Daniel Purposed in His Heart — Peter Bisset

Daniel’s Faithfulness in Babylon

The book of Daniel, you'll find that in the Old Testament, the book of Daniel following the book of Ezekiel. We are in chapter 1 of this outstanding prophetic book in the Old Testament, the book of Daniel.

I suppose if anyone could say he had a good excuse for being unfaithful to his principles, it was Daniel as well as his three friends. According to the scriptures, they had been torn away abruptly from the godly associations of childhood and youth.

They had been severed from their solemn worship services at the temple in Jerusalem. They were placed in the center of an idolatrous city where everybody worshiped strange gods and where fortune-tellers, astrologers, soothsayers, and so-called wise men were in abundance.

Religiously speaking, the whole nation was against them. But what did this mean to Daniel, Hananiah, Michel, and Azariah? Did they fail the God of Israel? Did they abandon the righteous principles that they had been taught in their childhood?

No, my friends. They stood fast on the solid rock of righteous principles. They refused to turn their back upon the true God. In fact, their clear stand is reflected in the brilliant declaration of verse 8, where we read,.

"...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.".

Yes, the whole nation might have been against Daniel. The entire nation may have been against his three friends, but they determined to be true to the Lord at any cost. And in this they were not afraid, because they knew that to be on the Lord's side was to be on the winning side.

Pleasing the Lord When Tempted

How about you, my friend? When you are tempted to sin, when the devil maneuvers you into a position where he tells you that no one will ever know, is it your greatest desire to please the flesh or to please the Lord?

Ah, pleasing the Lord is the rewarding decision, even though you may seem very much alone in it. The fact is, you're not alone, because you have, if you're a Christian, the companionship of Jesus, who will never leave you nor forsake you.

And notice in verse 8 that Daniel and his upright companions refused to eat the king's food and to drink the king's wine. What's wrong with a glass of beer? What's wrong with a shot of whiskey? What's wrong in drinking a glass of wine, just as long as we do it moderately?

And the question I think that most every preacher has received is, didn't Jesus turn water into wine? Well, the truth is, he did. But I'm sure that Jesus, if he had anything to do with it, would have produced a drink that would not have been harmful to the body.

I remember one preacher who said he didn't drink wine, but if someone handed him a drink of wine that Jesus had just made out of water, he would have had no problem. Did you know that the word wine in the Bible is the translation of many Hebrew and Greek words?

Biblical Words for Wine and Strong Drink

I'm not going to get you too involved in this tonight, but I think I should pause for a few minutes on it, because we are fast becoming a drunken nation. Now, for instance, in the Bible, the Hebrew word yavin and the Greek word oinos speak in a general way of wine.

And then there's the Hebrew word tirash, frequently translated new wine, which refers to non-toxicating grape juice. That is, fresh juice from the grapes, non-fermented and non-alcoholic. Then there's the Hebrew word shekar, usually denoting strong drink or that which inebriates.

Now, to say that the Son of God drank strong drink or inebriating drink, in my estimation, is an insult to the Son of God, as well as to his blessed word. Now, I have been reading the Bible a long time, and so have many of you.

Proverbs’ Warnings Against Intoxicating Drink

And I've noted the Word of God generally prohibits the drinking of wine that inebriates. I well remember when I was a lad of about 12, sitting in church one Sunday morning, I was turning the pages of the Bible, and I came to a verse in Proverbs that I quickly memorized.

And the verse that I turned to and that I memorized, and which I have never forgotten, and has always burned into my heart, and has kept me through many temptations in life, particularly pertaining to drink, was Proverbs 20, verse 1, wine as a mocker.

Strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. And that's not the only verse in the Bible pertaining to drink. Can I give you a few more? Now, don't turn the radio off. Don't turn it off.

I love you, and I'm not telling you what I think, but what the Bible says. Are you concerned about that? Look at the 23rd of Proverbs, verse 29. Proverbs 23, 29. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions?

Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tally long at the wine. They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick. They have beaten me, and I felt it not. When shall I awake? I will seek it again. Have you read Habakkuk 2, 5, 15? Listen. Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink.

Now that word woe in the Bible generally represents a curse from God, and God puts a curse on the person that gives his neighbor drink, that puts the bottle to him and makes him drink. Habakkuk 2, 15.

Isaiah 2, 17. They have erred through wine, and through strong drink are they out of the way. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink. They are swallowed up of wine. They are out of the way through strong drink.

They err in vision. They stumble in judgment. And so we see in the Bible, it's called new wine. This is a refreshing drink. It's a healthful drink. But my friends, as I see it in the Bible, fermented drink is wrong for one to consume.

A Warning Against Alcohol and Worldly Temptation

And I want to send out a warning to this congregation tonight, to our young people, as well as mothers and dads, and to all of you listening in, beware lest you are caught in Satan's trap. Refuse that first drink and you'll never have to worry about the second.

Some time ago the chief of the Evanston, Illinois traffic police said that nearly 60 of America's annual total toll of around 45 to 50 ,000 dead, and over 2 million injured, directly and indirectly related to alcohol.

Of hit and run drivers, 95 of those apprehended promptly have been drinking. There's no doubt about it. Alcoholic beverages are America's number one traffic accident problem. C .C. Whitley wrote, a swerving car, a driver drunk, a heavy crash, a pile of junk, a wrecking car, a doctor by, a frightened child, a wife's sad cry, an orphan child, a widow lone, a new-made grave, where pine trees grown, a tragic thing.

May we repent. Tragic thing. Drinks, monument. My friends, we're living in a trying hour, and we, even as Christians, are surrounded by all kinds of temptations. All kinds press in upon us day after day.

It seems like Satan and his cohorts never let us alone. And the temptations come, but in this sad hour in which we live, in these dark last days in which we live, we must make a determination, as children of God, that we are going to be true to God, and true to the Bible, and true to our families, and to ourselves, and resolve in our hearts that we'll not yield to temptation, but stand for those things that we know down deep are right.

Purposing to Please God

We need to be Daniels, resolving in our hearts that we will not defile ourselves with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine that he would drink. Daniel purposed in his heart, would to God, that he will raise up a generation of youth today that love Jesus, and that will have a purpose in their hearts, a purpose to please God, and to do the will of God.

It's not easy today to serve the Lord, and do what's right. Temptations pressing around on every side, but my friend, if it means losing your job, do what's right. If it means losing all of your friends, do what's right.

It's better to lose all your friends than to lose the friendship of Jesus. And frankly, if you want my testimony, I prefer his friendship above all else in this world. What about you? By the grace of God, make Daniel's determination your determination.

No matter where you are, no matter what the circumstances, stand fast for the Lord and purpose in your heart that you will not defile yourself. And following Daniel's stand came the proposition. Look quickly at verses 9 through 13.

Daniel’s Ten-Day Test

Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my Lord, the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink.

For why should he see your faces worse liking than the children's which are of your sort? Then shall you make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink.

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat. And as thou seest, deal with thy servants. Now it's apparent that this man by the name of Melzar, who was in charge here, thought highly of Daniel and his companions.

It is also indicated that he feared for their lives as well as his own. And he said, look here Daniel, you're a fine fellow, and I don't want to see your head cut off, and I don't want my head cut off.

Listen to me, obey the king, eat his food, drink his wine, and nothing will be lost. But he was wrong. Much would be lost. Above all, fellowship with God. And so Daniel pleaded, feed me what I tell you, and in ten days my three friends and I will look fatter and fairer than all the rest.

And if that's not true, forget about it. And Melzar gave in to Daniel's proposition and brought them the food they requested. And what was the result? Verses 14 to 17. So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days, and at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse. For these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

The Christian’s Spiritual Food and Living Water

Now this is very interesting. While Daniel and his friends refused what the world had to offer, they didn't starve. Because they had a food to eat that the world knew nothing of. And what was the food?

Pulse and water. Now it's interesting to notice that pulse is the translation of two Hebrew words meaning seeds. And actually pulse was a general name for any potted seed or beans. Do you remember when you first became a Christian?

How the devil's crowd mocked you? Do you remember how they said, what are you doing now for fun while you've given up smoking and drinking and the nightclub and the dance floor and the rock and roll music and all that goes along with the world?

What do you do for fun? And the young godly are still asking that of men and women and boys and girls who are giving their hearts to Christ. What do you do for fun? How do you pass your time away? The world doesn't know that the Christian has a meat to eat.

A meat to eat that they know nothing of. They have a water to drink that the ungodly know nothing of. You say what is that meat that the Christian has to eat that the world knows nothing of? What is it the Christian has to drink the world knows nothing of?

Why it's pulse and water just like Daniel and his friends had. Pulse and water. Pulse means seed. And what's the Christian's enjoyment? My friends the Christian's enjoyment is the seed of God's precious word.

What a joy it is day by day to feed upon the Bible. And if you don't know what I'm talking about begin tomorrow morning get up ten minutes a half hour earlier get into the Word of God and find how refreshing and satisfying it is to feed on this pulse.

This seed that God has provided for his children. A food to eat that the world knows nothing of. And we have a drink to drink that they know nothing of. Jesus said if you'll come to me I'll give you living water.

He gives to the Christian the Holy Spirit. And oh as we drink of his love and his grace and his blessings we are satisfied. We don't need the world. We don't need what the world has to offer. And I want to tell you something my friends.

God’s Blessing on Those Who Refuse the World

It turned out after ten days that Daniel and his friends eating pulse and water were the fattest and the fairest of all the young men in Nebuchadnezzar's court. I want to tell you that the fairest the healthiest the happiest people on the face of the earth are not the ungodly but born-again Christians.

They're the fairest. They're the sweetest. Look into the face of a true born-again Christian and you'll see sweetness and love and joy and blessing and real health. Not only are Christians the fairest people in all the world and the healthiest people they're the wisest.

Look at verse 18. At the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar and the king communed with them. And among them all was not found anybody like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah.

Therefore stood they before the king and in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Amen. The wisdom that is from above is pure, it's peaceable, it's gentle, it's easy to be entreated, it's full of mercy and good fruits. It is without partiality and without hypocrisy. The wisest people in all the world are not the ungodly college professors but the Christ possessors.

Daniel’s Endurance and the Promise of Eternal Life

Finally verse 21. Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus. God honored Daniel with long life and he gave him the privilege of seeing the remnant of his people return to Judah. After the captivity, surely a vivid illustration of Psalm 91.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. With long life will I satisfy. My friends do you want to really be satisfied? Do you want real peace?

Do you want to know the meaning of real health and true wisdom? Give your heart and your life to Jesus Christ and follow him all the days of your life and not only will God bless you in this world but he will bless you in the world to come because all who trust him are the possessors of long life, even life eternal.