At Your Service...

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans... As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:3-4, 17-20)

Talk like a servant of the king. When King Nebuchadnezzar carried captives into Babylon, he was deliberate in his choice of captives. He only took the persons who appeared to have "ability for serving in the king's court." But, after taking them, he ordered his chief to re-educate them in the Chaldean way. After three years of re-education, the king took the best students. Daniel and his three friends had successfully mastered the Chaldean way, so much so that they were chosen to be the king's personal servants. Even though they were foreigners, they were given the highest serving positions available in the land.

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. (Daniel 1:8-16)

Live like a servant of the Lord. Daniel knew that the food and wine provided by the king would defile his body, and he spoke to his commanding officer to request that he and his three friends not be forced to defile themselves. Although Daniel was in Babylon, the ethic of Babylon was not in Daniel. Over the years of his captivity, he remained faithful to the directive of God.

What about us? How do we conduct ourselves in light of the pressure to live "the Chaldean way"? Let's take a lesson from the lives of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They did not pretend they were ignorant. They did not fight against the re-education process. God had given them wisdom and understanding, and they learned all that they could possibly learn. They were not embarrassed to be at the top of their class. At the same time, though, they understood that their true service was not to King Nebuchadnezzar. They were forever servants of the Most High God, and their choices of worship and lifestyle reflected their love for the Lord of all the earth. When the day came where they had to state their loyalty, it was clear to all that their loyalty was to the God of Israel.

Lord God, give us the wisdom to know all... and the wisdom to serve One.