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Daniel's Plan

Pastor Bill Farrow

Daniel 1:11-13

[11] So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, [12] “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] “Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”

(Verse 11) - Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel … - The margin suggests "steward." It is not easy to determine whether the word here used is to be regarded as a proper name, or the name of an office. It occurs nowhere else, except in Dan. 1:16, applied to the same person. Some writers regard it as denoting the name of an office in the Babylonian court-master of the wine, chief butler. Others regard it as meaning a treasurer. The word is still in use in Persia. The Vulgate (the Latin version of the Bible) renders it as a proper name - Malasar; and so the Syriac version renders it Meshitzar.

The use of the article in the word would seem to imply that it denoted the name of an "office," and nothing would be more probable than that the actual furnishing of the daily portion of food would be entrusted to a steward, or to some incumbent of an office inferior to that sustained by Ashpenaz, (Dan. 1:3).

(Verse 12) - Daniel 1:12 - Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days - A period which would indicate the probable result of the entire experiment. If during that period there were no indications of diminished health, beauty, or vigour, it would not be unfair to presume that the experiment in behalf of temperance would be successful, and it would not be improper then to ask that it might be continued longer.

And let them give us pulse to eat - The margin suggests: "of pulse that we may eat." The Hebrew literally, "Let them give us of pulse, and we will eat." The word "pulse" with us means "leguminous plants with thin seeds"; that is, plants with a pericarp, or seed-vessel, of two valves, having the seeds fixed to one suture only. In popular language the "legume" is called a "pod;" as a "pea-pod," or "bean-pod," and the word is commonly applied to peas or beans. The Hebrew word would properly have reference to seeds of any kind and comes from or word meaning to disperse, to scatter seed, or to sow. Then it would refer to plants that bear seed, of all kinds, and would be by no means limited to pulse - as pease or beans. It is rendered by some historians "seed-herbs, greens, vegetables; i.e., vegetable food, such as was eaten in half-fast, opposed to meats and the more delicate kinds of food." The word occurs only here and in Dan. 1:16. It is rendered in the Vulgate, "legumina;" and in the Greek by a phrase meaning "that from seeds." It is not a proper construction to limit this to "pulse," or to suppose that Daniel desired to live solely on pease or beans; but the fair interpretation is to apply it to what grows up from "seeds" - such, probably, as would be sown in a garden, or, as we would now express it, "vegetable diet." It was designed as an experiment - and was a very interesting one - to show the legitimate effect of such a diet in promoting beauty and health, and the result is worthy of special notice as contrasted with a more luxurious mode of life.

And water to drink - This, also, was a most interesting and important experiment, to show that wine was not necessary to produce healthfulness of appearance, or manly strength and beauty. It was an experiment to illustrate the effect of "cold water" as a beverage, made by an interesting group of young men, when surrounded by great temptations, and is, therefore, worthy of particular attention.

(Verse 13) - Then let our countenances be looked upon - One of the "objects" to be secured by this whole trial was to promote their personal beauty, and their healthful appearance (Dan. 1:4-5), and Daniel was willing that the trial should be made with reference to that, and that a judgment should be formed from the observed effect of their temperate mode of life. The Hebrew word rendered countenance is not limited to the "face," as the word countenance is with us. It refers to the whole appearance, the form, the "looks;" and the expression here is equivalent to, "Then look on us, and see what the result has been, and deal with us accordingly" The Greek phrase used is one referring to "our  appearance".

Of the children - Youths; young men (Dan. 1:4). The reference is, probably, to the Chaldean youths who were trained up amidst the luxuries of the court. It is possible, however, that the reference is to other Hebrew youths who were less scrupulous than Daniel and his companions.

And as thou seest, deal with thy servants - As the result shall be. That is, let us be presented at court, and promoted or not, as the result of our mode of living shall be. What the effect would have been if there had been a failure, we are not informed. Whether it would have endangered their lives, or whether it would have been merely a forfeiture of the proffered honors and advantages, we have no means of determining. It is evident that Daniel had no apprehension as to the issue.

What is significant here is that Daniel was willing to cast  himself entirely upon the Lord Whom he had purposed to obey. He was not careful to attach any conditions to the test - but put himself in such a place as to sink or swim depending on what God did.

This is the way we ought to serve God. This is true trust of God and confidence in ability to honor His word. We are not told whether Daniel was certain of the outcome but it is certainly reasonable to assume one of two things. Either God would do as Daniel had asked; or He would do some such other thing as would serve as well. A third possibility almost certainly occured to Daniel; that God would not prosper them. In this case, it is certain that Daniel believed God's solution would be every bit as acceptable.

When I am facing decisions concerning my obedience to God I need to cast myself upon His graces - either He does as He has promised, or we are lost!