At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Daniel 1:15-16
BLESSINGS FOR OBEYING THE LORD
In Deuteronomy 28, the first fourteen verses speak of blessings for fully obeying the LORD God and obeying all His commands. Daniel and his three companions were captives in a foreign land, yet at great personal risk, were willing to be obedient to the LORD their God. At the end of the time of testing, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. As Joseph prospered in the Land of Egypt because the LORD was with him, so shall Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah prosper in the Land of Babylon.
DANIEL LIKE JOSEPH WERE TYPES OF CHRIST
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. Daniel 1:17
Here we see a parallel in Daniel’s life to Joseph in Egypt. Joseph was taken captive and sold as a slave. Joseph had been given dreams by God and God gave him the interpretation of his dreams as well as the dreams of the Pharaoh. The purpose of Joseph’s ability was to place him in a position of authority and influence and for the saving of many lives. Daniel’s gift of understanding visions and dreams of all kinds would eventually elevate him to a position of authority and influence as well. Both men were types of the Messiah.
A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king 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. Daniel 1:18-20
After a period of three years of training, Ashpenaz presented Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to Nebuchadnezzar. His chief official would have had to have made arrangements with the king beforehand, and not only obtained Nebuchadnezzar’s permission to bring his charges into the king’s court, but have a pre-arranged appointed day and time for this meeting.
Imagine the dread with which those young captives must have anticipated knowing that they must stand before the terrible conqueror who had destroyed the allied armies of Egypt and Assyria and had overthrown all who ventured to oppose him. Failing the emperor’s oral examination could have resulted in being sold in the slave market or even death for the young men. But because of their obedience to God, His favor upon them, and their diligence in their studies, they excelled in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them.
DANIEL REMAINS IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY
And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. Daniel 1:21
And Daniel continued serving in the court of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and his successors until the monarchy passed from the Chaldeans to the Persians under the rule of Cyrus. Due to Daniel’s integrity and abilities, he continued in his position of authority after the fall of the Babylonian Empire and during the days of the Persian Empire.