Daniel 1: Daniel chose to eat vegetables and drink water.

1. What is this chapter is about?

• Who is doing the action?

1. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon invaded Judah and captured Jehoiakim the king of Judah and placed the vessels of the house of God to his treasury of his god. 
2. King Nebuchadnezzar brought the Jewish youths without blemish, good looking and skillful in all wisdom to his palace to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
3. They were to be educated for three years and then were to serve before the king at the end of that time.

• What is happening?

1. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were given the Babylonian names, education of Babylonian language and literature and also assigned a daily portion of the king's food to eat and wine to drink.
2. Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food and wine.
3. Daniel asked the chief eunuch to give him and his friends vegetables and water and test them for 10 days.
4. God rewarded and blesses these four young Jewish boys not only with good health, good looking but also with great learning, skill in all literature and wisdom. Daniel was gifted in understanding visions and dreams.

• Where and when is it taking place?

1. This took place in the Babylon kingdom, when Nebuchadnezzar was the king.

• Why is it happening?

1. God gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. God punished the Isaelites for their disobedience. But God had a plan for Daniel.
2. God protected Daniel and his friends and gave them good health and good minds. God honors and gives favor for their commitment not to eat the junk food but vegetables and water. 

2. What does it mean?

• What do I learn from this passage?

1. Daniel is faithful to God. He did not want to eat the junk food. He chose to eat the good food and drink water to keep his body healthy. He does not want to eat the king's food and wine, which may have been sacrificed to the foreign gods.
2. God blessed Daniel and gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. If I am faithful to God, God will give favor for me to have a good relationship with the people around me. I can apply this in my work place.

• Is there a warning or promise from god about something?

1. I should not eat anything that is harmful to my body. I should quit the harmful habit such as eating too much or too late or going to bed late at night.
2. God promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He was with Daniel even in the Babylonian country. He protected them and provided their needs.

• What is God saying through this passage?

1. God wants me to be faithful and stand up and speak up for what is right. Do right things for the glory of God.

3. What difference does it make to me?

• Is there something I need to change?

1. I need to choose more vegetables and drink more water because they are good for my body. I need to take good care of the temple of the Holy Spirit, so that I can serve God with good health.

• Is there something I should be doing?

1. I should be faithful to the true living God, to serve God in the midst of non-believers. I will not let the junk food, movie, Internet defile my body, mind and soul, lest I become a muddied spring or polluted well. I will read God's Word everyday and hide God's word in my heart so that I won't sin against God. I will talk to God often so that I will be in tune with God's will.

• How should I respond?

1. I will dare to be like Daniel. Be committed to God and God will honor such commitment.