1:11-14
As noted earlier, Daniel does not get all uppity, but allows God to prove Himself. So Daniel offers that he and his friends will follow what is often known as the “Daniel fast”. They would eat only vegetables and water for ten days. The official could then assess their well being against that of the other young men who would be on the normal diet. The official agreed and they were tested for ten days. While this is called a Daniel fast we should note that it isn’t really fasting. It is perhaps worth noting that the official may have benefitted from this if he had been able to take choice foods that Daniel wasn’t eating for himself.
11:15-17
God passed the test! Unsurprisingly. Daniel and his companions looked healthier and better fed than any of the other young men. Perhaps we can see this as an example of “man shall not live by bread alone”. So the guard continued to allow them to eat vegetables and drink water. God did not just look after their physical bodies, but also gave them “knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning”, this would include Babylonian literature and learning. Daniel could also interpret dreams and visions, something which would be very relevant for the rest of the book.
No comments:
Post a Comment