Our church has begun a series called The Soul and Society. Wading into the book of Daniel, beginning in Chapter 1, verse 1 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.”

Daniel is one of the exiles taken to Babylon. A young Jew, committed to his God, finds himself in a foreign, pagan land. The distance traveled from Israel to Babylon was a 900-mile, 4-month journey. Daniel would carry his faith, his culture and heritage over those dusty miles and hold them dearly. He would have been sickened and shocked by the evil all around. Not just present evil, but elevated and embraced evil. His godly name would be changed to one of demonic representation. He would see and hear things opposed to all he knew and loved.

Yet it was God who allowed Daniel’s life to go in this direction. The Lord gave the king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. It may have seemed as if God had abandoned his people. The Babylonians had no interest in Daniel’s faith and yet Daniel was not a victim. 

“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:2b-4) 

Daniel is chosen to be groomed to learn the language, culture and expectations of this foreign king. Rather than push back, resist and be imprisoned or killed for noncompliance, Daniel operates under God's direction.

Daniel does not stop honoring God in the palace of a pagan king. Daniel honors God while being in exile. He excels while he learns the language and customs. He respects the leadership overseeing his three-year training period. 

“The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.” (Daniel 1:5)

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So, you would endanger my head with the king.’” (Daniel 1:8-10)

God allows Daniel to be taken into exile and gives him favor with the eunuch overseeing his program of language and literature. He would have been one of the elite who served king Nebuchadnezzar but honored Yahweh. In fact, Daniel has no doubt his request will be met. 

“Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ‘Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, 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 it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. So, the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.” (Daniel 1:11-16)

Daniel was not a man of great courage and wisdom. Daniel was a man who knew his God could and would do the impossible. He trusted God with his life, and he thrived in a hostile and evil place. 

“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.” (Daniel 1:17-21)

The days were dark. Jerusalem was besieged, Daniel was exiled, and Babylon was built for evil to be celebrated. It is 2025 and Daniel lived centuries ago. The same good God, who was with Daniel, is with you and me. We either creep along in the shadows and keep to ourselves or we seek God's wisdom and live counterculturally. 

Remember. God is in control of who is in control.