Daniel -- A Man of Character
Character doesn’t come easy. We don’t fall into it or stumble over it. It’s something that’s sought. It’s not acquired quickly; it’s cultivated. And unlike a fine wine that needs controlled temperatures, lighting and minimal activity to mature, character is developed by chaos, conflict and trials.
The prophet Daniel was a man whose character shined brightly throughout his life. A member of Jewish nobility, he was among those taken captive by Babylon in the 7th Century B.C. when Babylon overthrew Jerusalem. Daniel was among a select group of those chosen, due to their wisdom and ability, to serve King Nebuchadnezzar, one of the most powerful rulers of his day, in his administration.
Daniel was a man in the company of kings, a trusted and respected advisor to some of the most powerful rulers on earth. He served in a civilization that, though pagan, was educated and cultured. The hanging gardens of Babylon, built by King Nebuchadnezzar, were among the Seven Wonders of the World. Daniel lived in an environment of wealth, luxury and power.
Yet in this environment, Daniel decided to be a man of character. Despite the efforts of Babylon to erase his identity by giving him a Babylonian name and training him in their language and literature, Daniel always knew to whom he belonged – the Lord.
His righteousness was tested from the beginning, when as a young man he was being prepared for the king’s service. At that time he was brought a portion of the king’s food and wine. Though the food was literally fit for a king, it was not in keeping with God’s laws. So Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with 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.” (Daniel 1:8).
Daniel wisely asked his steward to let him consume vegetables and water for 10 days. Due to God’s favor Daniel’s request was granted. After the days were up Daniel and his Jewish peers Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-Nego were healthier and looked healthier than those who had consumed the king’s food and wine. And so they were allowed to eat as they asked, enabling them to stay in line with God’s Word and be blessed in the process.
Daniel also had “an excellent spirit.” God blessed him with keen intellect and wisdom, and Daniel excelled in his role as a counselor and administrator in Babylon. God also gave him supernatural ability to understand all visions and dreams. Babylon was known for its astrologers, sorcerers, magicians and others with supernatural abilities. But Daniel’s revelation, given by the One True God, lifted him high above all the rest.
