The book of Daniel begins at the end of the Kingdom of Judah. Different prophets for a long period of time had warned about the imminent destruction of Judah, the temple and the captivity of the people thereof if they would not turn to God, but time and time again we see them going back to idolatry and syncretism, now the time had come for God to rain judgement.
Daniel being of the royal family is taken captive and kept in the courts of the king of Babylon together with his friends. Despite the moral degradation in the land of Judah, God always had a remnant who kept His word, and I strongly believe that Daniel grew up in a godly family which instilled the knowledge of God in him fro a tender age.
As all advanced nations, Babylon had a system of continuity whereby, young and bright men were trained in the literature and science of the Kingdom. This was done intentionally in order to absorb them into the new system. This is what happens even in our times, the enemy uses education and culture to alienate us from God. But the Bible records that Daniel RESOLVED not to defile himself with the King's portion (Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way). There always comes a time in everyone's life that he or she has to make a stand and choose who to serve.
The decision to make a stand for God has to come from within you and mostly it is influenced by the knowledge and respect of God that one has. Joshua clearly sates that it is a choice that one has to make (Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD)
Joseph also had to take a stand at one point in life when faced with a tough tempting situation, he chose God and that changed the course of history. When one makes a stand for God, it always influences the course of history. Daniel stood firm and his friends joined in, his courage was contagious as Billy Graham puts it: Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. The opposite is also true, the Bible is riddled with people who did not stand up for God and as a result adversely influenced history..Cain, Esau, David, at some point in his life, Solomon, Manasseh-the villain of Judah and so on.
All these examples are set up for you and me to know that the choices we make now will not only affect us but will also affect our generation. Daniel survived to served four Kings and made the name of God to be honored in a world that was deep into the occult, God not only protected him but He also gave him a gift to interpret dreams, which was very handy because the culture and setting where he was, dreams and visions were part of the divine. With God one is an army. Is it a wonder that John states in 1 John 4:4 (You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.)
I have resolved to stand for God. My generation has to be impacted positively with what God to do through me. Will you join me in standing for God? As for me and my house..
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