A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  FAR FROM HOME PART IV

"I, Daniel, had a decision to make... My three friends and I are in Babylon at the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.... However, we are not here as his honoured guests... We are here as his prisoners.... We are well taken care of though..... We have just learned that we are to follow a three-year course to learn the Babylonian language and literature.... And we have been given Babylonian names..... But my friends and I know that these things will not make us Babylonians... We have been told as well that we will be given food and wine from the king's table.... No doubt, the food and the wine from the king's table will be the very best quality.... However, I know that I, as a Hebrew, cannot eat the food and drink the wine offered to me.... My three friends agree with me that this food and wine from the king's table is not acceptable to us because of our dietary requirements as Hebrews... I have, therefore, decided to speak of the chief official to ask him if we can be exempted from eating this food and drinking this wine."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about the decision Daniel makes with regard the food and wine offered to him.....


                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 FAR FROM HOME PART IV

Let's read Daniel 1:8 to see if Daniel is happy to eat the food and drink the wine from the king's table as ordered by king Nebuchadnezzar.

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.

How strange. Daniel accepts everything king Nebuchadnezzar has decided for him  but when it comes to some food and wine items he decides not to eat any of these foods or drink any of these wines.We would want to say to Daniel, "Please, Daniel, don't refuse to eat the food and drink the wine selected for you for if the king finds out that you refuse to eat the food and drink the wine that is served on his table he is bound to become very angry and it will only mean you will lose your head after all. You have been so careful up to now. You accepted whatever the king has told you to do, including accepting a Babylonian name, and that is very wise of you. But why have you suddenly decided to go against the king's wishes for you? Please think again, for surely you are just talking about some food and drink items and it is not worth losing your life over these items."