February 15, 2016 - We have recorded for us a great example of a young man that went against the crowd, and it worked out to his benefit. As the Jews went off into captivity a young man named Daniel had decided to take a stand.
We read, “5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. ... 8 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: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:5,8).
Here we have a young man that has been taken by force away from his home. He is in a land with a foreign language. He has people of authority over him to do him harm if they wish. But in all these he decides that his standing before God is more important than giving into his immediate surroundings. Daniel was only one of a number of “youths” (Dan. 1:3-4). But he did not go along with the other young people of his day, he did not conform to his surroundings. And as a result the Lord blessed him (Dan. 1:9), and he was better off than the other youths from Jerusalem (Dan. 1:15).
Being different and going against the crowd or the masses (for the right things) always works out. As Solomon writes, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Pr. 1:32-33).
You see Daniel was not concerned with what his buddies thought nor was he fearful of the authorities in a foreign land. By Daniel going against the masses it worked out in his benefit. But he did not do so sarcasticly, for it is written, “...therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8).
Daniel is like the blind man of John 9. The man of John 9 was born blind and then Jesus healed him. But when he was faced with pressure from the authorities he said, “The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out” (Jn. 9:30-34).
Here we have two great examples of going against the crowd for what was right. Daniel in a foreign land and a man that had been healed with nothing fall back on except Jesus.
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