The Daniel Diet

Q: In the book of Daniel, chapter 1:8-13, how do these verses explain Daniel's commitment to the Lord?

A: Thank you for your question. I do not necessarily think it shows Daniel's commitment to the Lord as much as his actions served as a testimony to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, being a Jew, was already quite familiar with the Dietary Laws first introduced by the Lord to Moses and Aaron in Leviticus 11.  By reading through the instructions, one can easily see how extensive the laws were as it pertains to "animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground (Leviticus 11:46)."Now, when Daniel was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar, the Bible records that "The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table (Daniel 1:5)." It does not say what this food was, but we see Daniel's reaction to it. "But 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 (Daniel 1:8)."It stands to reason that whatever food he was to be served from the king's table violated the standards set forth in the Dietary Laws. Therefore, in order to avoid defiling himself, Daniel made the request to be served "nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink (Daniel 1:12)."

While I can see why this could be seen as evidence of Daniel's commitment to the Lord, his actions were not said to be done out of a commitment to God. However, one can see that God used Daniel's request to only eat vegetables and drink only water. "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)." Daniel's diet resulted in him and his companions looking healthier and better nourished than those who ate the food from the king's table. Because of this the Bible records that to the four 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)."It was this knowledge and understanding, along with Daniel's ability to understand visions and dreams of all kinds that would lead to them finding favor in the eye's of King 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 1:19-20)."

Therefore, because of Daniel's desire not to defile himself with the food from the king's table and only eating vegetables and drinking water, he and his companions looked healthier than all the other men. This led them to finding favor in the eyes of King Nebuchadnezzar because of the wisdom God granted them. As we can see, Daniel and his companions had no equals and were said to be ten times better than any other magicians and enchanters in the kingdom. This is a testimony of the power and majesty of God as seen through the lives of Daniel and his companions. This testimony is confirmed in the next chapter when King Nebuchadnezzar desires to have a dream interpreted that was troubling him. He called together all his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers, but they didn't even attempt to interpret the dream. In fact, the astrologers went so far as to say, "What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men (Daniel 2:11).”From the astrologers own mouths come an acknowledgment that only gods can interpret his dream. The reality was that only the One true God of Daniel could interpret the dream. Daniel was granted an audience with King Nebuchadnezzar in order to try and interpret the dream for him. Before Daniel was to meet with the King, "the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision (Daniel 2:19)."

When Daniel finally had his audience with King Nebuchadnezzar, it is interesting how Daniel begins. "Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries (Daniel 2:27-28)."" Daniel wasted no time in giving glory to God for what He was about to do through him. Once Daniel had interpreted the dream for the King, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery (Daniel 2:47).” This is how Daniel's actions were a testimony to King Nebuchadnezzar. By refusing to eat from the king's table and only eating vegetables and drinking water, Daniel was eventually put in position to interpret the dream. His interpretation led King Nebuchadnezzar to publicly acknowledge that Daniel's God, the One true God, our God, is the "God of gods and the Lord of kings." Daniel was subsequently elevated to a high position in King Nebucahdnezzar's royal court and was also lavished with many gifts. All of this came about because of Daniel's desire not to violate the Dietary Laws by eating the food from the king's table. I pray this answer has shed some light on your question. Grace and Peace.