Daniel's diary - Episode 01

Daniel was about 17 years old when king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah, and exiled the citizens to Babylon, as captives. At the time, the king ordered the selection of young men who would study in Babylon's academy for three years, and after graduation, become counsellors in the palace.

 They would be studying the Chaldean language, and literature. Daniel and his friends - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were four of the young men chosen from Judah. 

They had all that the King wanted in good students - good looks, studiousness, intelligence, strength, health, alertness, sensibility, and regal poise. The king assigned them the best food and wine from his very own kitchen.

 He wanted them to look as royal as possible, upon graduation. But Daniel, being a decisive and determined young man, made up his mind not to eat and drink whatever the king sent. He instead asked the supervisors for permission to eat other things.

 It turned out that the supervisor loved Daniel's personality, and felt sorry about his ordeals. As much as he'd love to consider his request, he couldn't entertain it, because he feared that Daniel would look thin and pale, relative to other fellows who would eat from the king's food. And of course, he'd pay with his head, once the king discovered. It was too grave a risk. 

When Daniel realized his request made no headway with the supervisor, he immediately struck a deal with the steward that was assigned to him and his three friends, by the supervisor. 

 This is the deal, said Daniel to the steward, "My friends and I will be on veggies and water for ten days, after which you could come back to check how we look compared to fellows who would eat the king's rich food, and decide whether or not we should continue the diet". Good news, the deal made sense to the steward! 

Guess what happened to Daniel and his friends after the ten days? My God! They looked better nourished and healthier than the youngsters who ate the rich food provided by the king!

 Abstaining from foods and wine provided by the acclaimed greatest king of the time took a large deal of discipline on the part of these young men. Such discipline cannot be easy, and God, seeing the rugged intentionality of these young Hebrew fellows, gave them uncanny abilities to learn.

 They had mastery of the literature and science of the time. And God especially gave Daniel a sound ability to understand the meanings of dreams and visions. 

After their graduation from the Babylonian academy, they were brought into the palace for an interview with the king. And of all the numerous graduates who were interviewed, nobody else dazzled the king as much as Daniel and his friends did. 

With such an appealing impression on the king, they landed an automatic appointment in the king's regular staff of advisors.

 These guys were worded and stuffy. Their opinions and advices were so brilliant that the king preferred their engagement to that of his skilled magicians and wise astrologers, put together. 

Remember that a single, simple decision to say "No" to the king's rich food was what made way for the favour that these guys enjoyed in a foreign kingdom. 

What if they had thought they were captives and needed to embrace whatever opportunity came their way? What if they ate the food, and decided God was dead for watching them walk into captivity, in the first place? Lots and lots of what ifs.  

Yours may not be exactly a food.

 It may be anything that appears awesome and satisfying on the surface, but lurks of abyss undercover.

 Learn to tame your appetite. 

Say no to the king's food. It's a danger in disguise. 

I will not eat of the king's food! 

God helps us. 

Feranmi Oyedele (Lamide)