Calling and Purpose 46—Daniel and Captivity
The Babylonians, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzer, lay siege to Jerusalem. The Book of Daniel Chapter 1 says that God allowed it. In the process, Judah’s king, the temple treasures, and Jews of the nobility are brought back to Babylon for Nebuchadnezzer’s purposes (and God’s). These young royals included: “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. [The palace’s chief court official] was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.”
Can you imagine? Your nation, your home have been besieged and overrun. You and yours have been captured and brought back to a very unfamiliar and pagan land. And you have been selected, whether you like it or not, to be trained as a Babylonian—to be in the king’s service. Remember you are a prisoner of war. This king is your enemy.
We are told that among those chosen for this training and future service included: “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.” On top of all that was traumatic and unfamiliar, they are then given new names—all of which remove their Lord-inspired Hebrew names that reminded them of His character and His faithfulness—and replaced them with Babylonian names that reflected idols and idol worship: “to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” [Read Calling and Purpose 21—Naming 3—Daniel and Friends for more on this.]
However, in spite of their lack of power, likely their despair at being taken prisoner, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” Thanks to God’s continuing Presence with Daniel, “God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel”—who simultaneously had great fear of the king and the consequences of disobeying a direct order. Daniel, showing wisdom well beyond his years, suggests a test—ten days where Daniel and friends would eat nothing but vegetables and water, followed by a comparison with those who were on the king’s diet. The result? “At the end of the ten days [Daniel and friends] looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”
Perhaps Daniel and his friends took this risk because they had little else more to lose. More likely, they are faithfully trying to follow God in a Godless place. For them, no compromise that diminished their commitment to Yahweh was worth it. And we read: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” When their training is complete, they are presented to the king. He “talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.”
Reflect:
· Think of a time when you may have lost power, prestige, rights, influence, identity, or security, perhaps through no fault of your own. Or, are you now or have you been in a situation where you are being supervised by someone or in a culture that seems evil at its core?
· What have you been able to “resolve” to keep doing as a spiritual practice—“trying to follow God in a Godless place”--in spite of these work or other influences?
· Where have you seen the Lord grant you favor in ways that seem to result in the favor of your employer or others?
· Where have you excelled…or been gifted by God to excel…so that you are indispensable in your context? How can you use this influence for good?
It is believed that Daniel spent the remainder of his life in exile—away from Judah, in Babylon. What he does from his teenage years into likely his 80’s IS his calling. Even in a non-God-of-Israel place. What lessons might you take from his story?
Additional Resources:
• Downloadable Resources--See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Equipping Ministries Director at her church since 1999.
(c) Photo by Shirley Giles Davis
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