Posted on 06/11/2024 5:25:18 AM PDT by metmom
“And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king” (Daniel 1:21).
People of integrity are people of significant spiritual influence.
When King Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel as one of his personal servants, it was just the beginning of a ministry that would last for seventy years. Daniel 2:48 records that soon afterward “the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” At Daniel’s request, the king also appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to positions of authority, thereby providing an even stronger voice for righteousness in Babylon.
Years later, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, “clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom” (Dan. 5:29). Following Belshazzar’s death and the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians, Darius the Mede appointed Daniel as one of only three men in the kingdom to have oversight over all his governors (Dan. 6:1-2). As the Lord continued to bless Daniel, and as he distinguished himself among Darius’ leaders, the king appointed him as prime minister over the entire kingdom. Daniel therefore “enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Dan. 6:28).
Daniel’s life was one of enormous influence, which began when he was a youth who chose commitment over compromise. He was faithful with little, and the Lord gave him much. Perhaps few Christians will have the breadth of influence Daniel enjoyed, but every Christian should have his commitment. Remember, the choices you make for Christ today directly impact the influence you will have for Him tomorrow. So live each day to hear the Lord’s “Well done, good and faithful [servant]; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:23).
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask the Lord to guard your integrity, so that your influence for Him will be strong and ever-increasing.
For Further Study
Read the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10.
What did Jabez request of God?
What was God’s response?
From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
One ofthe factors beside being a descendant of the Judean aritocracy was the qualification to an advisor to the king, and overseer of his riches. Daniel never married, and there is a reason why, not one I wish for.
Daniel’s account is amazing and full of God’s miracles, emphasizing how we can fully trust in God now and through to the end of this world.
What was the reason he never married?
Daniel was a eunuch.
I didn’t know that. Thanks for the mini-lesson.
Do you know what a monarch did to the children of the aristocrats of a captured nation, whose royal titles would have been transmitted by these children to resurrect the leadership if the people of that nation rebelled? That he might use their quality of breeding to enhance the government of the realms under his hand?
Think about the man of distinction that served the queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:27) that man "of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, . . ." an educated man like of the quality of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah?
There was a penalty imposed on the children of kings and princes and dukes, if their battles were lost and their kingdoms overwhelmed. You do not waste your prize cattle, neither can you allow them to raise a brood of rebels using the wealth they control. Look what happened to Raamses a few hundred years after Joseph died.
But Daniel was a divinely blessed man of faith nonetheless, whose name will never be forgotten, though he had no children. Selah.
I hope this is of help to you!
2 Kings 20:16-19 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”
In Daniel 1 Daniel and his friends were put in the care of the chief of the eunuchs. It all strongly lends itself to him being a eunuch.
Was Daniel in the Bible a Eunuch?
Daniel is a prominent figure in the Bible, known for his wisdom, faith, and prophetic visions. However, there is no explicit mention in the Bible that Daniel was a eunuch. The term “eunuch” typically refers to a man who has been castrated, often serving in royal courts as officials or guards.
In the book of Daniel, there are references to Daniel and his three friends being taken to Babylon as captives when King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. They were chosen for their intelligence and appearance to serve in the king’s palace, where they underwent training to become officials. While there is mention of them being “without physical defect” and “well-favored,” there is no direct indication that Daniel was a eunuch.
Some scholars have speculated that Daniel may have been castrated based on the roles eunuchs played in ancient Near Eastern societies. Eunuchs were often trusted servants in royal courts, as they were seen as trustworthy and loyal due to their lack of family ties or ambitions for power.
However, others argue that Daniel’s role as a wise counselor and interpreter of dreams suggests that he was not a eunuch. In the Bible, Daniel’s faithfulness to God and his unwavering commitment to his beliefs set him apart from other officials in the king’s court.
Ultimately, the question of whether Daniel was a eunuch remains a topic of debate among scholars and theologians. The Bible does not provide conclusive evidence either way, leaving room for interpretation and speculation about Daniel’s status in the royal court of Babylon.
Thanks all. An interesting question. I’ll add to the info you’ve posted here:
Question
Was Daniel made a eunuch in Babylon?
Answer
The Bible does not say whether Daniel was made a eunuch. However, Daniel served as a slave in Babylon during a time in which many slaves were castrated and made eunuchs. Therefore, some have suggested Daniel was castrated as well. There is no biblical evidence either way, which leaves this issue uncertain.
...rest of the answer here:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Daniel-eunuch.html
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