prayers will enable them to make the hard choices and to stand strong against the many temptations they will surely face as they grow and make their way in this world. I will be greatly saddened if my kids choose not to follow the Lord with all their hearts, minds and souls; but if they do, it will be in spite of my efforts to teach and model God's standards. I pray for the ability to lead by example daily, to humbly admit when I fail and to show them how following God is truly the best way to have a fulfilling and hope-filled life.
May you also make up your mind to honor and live for God!
-Adaptations and quotations taken from You're a Brave Man, Daniel! by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt pp. 22-36
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