God’s Grace in Daniel’s Separation From the World (1): In the Temptation Daniel Resisted

Daniel and his three friends went to college when they were only fifteen years old. They were forced to go to a college in a city where they had no desire to be. They were carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar to the large city and college of Babylon, far from home and the house of God.

Babylon was a worldly city full of temptations. It was the capital of the vast kingdom over which Nebuchadnezzar was reigning. It was a city with walls as high as towers, and so thick that four chariots could safely ride abreast on top of them. Inside, all was luxury. It was the richest city in the world. Hanging gardens, supported by pillars, were sprinkled throughout Babylon.

Babylon was filled with pride, lust, and sin. Daniel and his friends were brought to the two most magnificent buildings in the very heart of Babylon — the king’s palace and the temple of “Bel,” the supreme god of Babylon.

No doubt the Babylonian college was particularly full of temptations. Immediately Daniel was confronted with a whole new way of life. According to the king’s commandments, courtiers were appointed to train these young men (as well as other young men from a variety of conquered countries) so that after three years all the captives were supposed to be true Babylonians — both outwardly in behavior and inwardly in heart.

Everything had to change to meet the goal and demands of the proud Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel and his friends had to learn the language of Babylon. Only Babylonian clothing could be worn. Their names had to be changed. Instead of being named after the God of Israel they were named after the gods of Babylon. Daniel which means, “God is my judge,” was changed to Belteshazzar: “keeper of the hid treasures of Bel.” Hananiah, “the grace of God,” was changed to Shadrach: “inspiration of the sun”— which they also worshipped as a god. Mishael, “the Lord is a strong God,” became Meshach —“devoted to the goddess Shach,” the goddess of their feasts. Azariah, meaning “the Lord is a help,” was given the name Abednego — “servant of Nebo,” the god of fire.

Their food and drink were changed. No longer could they eat their simple Jewish diet, but now rich foods and wine, both of which had been previously consecrated to idols through the performing of sacrificial rites, were placed before them.

They were instructed in Babylonian education which was filled with heathenism. Babylonian literature, sciences, music, superstition, astrology, soothsaying sorcery, and religion with its gods were the “classes” they had to take.

After three years of thorough indoctrination, Daniel and his friends were to appear before the king as true Babylonians, having forgotten their former life, morals, education, and especially, the God of Israel.

Today we would call this “brainwashing,” especially when you consider that Daniel could have almost anything a natural heart could want. He and his friends could live like princes. Nebuchadnezzar would spoil them into forgetfulness of their past and into allegiance to himself.

Dear young people, is the situation really any different today in the world? Babylon rightly became a symbol of the “world.” Perhaps the world today does not tempt you in precisely the same way, but are not its current temptations, albeit somewhat less direct, just as powerful as in Daniel’s day?

Consider worldly language. Is not this Babylonian world full of it? Profanity abounds. Secular humanism is even more commonly revealed in the speech of millions. Of the billions of words spoken every day, how many do you think are of spiritual value? Oh, how little of the heavenly language of Canaan do we hear! Moreover, the few occasions when such God-glorifying, man-abasing language may be spoken in uprightness of heart, it is usually frowned upon.

Such a spirit even pervades the church. How much vain, empty talk transpires during the week, on Sunday, even before and after church, without any consideration that we must give an account of every idle word (see Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 37)! Of the words that proceed from your mouth is there one word a day, one word a week that is not of a worldly, Babylonian spirit?

Is it better with clothing? Let us be honest — sometimes even immodest, Babylonian clothing is worn to the house of the living God. Dear young people, your clothing conveys a message. What message are you conveying?

With food and drink some of us fare no better. Many eat like heathen, refusing to acknowledge the Giver of all earthly benefits. Are we among them — or else, perhaps when we eat in restaurants, we quickly say a prayer without concentrating upon the great God whom we are acknowledging?

“Babylon” is alive and prosperous — its education, too. Most of the time the school system and the mass media either imply that God does not exist at all or an attempt is made to portray Him as a God who loves everyone. Devil-worship is the fastest growing “religion” in our nation today. In fact, the devil has his visible classroom in 98% of American homes via television. He uses it as an effective tool to teach principles contrary to the ten commandments hundreds of times every day. The average United States high school graduate has spent 11,000 hours in school and 20,000 watching television. Even church-going people who hear the ten commandments read every Sunday foolishly take T.V. into their homes.

We have replaced the name of the living God, too. Entertainment, Honor, Riches, Love, Piety, Self — such are the idols we have established. Many have abandoned the simplicity of a quiet, God-fearing lifestyle, for the noisy world of perpetual rock music, radio, or VCRs; for the immoral world of violent or sensuous movies, of sinful romance novels or ungodly magazines.

Babylon is still here. The temptations are great and many, and certainly are multiplied for you as young people. The pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye increase ten times faster than inflation.

And we are all guilty. We are in grave danger of being overcome also as a church and denomination by the flood of worldliness that sweeps over us and dwells within us. None of us are exempt from this grave danger. At our recent synodical gathering, the synodical delegates with one voice viewed worldliness as a cause for much division and confusion in the congregations.

Oh, dear young people, has this world ever lost its color for you? Do you realize how deeply you are prone to drink in its philosophy and its conscience-numbing iniquities? Do you feel its dangers? Are you afraid of your own worldly hearts?

“Yes,” perhaps you will say, “but did not Daniel have to go along with it? It was not his choice he was in Babylon, was it? After all, was he not in the land of the enemy, and is it not true, ‘when in Rome we must do as the Romans’? If he objected, the king would not hesitate to take his life — surely then he had better compromise somewhat, hadn’t he? Otherwise he would lose his honorable position and perhaps even his life. And besides, aren’t such things as clothing, food, names, and language rather small things to protest over?”

Such was precisely Daniel’s temptation. It is stilt the same today. Many go right along with the world while professing to be Christians. They have their form religion. They attend church faithfully, pray and read the Bible regularly. For the rest, however, they think and act as the world thinks and acts, not wanting to be viewed as being “different.”

Young people, you understand this kind of peer pressure, don’t you? When in school or at work, do you easily go along with “the crowd” or do you pray for strength to reject sin? Mixing Christianity and worldliness, Babylon and Jerusalem, keeping a form of religion but doing away with a separated lifestyle — such is your temptation every day. Part of this temptation is a mixed lifestyle which appears to make daily living so much easier. Little self-denial is needed. It is a lifestyle that can always be positive, can always say “yes”— “yes” to the church, “yes” to the world. How few realize that they are then saying “no” to God. God will not have a mixed, half-hearted people. “My people,” He says, “must not serve Me feignedly, but they shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”

Dear young friends, what is your life? Is your talk Babylonian? Do you dare to carry your baptized forehead into places where you know you don’t belong? Are you worshipping worldly idols — the idol of entertainment, of riches, of ease, yes, of sinful self? Are you leading a life of “compromise”?

Compromise — that is one of Satan’s favorite words when sin is involved. He likes to take us one step at a time down the slippery slope of iniquity. Gradually he aims to lead us into what has been rightly called “practical atheism” — that is, living as if there is no God.

The first step down this slippery slope begins with abandoning secret prayer. Then the Bible is increasingly neglected. Reading of sound religious books stops. We reason, “There are more things to do — I am so busy. Besides, we can’t always be so strict — I would not care to have others see me so. It is wrong to be ‘righteous overmuch.’ I won’t let happen what Jesus said must happen: ‘The world must hate you.’ After all, don’t I have to be kind to everyone?”

Such are Satan’s reasonings and devices. Increasingly, conscience is overstepped. Compromise. Babylon. Wordliness. It is a never-ending cycle. Eventually, the slippery slope may lead to your attending theaters or becoming involved with modem dancing. Or else, substance abuse will be engaged in — drinking with friends, perhaps even smoking pot or becoming involved with harder drugs — and always, Satan is whispering, “Try it — how do you know what it is like unless you eat with the Babylonians and share their food? You will soon be used to it. It is not so bad. Experiment! You’re old enough.”

What a seemingly easy life Daniel could have had if he had only been willing to compromise! He could still have kept his own religion privately, couldn’t he? All he had to do was go along with these customs and not take them so seriously. Are you such a compromiser?

By grace, however, Daniel could not compromise. The fear of the Lord was planted in his young heart. He could not be at home in the world. He could do no different than say “no.”

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” Here lies the secret: “Daniel purposed in his heart.” Not because of parents, church, or any person, but because it was the desire of his heart. It was not legalism. It was not fear of God’s punishment. It was out of love for the Lord who was so worthy to be feared that “Daniel purposed in his heart” to say “no” to the world.

Daniel desired to walk before the Lord, to live to His honor and glory with body and soul. He knew from experience: “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Young people, can you say from the heart that you agree with Daniel? Do you dare to be a Daniel, dare to flee the world, dare to stand alone? Is the divine pressure of God’s Word more weighty for you than the peer pressure of your friends’ words?

There is still another reason “Daniel purposed in his heart” not to defile himself — namely, jealousy. He was jealous for the Lord’s Name, so he would not eat what was offered in the name of other gods. But he was also jealous over his own heart. He knew the power of temptation, of the world, and of Satan. He knew his own heart. He knew how quickly his conscience could be dulled, how soon secret prayer could suffer, how quickly communion with God could be broken. Therefore Daniel “purposed in his heart.”

By grace Daniel was more afraid of the snares of the devil and the pollutions of sin than of losing his own life. He would rather die than sin. That is not legalism. That is not being “righteous overmuch.” Rather, that is God-given love returning to its Giver.

Daniel received the courage to say “no” to sin from his heart, as a gracious fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ who purposed in His heart from eternity to say “no” to sin for His entire life on earth. He gave His heart and life to the death of the cross in behalf of His chosen Daniels who were by nature enemies of God but were made to fear and love His Name. May the Lord make us jealous of such Daniels. We often purpose in our mind or conscience, even after received grace, but how different that is from purposing by grace and through faith in our heart!

Free grace made the separation in Daniel’s heart. Common grace can seem to come close to saving grace. Martin Luther said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” May the Lord teach us the difference and give us hearts to fear His Name in truth with childlike reverence. He is worthy. May He make David’s petition to be ours: “Unite my heart to fear Thy Name.”

Young people, this is real life, real living, real purpose: “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself.” Oh, pray for grace to reject the world’s selfish lifestyles and to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness!

Dr. J.R. Beeke is pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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