Daniel 1 begins with the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem. He besieges the city and takes the best and the brightest back to Babylon to serve in his palace. Among those young men are Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar by the Babylonians; Hananiah, who is called Shadrach; Mishael, who is called Meshach; and Azariah, who is called Abednego. These young men are educated in the literature and language of the Chaldeans. They are also to be given royal rations of food and wine.

Daniel refuses to eat the royal food because it would defile his body. The palace master was afraid to do this because Daniel might not be as fit as the other captives. So Daniel asked him to feed him just vegetables and water for ten days and see if he is less fit. He also asked that Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego would receive this diet as well. God allowed Daniel to receive favor from the palace master who did as he requested. At the end of ten days, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were fitter than those who had received the royal rations. They continued to receive the diet God prescribed. God gave them knowledge and skill and Daniel also received insight into dreams and visions. They became more skilled than any of the others and served the king in his court.

This should be a wake-up call for those of us who prefer a rich diet. God’s plan is if we eat simply and healthily, we will thrive physically and mentally. Maybe if we thought of eating rich foods as defiling our bodies it would help us be more disciplined. Of course, remembering that God wants to be involved and allowing him to help also makes it easier. Daniel and his friends, of course, had a purpose for keeping fit, other than just thinking of it as keeping healthy. It was part of their worship of God. Everything we do is worship. We can either worship badly or worship well. That is for us to decide with our Lord.

In Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar begins to have disturbing dreams. He calls all of his magicians together to tell him what the dream meant. He requires that they both tell him the dream and its interpretation or else they will be killed. None of them could do it, they say that only a god who does not dwell on earth could do it. The king flies into a rage and calls Daniel and the three to kill the magicians. Daniel asked that the king wait while he figured out the dream. He and his friends prayed and God gave him the interpretation. God has given the king power for a time. Other kings will follow but also will fall when God establishes His kingdom forever.

The king was impressed with what God had told him through Daniel and promoted Daniel to be the ruler over the province of Babylon and chief over all of the wise men. Daniel requested that his friend be allowed to supervise the affairs of Babylon and Daniel stayed at the king’s court.

In Daniel 3 the king erects a huge golden statue and requires everyone to bow down and worship it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the god. Punishment for this disobedience is to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The three were thrown into the fire. When the king looked into the furnace he saw a fourth person in the fire, one who looked like a god. The king called to the three and they came out of the furnace unharmed. The king acknowledged the power of God declared that no one should speak against Him.

Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God even though it might have cost them their lives. God rewarded their faithfulness by giving them the tools they needed for the situation they were in. Even when they were in the fire God was with them. God is with us wherever we go and in whatever situation we find ourselves. We need to trust in His providential care and believe that He will help us triumph.

Psalm 132 retells the story of David’s desire to build a temple to God. God had David’s son build the temple and called it His habitation.

Psalms 133 and 134 speak of how good it is to live in unity with others and exhorts the reader to bless the Lord.