What is the meaning of Daniel 1:16? So the steward continued The verse opens with steady, ongoing obedience: “So the steward continued”. The official put in charge of Daniel and his friends does not make a one-time concession; he keeps it up day after day. God had already “granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief official” (Daniel 1:9), echoing the way He gave Joseph favor with Potiphar (Genesis 39:4). When “a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). Daniel’s faithfulness produces a ripple effect of obedience around him, reminding us that genuine conviction has staying power. to withhold their choice food The steward “continued to withhold their choice food.” The “choice food” was the royal fare, likely the richest meats and delicacies from the king’s table. For Daniel, accepting it meant compromise—possibly ceremonial defilement (Leviticus 11) or overt identification with Babylon’s pagan way of life. By abstaining, he models Romans 12:2—refusing to be conformed to the pattern of this world. Notice how the text stresses the steward’s active role: he kept withholding. Daniel’s quiet resolve enabled someone else to act righteously, illustrating how godly courage can fortify others (Philippians 1:14). and the wine they were to drink Next, the verse singles out “the wine they were to drink.” Wine itself is not forbidden in Scripture, yet Daniel voluntarily lays it aside. His choice parallels the Nazarite vow of Numbers 6:3 and the caution that “Wine is a mocker” (Proverbs 20:1). Refusing the king’s wine protects him from assimilation, from dulled discernment (Luke 21:34), and from any appearance of endorsement of Babylon’s idols (Habakkuk 2:15–16). It also anticipates Paul’s exhortation: “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:21). and he gave them vegetables instead Finally, “he gave them vegetables instead.” The steward substitutes simple fare—seeds, legumes, and plants. Verse 15 reports the surprising result: “they looked healthier and better nourished.” God honors their faith with physical vigor, illustrating Psalm 34:10, “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Lessons that spring from this closing phrase: • God’s provision can come through humble means. • Obedience sometimes looks ordinary—just eating differently—but it yields extraordinary impact. • Faithfulness in small decisions readies us for larger tests (Luke 16:10). • What the world calls scant, God can call sufficient (Matthew 6:33). The text never praises the vegetables; it praises the God who blesses obedience (1 Timothy 4:8). summary Daniel 1:16 shows steady, practical obedience. Because Daniel stood firm, the steward kept withholding the royal delicacies and wine, supplying vegetables instead. God turned a private dietary decision into a public display of His faithfulness, proving that those who honor Him, He will honor in return (1 Samuel 2:30). |
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