DANIEL 1
17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
– Daniel 1:17-21
DANIEL 1 GOD BLESSES HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you are faithful to the Lord your God
Favor and blessings will surely come your way
Because he is a generous and faithful Father
He will endow his people with skills and talents
Wisdom and understanding will overflow
Discernment and knowledge will surely follow.
In this narrative some people think that the exceptional abilities of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were a result of the vegetarian diet. I even read a book following a Daniel diet plan. Sometimes, we human beings can get crazy and create fads to follow. We miss out on the spiritual aspect of things and just interpret things as in the earthly realm.
This account tells us that the Lord was with these four young men to be used to give God all the glory. Because they stayed pure and faithful to the Lord, they were taken care of and given all the abilities and skills that were exceptional compared to the Babylonians. Daniel on the other hand was given the extra gift of interpreting dreams which later on will be prophetic and instrumental to the Babylonians to view God differently because of all these abilities that were supernatural.
REFLECTION
· Share some abilities, talents and blessings that God blessed you with as a faithful servant of him.
