IN THE third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [Daniel 1:1 AMPC]

the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [Daniel 1:1 NKJV]

According to this Bible verse above, the 3rd year reign of Jehoiakim as king over Judah was also the year Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came and besieged Jerusalem. But according to this Bible verse below, the 4th year reign of the same Jehoiakim as king over Judah was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar as king over Babylon.

This is the message that came to Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It concerned all the people of Judah. [Jeremiah 25:1 FBV]

The third year of Jehoiakim kingship over Judah was both the year of Nebuchadnezzar's ascending the throne of Babylon and the year of the same Nebuchadnezzar's besieging Jerusalem in warfare. It sounds as if Nebuchadnezzar immediately advanced into international warfare immediately he became king, but a source from the book of "Daniel's Prophecies" (contemporary of our times, but author unknown to me at the time of writing this) states:

"Jehoiakim reigned from 609-598 B.C. and “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord” 2 Chronicles 36:5. It was in his 3rd year, 606 B.C., that Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem, in which time Nebuchadnezzar took some of the vessels of the temple of the Lord and some of the inhabitants, Daniel and his three friends included.

It would be interesting to note that during this time king Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar’s father, died leaving the throne naked. Nebuchadnezzar receiving word endeavoured to return to Babylon, in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10) to claim it before another did. He rode approximately 700 km’s, across the Syrian Desert, over 22-23 days and claimed the throne and kingship."

[Daniel 1:2 NKJV] — And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

The Lord allowed Nebuchadnezzar to capture Jehoiakim king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the things from the Temple of God. He carried them to Babylonia and put them in the temple of his gods. [Daniel 1:2 ICB]

The Glory that the Lord received from that event was not the Glory of Delivering (Defending) His own from Nebuchadnezzar's hands, but the Glory of Delivering His own into Nebuchadnezzar's hands. Which ever way we see it, there was Deliverance of the Lord, which glorified the Lord; but the deliverance benefited the enemies God's people or reproached the throne and temple of God's people.

Nebuchadnezzar invaded the king of Judah, Jehoiakim, and the Lord received the credit of being the One who gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar's arms and also gave dedicated treasures of God's Temple into the hands of the enemies. Here are 5 lesson points from "Daniel 1:2."

№ 1. — Whether you lose or win in the battle, the Lord would still receive His credits and glory as He who either gave it to you or gave it to your opponents, adversaries. Therefore, God does not take sides in any human conflicts nor shame in human defeats: Whoever wins in any human conflicts must still acknowledge that God wins, God allowed or God gave it to the winning side.

№ 2. — God won when Nebuchadnezzar won and spoilt God's Temple and God's people, just as wolves are presenting doing to God's flock or robbers disguised as men of God are doing to God's Temple. But the kind of Winning God won in that case was not a "Winning for His Name," but a "Winning for His Word of Judgment." The Name of the Lord fell because that happened, but the Word of the Lord stood because that happened. Allowing Nebuchadnezzar to defeat the anointed of God and Rob the temple was a shame to the Name of the Lord, but it was also a fulfilling of the Word of God. God regards His Word above all His Names, including His Name, "El-Shaddai" or "Almighty." Which is why even the Almighty God would appear very weak and watch His own people, His House or His Earth, getting invaded, robbed and destroyed with impunity, and would not show up yet even though His Name was invoked or called upon for instant help. Infact, the Lord Himself was crucified in weakness, the Almighty crucified as a Lamb, because He would rather have His Word (Scriptures) win than have His Names, Titles or Pride, win.

№ 3. God gave or delivered His own people and treasures of His House into Nebuchadnezzar or the enemies hand in fulfilling Prophecies of His Word to address the problems of idolatry and sin in the House of God (among His People) first before addressing the same problems in the house or temples of idols and enemies of God. Therefore, "JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN IN THE HOUSE OF GOD FIRST." You saw Nebuchadnezzar took the vessels and treasures from the House of God and took them to the house of strange gods/idols in the land of Shinar. God was dealing hard with God's people and God's Temple first, before God would later deal hard with the houses of devil's. Remember what God did to Dragon, the idol-god of the Philistines, after God allowed the Arc of the Covenant to be captured by the enemies of God's people in order to punish the people of God for their sins, and then later God fought against Dagon inside its own shrine or temple where they brought the treasure of God to. That completed the story that began the name, "Ichabod" which meant The Glory has departed from Israel - For Judgment must begin from the House of God [1 Samuel 5, 6]

№ 4. Nebuchadnezzar did not acknowledge the Lord was He who gave Jehoiakim and the treasures of God's Temple into his hands, but instead Nebuchadnezzar foolishly took the Glory and Treasures to the house of his strange Babylonian gods in the land of Shinar. Nebuchadnezzar was foolish in doing so, but Belshazzar his grandson was even more foolish by taking from those treasures of God's Temple in Babylonian shrine, and drank wine from the vessels, giving praises to the gods of stones, irons, etc. Hence, the Handwriting on the wall. In nutshell, God redeemed the Glory of His Names by dealing with Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar until they gave glory to the Lord God of heaven, who allowed them invade and Rob His Temple Treasures for a reason.

№ 5. Some differences between Nebuchadnezzar and the Antichrist in such case would include: Nebuchadnezzar would not sit on the throne of Judah nor on Jehoiakim's seat as king, but the Antichrist would rather sit on the throne of Judah and Jerusalem or Israel, than on the throne of Babylon. Also, Nebuchadnezzar would take those Treasures of the House of God to another temple of devil's whom he worshipped; but the Antichrist would not regard any God or gods, but would rather proclaim himself as a "God" and would sit in the Temple as God for people to worship him (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:6-8), bow to him, receive his mark as token of allegiance to him by force or by manipulation. But no record of Nebuchadnezzar even drinking from the cup nor using vessels of God's Temple, which he did not see himself worthy to use. That's unlike his grandson, Belshazzar, who would even throw a party using those dedicated temple treasures (Daniel 5:23).

[Daniel 1:3 NKJV] — Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,

Then King Nebuchadnezzar gave an order to Ashpenaz, his chief officer. He told Ashpenaz to bring some of the men from Judah into his house. He wanted them to be from important families. And he wanted those who were from the family of the king of Judah. [Daniel 1:3 ICB]

This Line is focused on the king's (Nebuchadnezzar's) instruction to his Chief of Staff to recruit some young men of Judah and Israel, and the pre-qualification was to ensure those men are from the royal lineage or rich class even when they are captives.

Though the captured children of Israel were all captives, slaves or prisoners in Babylon, there was difference between those who were royal and those who were local, difference between those who were descendants of kings and those who were not, difference between those who were nobles/princes and those who were commoners, difference between those who were rich and those who were poor. The Babylonians did not mix them together, nor allowed all the slaves and captives lose their social classes in their captivity. Egyptians, during Joseph in prison era, had separated prison where they kept inmates that were chiefs or pharaoh's officers separate from the prison where they kept inmates that were commoners. 

But would there still be distinction of social classes among the captives or souls in hell or among the dead?

Yes, things somehow continue with the dead as they were on earth before they died. Who you were on earth lifetime would form part of who you shall remain forever when you die. The rich would still be tagged as the rich among the dead, even if they are no longer rich there or no longer having possessions there in hell. For instance, the rich man in hell calling to Abraham in "Luke 16:22-31." He was no longer rich in hell fire, but he was still judged by who he was during his lifetime and who's son (son of Abraham) he was during his lifetime even though who he was no longer benefits him in captivity or in hell.

Yes, great musicians like Michael Jackson would still be identified as great or as musicians in hell, even though that status no longer benefits him there. Great kings, princes, senators, presidents, governors, prophets, pastors, priests, wrestlers, fighters, conquerors, stars, celebrities, scientists, angels etc, that are in hell fire, still retain their marks of identification which they had before they died. For instance, look at this passage:

[Isaiah 14:9-10] — "Hell below wakes up to meet you when you come. It wakes up the souls of the dead for you, especially all who were leaders and great on earth. It raises all who were kings of the nations from their thrones. All of them will greet you, saying, "You also have become weak like us! You have become like one of us!""

Basically, where kings, rulers, presidents, politicians etc of nations are kept in hell fire differs from where commoners are. So also, where priests, pastors, prophets, apostles, general overseers, christians, etc are kept in hell fire differ and are more severe than where those who never knew the Lord are kept. So in the last resurrection to final Judgment, there would still be distinction between those who were great while on earth and those who were small in social classes. As it is written,

[Revelation 20:12 GWN] — "I saw the dead, both important and unimportant people, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened, including the Book of Life. The dead were judged on the basis of what they had done, as recorded in the books."

How about the Lord Jesus Christ?

№ 1. The Lord Jesus Christ was with the poor in His Birth,

№ 2. The Lord Jesus Christ was with all men in His Days, [Immanuel, God with us]

№ 3. The Lord Jesus Christ was with the transgressors or sinners on His Cross, [He was Numbered among transgressors, sinners].

№ 4. The Lord Jesus Christ was with the rich, rulers and kings in His Death: As it is written,

[Isaiah 53:9 GWN] — "He was placed in a tomb with the wicked. He was put there with the rich when He died, although He had done nothing violent and had never spoken a lie."

№ 5. At the Resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ became separated from sinners and was not seen with or seen by any sinner. All those who saw Jesus Christ after His resurrection are Saints or made Righteous. So after His Resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ was not found among the sinners or among the dead by those looking for the Living among the dead. As it is written,

[Hebrews 7:26 bsb19] — "For such a high priest indeed was fitting for us, holy, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens,"

№ 6. At His ascension into heaven and advent as Spirit of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is now with His true Disciples and Ministers. [Lo, I am with always, even to the end of time.] 

Back to "Daniel 1:3" Lines.

 

Daniel was among the captives who in their captivity was classified among the king's seeds, royal lineage, nobles or princes; yes, together with the three friends of Daniel. So this meant Daniel was either a descendant of David or a descendant of Judah.

But behold the Chief Human Resource Officer or Chief of Staff to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He was named, Ashpenaz, and was the Chief of the Eunuchs. He probably was a Eunuch too.

To be recruited and hired through him for the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, then, may perhaps mean to also become "Eunuch." To be a Eunuch meant to have no sexual drives or desires, and to remain unmarried, even if your duties involve attending to naked women. No record in the Bible was made about Daniel either getting married or having a desire for women, and that could mean Daniel and his three friends were Eunuchs or Celibates. Daniel would not even defile himself or his body by eating the meat, which the king of Babylon ate, or the drink Nebuchadnezzar drank.

This Bible verse reveals two things about Daniel and his 3 friends:

№ 1. Daniel and his 3 friends were among the class of important people, royal seeds, descendants of kings, nobles, princes, higher social class, even inside captivity of Babylon.

№ 2. Daniel and his 3 friends were to be recruited under the Chief of Nebuchadnezzar's Eunuchs. Ashpenaz was not just the chief of staff, but the chief of Eunuchs, to the king of Babylon.

For not all who were in Babylon were drunk with the wine of fornication and abomination of mystery Babylon.

[Daniel 1:4 NKJV] — young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

[Daniel 1:4 BSB'19] — "young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace— and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans."

Apart from being a royal seeds of the house of David from Judah, other qualifications for enlistment or recruitment into becoming one of the Babylonian king's Eunuchs included:

№1— Being Young — Age Limit and youthfulness required.

№2— Being Without Blamish — Physically and Medically fit.

№3— Being Handsome — Though it's basically about being Eunuchs, handsomeness/beauty/good-looking was required. Handsomeness, beauty or Good-looking is not always meant for sex or marital favors, but also to favor celibacy, for virginity or for being a Eunuch. Do not always think being handsome or beautiful means one must get married; it could also mean one is called to be like the Angels who though they are beautiful and handsome, yet are Virgins, Eunuchs or must not marry.

№4— Gifted in all wisdom — Having Good Judgments and applying the rightmost decisions to all secrets or hidden things.

№5— Possessing knowledge — Having the intelligence, the Brilliance or the Light that senses things in darkness or distance.

№6— Quick (Ability) to Understand — Swift to unveil true meanings, true needs, true interpretations, true connections and true communications, of things and to respond to their needs with the right solutions and answers they most needed irrespective of how their expressions or riddles are.

№7— Ability to serve in the King's Palace — Those in that group were royal seeds, and were used to getting served as princes or higher social classes among their wards in royal Palace before. But behold those who were used to getting served in the king's palace are now being screened by their ability to serve in another king's palace, not ability to be served.

[Luke 22:26-27] — "But you shall not be so among you: Rather he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he who serves. For who is greater between he that sits at the table feasting, or he who serves? Is it not he that sits at the feasting table? but I am among you as He who serves."

№8— Teachable in Foreign Language, Literature and Culture — Not many people with such qualifications above are found teachable in the language, culture and Literature of the same people who attacked and destroyed their tribe and enslaved their people. Some would hate the language and Literature of the tribe/people who robbed, colonized or enslaved, their own people. Till now, some men refuse to receive the Bible from the English man because they see the Bible as a Literature or Language of the men who colonized, robbed or enslaved, their people and tribe. Behold Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon required in addition to all the preceding qualifications, that the chosen ones may be taught in the language (culture) and Literature (History/Tradition) of the same Chaldeans (Babylonians) who destroyed their Temple and carried them away from their Promised Land into captivity.

Daniel and his three friends had all these qualifications and willingness to be enlisted, and behold Daniel was a great man of God whom God highly esteemed. By inference, Daniel was very handsome or good-looking young man, without blemish or deformation; and Daniel was gifted in all wisdom, though the prince of Tyre was wiser than Daniel in "Ezekiel 28:3." Our Lord Jesus Christ understands all Wisdom, all Knowledge, all Languages and all Literatures.

Increase in understanding, rather than in malice, hatred or anger. Be like the Lord and learn of Him. This you will gain faster by serving rather than getting servedin the King's Palace.

[Daniel 1:5 NKJV] — And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

The king assigned a daily ration for them from his finest food and from the wine which he drank. They were to be educated and nourished this way for three years so that at the end of that time they were [prepared] to enter the king’s service. [Daniel 1:5 AMP]

There was a king who wanted his chosen servants to be as he is in many ramifications before they enter into his service. He would rather have his servants to be seen and treated as kings so that he himself would feel like a king of kings when those servants serve him. The king appointed for them to be serve from the king's table while training them to serve the king. Part of their training courses to serve the king was to be served with the rations the king himself is served with. They were to partake of the king's table even though they were not sitting at the king's table yet. They were to have table manners, table license, and eat of the king's food and drink, while getting trained and prepared to serve the king. And the training was to endure for about 1,100 days.

You will know you are feeding the King's servants the right training courses, the right food and the right drink, by knowing those were what the King Himself fed on. Feed them what the King fed on while training them to be the King's Servants — That's His Discipleship Lines. A servant is not greater than his Master, but a servant is called to be as his Master. A disciple is not greater than his Lord, but a disciple is called to be as his Lord.

If what you are feeding the King's Servants now were what the King Himself fed on, would the King have overcome the world, overcome sin, overcome Satan, and gone to the cross to save sinners? If Jesus Christ had only your Teachings, Doctrines, Messages, Prophecies and Books, to live by, what would Jesus Christ have become in this world? Perhaps Jesus Christ would have become like you or by you become a very foolish Christian that has acquired material wealth, family, business prosperity, married a beautiful wife, riding one of the best vehicles, perhaps aiming at political positions in the country, recognized by great men of this world and awarded/rewarded by the world, pay tithes, give fat thanksgiving offerings in December or fat firstfruit offerings in January, observe fasting in January, and sow money seeds through out the years for more financial blessings etc, and the cycle continue. But He would have become a spiritual fool, while becoming worldly great and meeting all church membership requirements.

But the Lord Jesus Christ was not like the pastor/priest of your church, neither did he feed only on the kinds of food, drink, training courses and Literatures, that your church pastors, prophets, priests, have fed you with. So the Lord Jesus Christ is not like you or your pastor/priest, and your lifestyle in this world is already very different from the Life Jesus Christ led in this world.

How would you sit close to  the Lord and King in His Kingdom without you either drinking of the cup He drank of and without you being trained/tried/baptized with the baptism He was baptized with?

[Mark 10:37‭-‬39 NKJV] — They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;"

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, required that his special servants to be recruited:

‡ to undergo the training he already had,

‡ to eat the food he ate,

‡ to drink of the wine he drank of,

‡ to be of royal seeds because he too was of a royal seed,

‡ to be wise and understanding multi-cultures and knowledge because he himself was wise and was an international man,

‡ to learn the language of the Chaldeans because he himself knew that language,

‡ etc.

He has not asked the Eunuchs to collect tuition fee from the undergraduates during the 3 years course. Rather, he made it a full scholarship for all the selected students with full assurance of job into the king's service awaiting them on graduation after interview or final exam at the king's presence.

What if the Eunuch, Chancellor or Vice Chancellor, began to demand for provisional fee, tuition fee, etc, as requirements for them to access the king's provisions? No, the Eunuch was faithful and feared the king, even to change the king's prescription in feeding Daniel who proposed different food and drink for himself apart from those which the king had.

But why are there pastors, prophets, apostles, general overseers, bishops, etc, who feel collecting from the students/sheep to give to the King (Jesus Christ or God) is part of their duty? Is the King more interested in collecting from His servants/students/sheep in the King's name or the King is more interested in giving to His Servants/Students/Sheep from the King's Provision? Whoever He's sending must be the one doing most of the giving, not the one receiving/collecting as Tax-Collectors. 

[Luke 12:42‭-‬48 NKJV] — And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

The Lord Jesus Christ seeks the Simons that would feed His Sheep because they love the Lord Jesus Christ more than their selves and more than their own bellies. Those who would serve the flock of Christ with the same food the Lord ate and same cup the King drank of.

[John 21:15 NKJV] — So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

[Daniel 1:6 NKJV] — Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  

Among them from the sons of Judah were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. [Daniel 1:6 AMP]

Among all those selected, nominated and shortlisted, these four young men stood out as expressed by their names: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel and the three men were of the "Royal Seeds of Judah" and were nominated among others into the special training courses to becoming Eunuchs for the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar.  

Let's just say, Daniel was a Eunuch for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Daniel, one of the greatest prophets of God, was a Eunuch. He was a descendant of David or descendant of Judah, of a royal seed or a prince, who was turned into a Eunuch Servant to the king of Babylon. Having met the criteria such as, being very handsome and without Blamish/defect in his physique as a man, very wise and intelligent, apt to learning Literatures, Foreign Alphabets/Languages, Understanding Sciences and Myths, Brilliant, etc. Daniel and his three friends mentioned by names, met all those criteria and qualifications, physically, mentally, medically and educationally.  

But this enrollment of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, into becoming Eunuchs, meant they were never to have sexual intercourse nor marry any woman as wife again. They were part of princely descendants of kings and nobles, who were made Eunuchs in the palace of the Chaldeans. This fulfilled a prophecy of God through Isaiah to Hezekiah the king that had 15 years added to his days on the day of his death. As it is written,  

[Isaiah 39:6‭-‬8 NKJV] — ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ” So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”  

Did you notice in that prophecy, Isaiah told Hezekiah that his descendants would be among the things carried away into Babylon and made "Eunuchs" (plural/not singular Eunuchs) in the palace of the king of Babylon? Daniel and his three friends were made Eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon in fulfilling that Prophecy. Besides, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, also carried all the treasures of the king's from David, Solomon, and king ancestors of Hezekiah, along into captivity and into Babylon where he also made descendants of those Hezekiah, king of Judah, Eunuchs for him at Babylon.  

What brought up all these?  

Hezekiah should have died by a deadly sickness but God used Isaiah to add 15 years more to him and healed him after he cried to God for extension of his life and reign as king of Judah. But after 15 years was added to his life, Hezekiah the king became foolish in that he received the envoys or ambassador of the king of Babylon and completely disclosed all the hidden treasures of the kings and of God to pagans and unbelievers. He foolishly exposed all the secrets, armories, treasures, etc, of his kingdom and people, to foreigners, whom he thought were friends but they were basically spies. It's not wise to expose all the secrets of your people, tribe or nation, to foreigners or visitors, because they may use your secrets against you and know your weakness and strength. It happened in my country sometime ago, that the president foolishly allowed the military to display their armoury, tankers, fighting equipment, fighting skills, strategies, etc including the Airforce descending from helicopters with ropes, etc. As they were do these, they were commenting and narrating details to foreigners, visitors and other country leaders then present during the independence day celebration.  

But why do people display or parade their wealth, their secret parts, their assets, their family and children, etc, in public, social media or international places? What if there's a rule that all the Treasures and Children you have shown to your robbers foolishly, those robbers shall later take from, would you be that careless? God spoke through Isaiah to Hezekiah, all that you have shown to these men of Chaldeans in getting validation or praises from them, shall be all you shall lose to them in the day when they come and carry them all out including your children or descendants, and those descendants of yours shall become Eunuchs.  

Hezekiah did not even pray against that as he prayed against his own imminent death; rather Hezekiah said "Amen" in agreeing with the prophecy because it was not to happen in his days but in the days of his descendants. [Isaiah 39]. The sin of the fathers visited on their third and fourth generations, and those fathers been cool with that because they had long and peaceful days after sowing the troubles coming upon their descendants.  

Behold, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, stood out from the rest of the royal seeds. And they would turn the mess into message and impart all generations after them for good and better, though they were Eunuchs and had no descendants them.

To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. [Daniel 1:7 NKJV]  

Then Ashpenaz, the chief officer, gave them Babylonian names. Daniel’s new name was Belteshazzar. Hananiah’s was Shadrach. Mishael’s was Meshach. And Azariah’s new name was Abednego. [Daniel 1:7 ICB]

Apart from changing their freewill, changing their freedom and changing their manhood, the Babylonian Chief also went ahead in changing their names to suit their religion or gods of the Babylonians then. So this moved from being a mere recruitment into becoming an initiation and conversion intended.  

№ ¹ — The name "Daniel" in Hebrew meant "Judge of God." It was an extension of the name, "Dan" to acknowledge God in Dan. But the name which the Babylonian Chief gave to Daniel, Belteshazzar, was according to or acknowledging a god of Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar in Chaldean or Babylonian language: for the "Bel-" in that name is the name of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar idol god. As it is written,  

[Daniel 4:8 GW'20] — "Finally, Daniel came to me. (He had been renamed Belteshazzar after my god ⌞Bel⌟.) The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream:"  

№ ² — The name "Hananiah" in Hebrew meant "Jah has favored or Yahweh is Gracious." But the name which the Babylonian Chief gave to Hananiah, Shadrach, was according to or acknowledging another god of Babylonians in Chaldean or Babylonian language: for the name "Shadrach" meant "Command of the moon god, 'Aku.'  

№ ³ — The name "Mishael" in Hebrew is a question and meant "Who is God? Or Who is what God is? Or Is there a man that can be God?" But the name which the Babylonian Chief gave to Mishael, Meshach, only changed or replaced "El" (True God-Elohim) with "Ch" (false god-Aku, where Aku was a god of the moon to the Babylonians) in the spelling of Mishael for Meshach. Therefore, according to or acknowledging another god of Babylonians in Chaldean or Babylonian language: for the name "Meshach" meant "Command of the moon god, 'Aku?' or 'Who is Aku?'  

№ ⁴ — The name "Azariah" in Hebrew meant "Jah has helped or Yahweh Helped." But the name which the Babylonian Chief gave to Azariah, Abednego, was according to or acknowledging another god of Babylonians (called Nebo) in Chaldean or Babylonian language: for the name "Abednego" meant "Slave of the god, 'Nebo.'  

However, you are to behold how these men of God did not acknowledge nor worshipped any of the gods of the Babylonians, even though the names imposed on them acknowledged those gods of the Babylonians. Three of those men were practically thrown into furnace fire for rejecting to bow or to serve the gods which the king (they served) served. In their service to the king, they did not reject those names; but they rejected the gods in those names. They retained their true faith in the Son of God even though they were bearing Babylonian names. There's a man who bears Muslim name but he is a true Christian in faith of the Son of God.  

Nevertheless, even though the Chief of Eunuch, Ashpenaz, gave those names to those four men of God, but a record pointed the king, Nebuchadnezzar, as he who changed Daniel's name into Belteshazzar according to "Daniel 5:12." Both Ashpenaz and Nebuchadnezzar had share in renaming Daniel, "Belteshazzar." And even beyond the kingdom of Babylon, Daniel was still known among men by the name Belteshazzar under the reign of Cyrus (Daniel 10:3).

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. [Daniel 1:8 NKJV]

However, Daniel made up his mind not to make himself impure by eating the king's rich food and wine. He asked the chief eunuch to allow him not to make himself impure. [Daniel 1:8 FBV]

Daniel made up his mind to say "No" in refusing to be defiled; and he also made prayer request in order to make up his might and resistance that would enable his saying "No" to stand stronger than the opposing/weakening forces, pressures and temptations.

№*·* Daniel did not just make-up his mind in resolution, but he also did make-up his might in requesting ··· To not defile himself.

№*·* Daniel did not just proposed in his heart, but he also did prayed in his mouth to the prince to build his "might not" or "strength of No" ··· To not defile himself.

№*·* The Spirit in Daniel was willing, but knowing the flesh is weak, Daniel both watched and prayed to not enter into temptation · To not defile himself.

To not defile yourself by yourself does not always depend only on yourself or your own strength; but also depends on the mercy of the authorities and powers that can overrule your self rule (self preservation/principles) because their willingness is stronger and above your own willingness over yourself. For instance, a virgin girl, who had made up her mind to remain undefiled virgin until she's married with her husband, had to practically beg or prayed a young man (whose temptation or pressure) she couldn't resist nor withstand for long, to please not let her to be defiled or to lose her virginity. The young man saw her request and fears, and in his mercy and understanding with her allowed her to be without mounting any further pressure on her that might cause her to defile herself. He even helped her to knock off the tricks and temptations of other players (men & women) who were after her with no good intention of preserving her purity. Do you see how prayer also helped the self preservation or principle to uphold one's purity? Make both your resolution and your supplication stronger to uphold your purity and integrity in the world full of sins and corruptions.

Daniel therefore guaranteed no defilement to himself in these two major sources of defilement:

№ ·1· Defilement of Fornication: — Daniel was a Eunuch who requested the prince of the Eunuch to not defile himself. Being a Eunuch himself, Daniel could not be defiled by sexual intercourse.

№ ·2· Defilement of Eating unclean things: — Daniel took it further beyond that of sexual intercourse to even the defilement of unclean food and drinks that was delicious and rich.

Thus, these two must be avoided by Christians who would keep themselves undefiled and pure, as vessels in sanctification and true holiness. Abstain from fornication and abstain from eating unclean food or food offered to idols. As it is written,

[Acts 15:28-29] — "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell."

[1 Corinthians 6:13] — "“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

[Revelations 2:14] — "But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality."

But that's for those who have the sense and consciousness that values purity, cleanness and holiness; for not everyone knows the worth of purity, cleanness and holiness. I have heard a lady regretted she kept herself a virgin till she married her husband who did not even appreciate her been a virgin to him; and her orientation about keeping virginity to unthankful husbands changed. And therefore, she became one of the voices that oppose the idea of virginity till marriage for ladies; and according to her, "Virginity does not put food on the table."

That was similar mindset Esau had when he sold his birthright for food on the table. But Daniel would not sell his virginity or purity for food on the table, even when the food was the king's food that came with riches.

I replied the lady, saying, the goal of one's virginity or purity is not basically for gaining food on the table or for receiving rewards of men (husband's appreciation) as trophy or medal. Rather the goal for keeping virginity or purity is for gaining more of God and more worthiness of one's spirit, soul and body in God's holy Presence. Are you looking for a man to reward you for taking your own bath and keeping your clean and hygiene? 

A man or woman who has not kept virginity, purity or holiness, is like a man who has not bathed for years, and his body stings with greater degree of corruptions and uncleanness, in the spiritual Realms. And there's a Pool (Swimming Pool) where such a stinking man cannot be allowed to enter or bathe, even if the Pool is for cleansing. Even in this world, there is a swimming pool that men and women are not allowed to enter unless they first shower and bathe themselves in a running water; and only when they are relatively clean enough before they may enter the swimming pool or fountain for further cleansing.

And by running water, I mean water that is disposable or water that takes dirt away into far destination or dirt collectors. You have such running water or rivers available now that you still have little time of life left in this world. In the realms beyond these times, there is a Water that is neither disposable nor existing to take away your dirt; but to cleanse, bleach, and refresh you. 

It should not take you time to figure the difference between water that takes away dirt and water that cleanses/bleaches. One kind of water removes/reduces dirt by carrying things away from you to other destinations · Yet that is not true cleansing. The other kind of water does not exist to take things from you but to add things to you when it cleanses, bleaches or refreshes you. The water gives to you, as if you are drinking water even when you are inside the water instead of the water being inside you. You don't have to practically drink the water for the water to go into you.

Some water was made wine, and like these waters, some wine takes things away from the drinkers and some other wine adds things of value to the drinkers. Some drink wine to forget, but some others drink wine to remember. For instance, we drink of the holy communion cup  of the Lord Jesus Christ to "Remember" His death and suffering of His shed blood for us, and not to forget that. However, there are wine that is given to a perishing man to make him forget his sorrows, pains or even put him to sleeping stupor as a form of anesthesia, antidote (Proverbs 31:5,7).

Daniel would not defile himself with the wine the king of Babylon drank, nor eat the food the king ate.

Daniel judged the king's food and drink as unclean, and a defilement to himself; and therefore rejected the food the king ate and the wine the king drank in his resolution. He also requested the leader of their Eunuchs group, to excuse himself from eating or tasting what he already considered as unclean and defilement within himself. But don't get this twisted, for Daniel was not implying that the king and the others who partook of that food and drink were already defiled. It's peculiar to him.

Therefore Daniel was a Eunuch who knew and kept his consecration or sanctification as a Host and Vessel in Purity, worthy of the Vocation to which he was called. Not all people discovered and kept their Vessels in their proper sanctification and consecration early enough. Those whom God sanctified whem He called, they must abide and keep their Vessels in the same sanctification and consecration of their calling of God. These may differ even among the called and chosen ones of God. For examples:

№*·* John the Baptist had a sanctification of neither eating food that Human Beings ate, nor drinking wine that men drank, to keep from defiling himself (Mark 1:6). But the Lord Jesus Christ had a sanctification that permitted Him to eat that which John the Baptist could not eat and to drink wine which men drank. As it is written,

[Luke 7:33-35] — "For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a man, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’ And wisdom was justified by all her children.”"

№*·* A young man of God sent from Judah to Samaria was forbidden from eating or drinking anything at Samaria during his consecration as the messenger. But there was another old prophet in Samaria that had no consecration that forbade eating and drinking at Samaria. (1 Kings 13).

№*·* Samson as a Nazarite had consecration of neither eating unclean food, nor drinking any fruit of the Vine, beside not cutting the hair of his head [Judges 13:4-5]. But Ezekiel had consecration that allowed him to both eat unclean food (cow feases mixed in his food) and to cut his hair {Ezekiel 4:15, 5:1}.

Now, in the course of time, God may change the sanctification and calling of a man of God, and therefore a change in the way of keeping his consecration. Peter was shown in a trance to kill and eat meats of living creatures that had their status changed from unclean into clean and pure by God's sanctification [Acts 10:10-16]. And behold all things are pure for food by them being sanctified with the Word of God and prayer [1 Timothy 4:3-5].

Be wise as Daniel for an excellent spirit was found in Daniel.

Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. [Daniel 1:9 NKJV]

God had helped Daniel to be viewed with kindness and sympathy by the chief eunuch. [Daniel 1:9 FBV]

Before Daniel requested the chief of the eunuchs, his leader, for assistance to preserve his purity, Daniel knew that God had brought him into the favor and goodwill of the chief or leader.

Like Daniel, such are the kinds of men or women you may confide with such private secret, conviction, mindset, decision, and request, concerning your faith and personal purity, for them to help you achieve and keep them. For such men have you in their favor and goodwill, because God had brought you into their favor and goodwill; and more importantly God controls them for you.

Do not attempt to discover or approach other men who do not have the mind or understanding to relate with your being a virgin, being pure, keeping your integrity or your faith in the Lord, to ask them for such help or assistance to not defile yourself or to not sin as they have done themselves. For such men or women would either betray you out of envying your purity/innocence/integrity, or they would feel you are judging them and plot to seduce you, force you or rape you, into becoming like them. For instance:

That virgin that begged the charming man to help her in keeping her Virginity till she's married to her husband, that she might not defile herself, was in the favor, goodwill and understanding of the man who agreed with her. So he understood, agreed and helped her.

But supposing that man was Amnon (a fool in Israel), and the virgin was Tamar: Tamar made the mistake in even bringing the food and drink that cost her the lost of her purity/virginity to Amnon in a secret and lonely corner. And inspite of her requesting him to not defile herself, he refused and raped her. And even that false love he had for her initially became intense hatred he had against her. [2 Kings 13:10-15].

The love Amnon had for Tamar was fake love, and it therefore later turned into hatred when he used her confiding in him against her to defile her, violate her virginity and abuse her weakness at his mercy. But unlike Amnon's fake love, the Lord had brought Daniel into real or true favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs, even before Daniel approached the chief with such a request that technically meant disregarding, or suspending the king's commandment to fulfill Daniel's request.

You should behold the use of the favor and goodwill for Daniel in the Chief or Prince of the Eunuchs. Sometimes, the goodwill and favor you have in a chief that commands the access between you and the king himself will help you more, than the favor you have in the chief that puts you in charge of all the chief has or increase your authority under that chief. Joseph in Egypt had both in two different chiefs.

The first chief, Potiphar, had goodwill and favor for Joseph by God that made the chief promote Joseph to the degree of putting him in charge/authority over all things he had. However the limitation of such favor and goodwill is that a man who benefits from it like Joseph would still be under the man who puts himself charge/authority of all he had. So he could never be greater than his Master, no matter how much authority or charge the master brings under him.

The second chief, Cupbearer, had goodwill and favor for Joseph by God that made the chief linked or connected Joseph directly to the king (Pharaoh) or to the highest authority in that land, even greater than the authority the chief himself had or could give Joseph. So Joseph bypassed the authority of the chief by the favor of the chief, to gain authority directly from the king who was higher and greater than the chiefs in that realm.

Daniel too was brought by God into the goodwill and favor of the chief that would help Daniel retain his access to the King of kings above the access to the king at Babylon.

Joseph needed that favor in the chief Cupbearer to establish his connection with the King of Egypt in order to save the King's Food and drinks. But Daniel needed that favor in the chief of the eunuchs to establish disconnection with the King of Babylon in order to save his purity from getting lost by the king's food and drinks. Thus, the use of favor was not only in establishing "Connection" but also in establishing "Disconnection" when and where necessary for purity and righteousness.

The purpose of all the favor and goodwill of the Chief for Daniel was fulfilled in helping Daniel preserve his purity and faith in God, not just a favor or goodwill in the chief to help Daniel win contract, get promoted or marry wife. Look at it this way, the scripture says that God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the Chief of Eunuchs or the Chief who makes men Eunuchs and manages men that are Eunuchs. Is that a good kind of favor or goodwill, if found in a man who makes those he favors eunuchs (unable to have sex or marry) and makes men he favors retain their purity/virginity by helping them cut off delicious foods and drinks and even cut them off from contacting the king if it's to keep them from eating food and drinks the king would offer him because that chief of Eunuchs is zealous for the purity and undefilement of those he has favor and goodwill for? Would you like God to bring you into the favor and goodwill of a man who is a Chief at making and managing people as Eunuchs, as Celibates, as Virgins, as Nuns, and would rather feed you with vegetables and some bitter herbs to preserve your holiness and purity, because his favor for you and help for you means to zealously protect and enhance your purity above anything else you desire?

[II Corinthians 11:2‭-‬3 NKJV] — For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my Lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” [Daniel 1:10 NKJV]

But the chief eunuch told Daniel, “I'm afraid of what my Lord the king would do to me. He's the one who decided what you should eat and drink. What if he were to see you looking pale and sickly compared to the other young men of your age. Because of you the king would have my head!” [Daniel 1:10 FBV]

This was the reply Daniel got from the Chief or Prince of the Eunuchs, after Daniel requested of the Prince of the Eunuchs to not defile himself with the king's food and the wine which the king drank. Remember God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the same Chief of the Eunuchs. Yet by his answer to Daniel above, the same Chief or Prince of the Eunuchs basically rejected Daniel's request/prayer on the excuse that he feared the king who gave that command directly to him would have his execution if the king sees the resultant evidence of malnutrition on those he was supposed to have fed with those things the king himself commanded.

So even though Daniel prayed (requested) the Chief Eunuch, and even though God had brought Daniel into favor and goodwill of the Chief Eunuch, the same Chief Eunuch feared to help Daniel and chose the fear of the king over the favor/goodwill to Daniel. So Daniel had to talk to another man lower than the Chief to help him by secretly trying them for 10 days without the king's food and without the knowledge of the chief Eunuch.

Thus both Daniel's prayer request and hope of God's favor/goodwill in that Chief Eunuch, failed Daniel's bid to keep himself pure and abstaining from the king's defiling food and drink. Even those in whom God had put favor and goodwill for you may be unable to help your purity and holiness, but may be able to help your prosperity and comfort. They may be useful for you in other areas of your life except being useful in area of your purity, integrity and sanctification: yet God had brought you into their favor and goodwill. So know where the favor and goodwill you have in a man, woman, chief or leader, are most efficient for you, where they are most redundant, and where they are no longer favorable to your purity, integrity or relationship with God.

The favor and goodwill for Daniel in the Chief/Prince of the Eunuchs would fail Daniel's request to not defile himself and to remain undefiled, pure and abstaining from pollution. But the security man, who was appointed by the Chief Eunuch to watch and guard Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, even that security man would be the one God would use to help Daniel and his three friends preserve their purity and to remain undefiled.

Learning from Daniel, you may be amazed at those whom God would use to meet your divers needs at divers points. Frustration and disappointment arise from thinking "Mr. A" who has favor and goodwill for you should help solve your "B-needs" and vice versa: But "Mr. A" could not solve your "B-needs" though he solved your "A-needs." Therefore, even though God brought you into the favor and goodwill of the Chief or "Mr. A," you must put your trust and faith in God alone to know whom He to bring to solve your B-needs, C-needs, etc.

And to Daniel, the Chief Eunuch with his great position to help and goodwill towards Daniel, was still not the right one to meet for that particular purpose and purity of those four men of God. He wouldn't even try or give a trial to what Daniel was requesting or proposing, because he was a politician who was more interested in his political interests, his political positions and political relationship with the king, and above all feared the king's wrath more than he cared about Daniel's request, proposal or favor.

Nevertheless, though the Chief Eunuch was not the person to meet Daniel's request to not defile himself, yet the Chief Eunuch was a person to fulfill his king's Commandment. That in itself was a positive virtue in the Chief Eunuch. Not fulfilling Daniel's direct prayer request under him in order to fulfill king's direct command above him, was faithfulness and loyalty in the Chief Eunuch. This kind of faithfulness and loyalty is not so much found among some pastors, teachers and prophets, today to the King of Kings.

There are pastors, prophets, priests and leaders, who have set aside feeding the King's chosen ones with the Foods that the King Himself fed on and with the Drinks the King Himself drank; and have instead fed them with other kinds of stuff they love to feed on apart from those which the King of Kings both fed Himself and Commanded for all those He had called and chosen under those pastors, prophets, priests and leaders. For example, the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His Leaders to go find the called and chosen ones, and also commanded the Leaders to be Teaching (Feeding) them all things that He the King Himself Commanded them, which were the things He Himself began both to do (fed) and to teach. As it is written,

[Matthew 28:20] — "Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen."

[Matthew 10:27] — "What I tell you in darkness, that you should speak in the light: and what you hear in the ear, that you should preach on the housetops."

So the Lord and King Himself Commanded His own Doctrine to be the doctrine those pastors, prophets, priests, apostles, and leaders, were to pass on to those they were to call, to choose or to disciple. But what do we see among some ministries? Pastors, prophets, priests, apostles and leaders, have set aside the King's Food and Drinks, which the King Himself fed and drank from; and instead they have followed what would best entertain, sooth, and increase the financial blessings and worldly prosperities of the people they have gathered under their congregational influence. Technically, those people under those pastors and leaders are somewhat deciding the foods and drinks (Doctrines, Messages, things they want to hear/receive), just as Daniel and his three friends decided the kinds of substitute food and drink they wanted instead of the king's Food and king's wine that were assigned. But the basic difference between Daniel doing that and these church people under those deviated pastors and teachers doing same, was in the fact that Daniel did it for his purity, sanctification and zeal for God, while these church people are doing so for their own lusts (greed, selfish dreams, materials prosperity and worldly achievements and properties, all being Lusts). As it is written,

[2 Timothy 4:3-5] — "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry."

[Galatians 1:9-12] — "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brothers, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Now according to this last Bible reference just before this paragraph, it states that any pastor, priest, teacher, prophet, apostle, church leader, or any man, who preaches any other doctrine or gospel different from that which the King Himself fed, taught and Commanded, may be cursed. To be cursed is directly connected to being in hell fire. So what more punishment for leaders who changed the King's Food and Drinks which the King Himself Commanded to be fed to those the King called, selected or chose?

The Chief Eunuch, the Leader of the Eunuchs, himself knew and mentioned the degree of punishment for setting aside the king's food and drinks and instead feeding the king's chosen ones with different foods and drinks that the king himself neither fed on nor commanded. And according to him, that sin is a sin unto death and the king would have his head in execution just for not feeding the king's food and drinks to the king's chosen.

Remember the chief baker in days of Joseph, and how the chief Baker was executed by hanging his head in Pharaoh's command. What was revealed in his dream that made Joseph gave that interpretation or prophecy to him? In his dream, the chief Baker was carrying all manners of baked king's food belonging to Pharaoh in three basket on his head: perhaps he was either to take the king's food to the king or to take the king's food to feed those the king himself commanded him to feed them with. But the chief Baker was doing neither of the two, but instead he stood there while the birds were eating off the king's food from three baskets on his head. Jesus Christ said, it's not good to take the children's bread (food) and cast it to the dogs to eat instead of the children. But the chief Baker was wickedly allowing the birds to feed either the children's bread or the king's food, making them go hungry and refusing to feed them. Therefore, in three days the king himself had to kill a man even during his birthday celebration, in order to execute the chief Baker for that. [Genesis 40:16-22]>

So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, [Daniel 1:11 NKJV]

Daniel then spoke with the guard that the chief eunuch had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. [Daniel 1:11 FBV]

Daniel did not keep silence after the chief had spoken his fears of the king's wrath into Daniel's request; but Daniel directed his words with wisdom to the guard or security man directly in charge of him and his three brethren. The negative answer or response he got from the chief of the eunuchs did not discourage Daniel into giving up his Fight for his sanctification and undefiled faith in God. Daniel kept speaking or saying the things, though he changed his audience to whom he had spoken to.

Why does it sound like Daniel did the wise thing by speaking to a lower authority over him to do what a higher authority over him feared and refused to do for him? What his higher senior boss (chief Eunuch) feared or refused to grant to him because of the law (king's command), was the same thing Daniel met his immediate senior prefect or manager (Melzar) to grant him in secretive and illegal manner. Was this right or wise to do?

But was it also wise or right for Daniel to have bypassed his Head of Department (HOD - Melzar) in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, to go talk to the overall chief [Ashpenaz-Prince of the Eunuchs] in requesting his exemption from the king's food and drink for the sake of his purity and faith?

Obviously, Daniel was not keen to protocol order nor was he even regarding the king's order, at the detriment of his purity and faith. Like Daniel here, do not allow any law, any authority, any commandment, any king, any boss, any job/employment, any man or woman, to either make you defile yourself or deny your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As you can see, these four men, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, were men of God who were both excellent and good at all their studies and duties, but their loyalty was first to their Purity (undefilement) and Faith (Worship/Service to God), above even the king's Commandment or call to duty. For instance, three of those men would stand their ground and refuse to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's image, and boldly answered the feared king in public that they were neither careful nor afraid of his threats of burning furnace. Daniel himself would know it's illegal to pray to God, and yet the same Daniel would continue his daily three times prayers with his window opened and not regarding the law of the land or the king's degree at the detriment of his faith in God, not fearing the Lion's den.

Therefore, Daniel did not even regard the answer given by the Chief or Prince of the Eunuchs; and he rather began speaking to another man to get it done with or without the Chief's support. Daniel did not even care about who had the higher authority between the men he had spoken to, but what he cared was who is willing to help and corporate with him even if that was illegal or criminal thing to do under that employment, school or land of Babylon; provided at the end Daniel and his three brethren would have saved their purity and faith in the Lord God of heaven.

Therefore, as a Christian, you should fear doing "impure things" more than doing "illegal things;" and you should fear doing "faithless things" more than doing "criminal things."

*** There are places where doing unrighteous, unholy and impure things are legal. E.g. places where they legalized gay(same sex) cohabitation, legalized prostitution between two or more consenting adults doing it in their privacy, legalized abortion, legalized nudity in fashion, legalized Witchcraft, satanism, associations with any diabolical or occultic group, or legalized worshiping anything, etc.

*** And there are places where doing some righteous, holy and pure things in faith of the Lord God, are considered illegal or criminal offense. E.g. places where they outlawed preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, such as Islamic community state and communist states, where they consider convert Muslims into the true faith of the true God is considered a "Haram" or "Forbidden." And among the antichrists, the atheists and the haters of the faith in God.

So a true Christian may have to do illegal things in order to fight for his/her Purity, Undefilement and Faith. I have been in groups where they considered preaching the gospel or Teaching the Word of God, as illegal or against the rules and purpose of the group; and yet I preached or taught the Word of God there even if that was illegal, or else I had to leave those groups. Why should you want my money as contribution, but reject my gospel of faith as my contribution? Why should I be giving alms to beggars but cannot preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the beggars? For as faith without work is dead, even so works without faith are dead works.

As true believer, your faith and purity in Christ Jesus rank higher than legality or illegality, criminality or citizenship, in anywhere on earth. Learn of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. [Daniel 1:12 NKJV]

Daniel said to the guard, “Please give us this test for ten days: Don’t give us anything but vegetables to eat and water to drink. [Daniel 1:12 ICB]

Daniel here requested the security manager in charge over him and his three brethren, to kindly conduct a "Mock Exam" or "Mock Test/Trial" for the four of them over a period of one and half (1½) weeks. During the trial, he was to feed them only vegetables and water, to prove them for ten days.

Mock exams are designed to replicate the timing and structure of the main exam. In this sense or application, the word "Mock" means "Mimic, Immitate, Replicate or Simulate" the main or original thing. So if that was to be a Mock Exam/Test, then surely there was going to be the main Exam or Test that mattered to life or death.

Daniel, in the Bible verse above, proposed and requested the security manager over him to do "Mock Exam" for him and his company of three. That was a very wise engagement able to resolve the doubts and fears, for by that shall the evidence or result prove the worthiness of Daniel's bid.

But do not mistake the "Mock Exam" for the "Probation Period:"

***** The Probation Period was Ten Days, comprising in feeding as Vegans/Vegetarians only, as suggested by Daniel;

***** The Mock Exam proper would be in the next verse, at the end of the ten days, precisely the results or evidence before the Security manager to judge the performance of those four students in Physical and Health Studies [PHS].

Thus, this Bible verse above is about Daniel proposing a Probation Period of 10 Days for the employment/application of Vegetables and Water only for the bodies of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; rather than the employment/application of the food and wine of the king of Babylon to those undefiled bodies. But at the end of the 10 Days, the Mock Exam is not going to prove the Vegetables and Water taken, but prove the men who took them. It's like saying, employ these natural salad and water into the food menu for my sake, and after 10 Days test me, (not testing/tasting the food, but testing me who tasted the food) to prove me; and my performance and outcome should determine either the permanent employment of these food I recommended or the sacking/firing of the food.

If that be the case, then I would have become what I ate, and advocated for, by 10 Days, so that my performance at the tenth day is one with the fate of the food I had lived by for those ten days. Thus, at the tenth day, I became what I ate in order to represent what I ate in the sense of Daniel in the Bible verse above: Then to judge me in physical & health wise would automatically be to judge the food I fed or lived by for those 10 Days. Then the food and my belly became one. As it is written,

[1 Corinthians 6:13 BSB'19] — "“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

Again, it is written,

[John 6:27 GLW] — "Don’t labor for perishable food, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”"

In His Holy Communion, the Bread broken with His own Hands (not the bread broken with the hands of pastors and men of God); that Bread broken with His own Hands and given to you to eat in His own Word that pronounced the Bread as His own Body/Flesh — eating that broken and blessed bread representing His broken Body makes your Body one with His Body that already became one with that Bread both you and Him ate.

Yes, relate what Daniel was requesting the Security manager to do to them and that which God Himself already did to the children of Israel before their Promised Land as it is written below:

[Deuteronomy 8:2‭-‬4 NKJV] — And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

"Then let our countenances be looked on before you, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with your servants." [Daniel 1:13 AKJV]

Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat of the king's [rich] dainties be observed and compared by you, and deal with us your servants according to what you see. [Daniel 1:13 AMPC]

We walk by faith, not by sight. But behold, the faith of these men of God depended on other men's sight for validation, authentication and approval. Daniel and his 3 brethren had to depend on how much their "Appearance or Countenance (in Sight)" would perform better than the appearance or countenance of their colleagues in men's sight, for them to retain the Purity of their faith in God. So men of God who had faith and purity in God had to also appear or look better in carnal or physical appearance than those who do not have faith and purity in God, for men of the world to see and rate their appearance or countenance in ways that secure their purity and faith.

The people of the world seemed to be performing better than the children of God in the physical Appearances and Countenances; and the reason it seems the Children of God do not care is because they believe being spiritual means being careless about appearance or physical countenance.

I have seen a Christian Sister who was deeply rooted in faith, disciplined and was a virgin, but she was unkempt. One could easily perceive foul odors from her mouth and hair due to stinking sweat. She was spiritual, but she cared less of her appearance or countenance among men, except to cover herself against nudity and to dress as godly women.

Remember, there was a time when a prophet, Samuel, used examination of appearance/countenance as method for the selection of God's Anointed by "Appearance;" but during that time, the Lord God rejected the adoption of that selection method for God's Anointed King over God's chosen people. As it is written,

[1 Samuel 16:7] — "But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

As a contrast, in the days of Daniel within the top bible verse above, the true men of God even submitted themselves to be evaluated and their religious food choices rated by their appearance or countenance in comparison with the appearance or countenance of other youths/young people who were profane in  matters of eating/drinking, and who would take in anything and everything sweet/delicious into their bodies. It was not going to be a beauty contest, but fitness, wellness and healthy, appearance contest between those who were having "Undefiled (reserved) Bodies" and those who were having "Adulterated (Anything goes in) Bodies" at the levels of eating and drinking.

The days are coming when true men/women of God shall be far better than those who do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in them, both spiritually and physically in heavenly visions and in earthly appearances. Then a man cannot look better in appearance than someone closer to God than him/her. For as you are in the Spirit, so are you in appearance; as you are in the secret, so are you in the open; and who you are in your heart/spirit is who you reflect in eyes of all. Appearance shall no more be "Mask."

I don't see why a Virgin and undefiled Ones should look poorly in appearance like those seven sick cows in Pharaoh's dream, while the non-virgins and defiled ones are looking like the seven fatted cows in appearance. We are getting closer to the age when all men shall know the tremendous grace inside purity and faith to greatly enhance the Appearances of anyone. Not purity alone, but purity mixed with true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the colleagues of Daniel had some purity because they were made eunuchs to the king of Babylon, but only Daniel and his three brethren had faith in God together with their purity. And all the young beautiful virgins that qualified to contest with Esther for "Queenship" to the king of Shushan had some purity as virgins, but only Esther had the faith in God.

While Daniel and his three friends showed us you don't have to eat like your worldly colleagues eat for you to look better than them in physical strength appearance, Esther who came after Daniel's Era showed us you don't have to dress and do make-ups like your worldly colleagues dress and do make-ups for you to look better than them in physical beauty appearance.

*****See Daniel and his three friends had the rich King's Foods and Wine at their beck and call, and yet they denied themselves and humbly settled for just vegetables and water. For they were not depending on what those food will give or add to enhance their physical appearance; but rather care more to retain their purity, faith and contentment with little in righteousness. Whereas their colleagues enjoyed the king's rich foodstuffs and drinks greedily.

*****See Esther had the rich King's cosmetics, makeup kits, and purification kits, at her beck and call, and yet she denied herself and humbly settled for just what was available without making request or demand for anything (Esther 2:12-15). For she was not depending on what those cosmetics/makeup kits will give or add to enhance their physical beauty appearance; but rather care more to retain their purity, faith and contentment with little in righteousness. Whereas her colleagues enjoyed the king's rich provisions and takeaways greedily.

At the end, all those men and women who kept their purity, faith and contentment with little in righteousness, without being covetous or greedy, became far more better in appearance than their colleagues.

[Psalms 37:16-18] — "A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever."

[Proverbs 16:8-9] — "Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps."

"So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days." [Daniel 1:14 AKJV]  

The guard agreed to the proposal they made and tested them for ten days. [Daniel 1:14 FBV]

In this Bible verse above, a Consent was granted on terms and condition: the agreement of the security manager to the matter was acquired with ten days trying times (ten days probation). The man could not invest his agreement or trust in the proposal of Daniel and his three brethren, until he could test/prove his own security in the agreement or trust in them.  

He's the security manager in charge over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, to secure them. There may be something to learn from him about a form of security that involves proving or trying those he was securing, especially if it's required to trust them as secured enough in their own Choices outside the box. Generally:  

Security involves "Proving or Proofing." In security terms, when an object is proof to a subject, it is not just about evidence but basically about resistance/hardness to the subject. So the object becomes "Subject-Proof" means the object is resistant to the Subject or would not allow the subject to go/pass through it. E.g.  

***Water-proof — means the object is resistant to the passage of water as it's subject. ***Wind-proof — means the object is resistant to the passage of wind as it's subject. ***Fire-proof — means the object is resistant to the passage of fire as it's subject. ***Heat-proof (Insulator) — means the object is resistant to the passage of heat as it's subject. ***Burglary-proof — means the object is resistant to the passage of Burglary as it's subject. ***Bullet-proof — means the object is resistant to the passage of Bullet as it's subject. Etc. So "Proving" or "Proofing" is a basic act in "Security Guarantee."  

In the Bible verse above, the Security/Resource manager over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, agreed or consented to prove them for 10 Days probational days, to establish their bodily strength and resistance in living just on vegetables and water.  

The idea is to ensure that not what goes into the men came out of the men. If Vegetables and water go into the men and then stronger, cleaner, fatter and healthier, effects come out of the men, then the men are "Leanness-Proof." You may recall the seven fatted cows and the seven lean cows in Pharaoh's dream. Though the seven fatted cows fed only on grass (Vegetables) like Daniel and his three friends, yet those seven fatted cows were "Leanness-Proof." But on the other hand, the seven lean cows swallowed or ate richer meat in the presence of the king (Pharaoh) as if eating the king's food, and yet they remained as lean as they were despite all the fatted cows and meat they fed on. However:  

This is not just about being "Lean-Proof" but about being "Defiled-Proof" to what comes or goes into your body. It is written,  

[Mark 7:15‭-‬16 NKJV] — There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”  

[Hebrews 12:15 BSB'19] — "Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many."  

If someone slaps me, and I slap back, that means slab passed through my defensive and came out of me after going into me: that means I am not "Slap-proof." If I am abused, reviled, cheated, robbed, offended, tempted, etc, and I allow it pass through me to give out or output similar evil things that was done or imputed into me, that means I am not "Proof" to those evil things because there are leakages through which those evil deeds would also get out from me to hurt other people or even to revenge those who hurt me. Hence, do not return evil for evil to show you are "Proved, Proof or Proofing" as much as lies in you or as much as your capacity can endure. As it is written,  

[Romans 12:17-18] — "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men."  

Look, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, were tried "10 Days" to test their "Proof." Your "Proof" in the "10 Days Trial" will be your faithful even in the face of the first death so that you may overcome the second death. As it is written,  

[Revelation 2:10‭-‬11 NKJV] — Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

"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." [Daniel 1:15 AKJV]

And at the end of ten days it was seen that they were looking better and had taken on more flesh than all the youths who ate of the king's rich dainties. [Daniel 1:15 AMPC]

In this Bible verse above, were the "Macho-men" who did not train in any form of ten-days body-building exercise to win the Macho or Machismo contest among men, but did just preserved their bodily-purity in their nutrition; and yet at the end of ten-days they were better in bodily built-up and appearance than their fellows who disregarded bodily-purity while eating of the king's rich dainties.

This happened like that happened between the seven fatted cows and the seven lean cows in Pharaoh's dream. Though the seven fatted cows fed only on grass (Vegetables) or clean food for cattle (like Daniel and his three friends), yet those seven fatted cows were better built up bodily and healthier than their colleagues. On the other hand, the seven lean cows swallowed or ate richer meat but unclean for cattle in the presence of the king (Pharaoh) as if eating the king's food, and yet they remained as lean and poor as they were despite all the fatted cows and meats they fed on.

Do not judge food by the riches appearing in the food, but rather judge food according to the riches the food gives  within ten days or more. Therefore, what food impacts in a man is more important than the attractions or decorations the food possesses on the table. We have seen kings' foods with rich appearances aroused appetites and attractions, but they gave poverty and leanness in those lusting after them. For God's sake, there is no food that is truly richer and healthier than the food that impacts or sustains purity and life in the eaters.

Thus, there are "Deceitful meats" or "Deceptive Foods." Beware of deceptive foods, which possess riches, attractions, decorations and very inviting (charming), but they do not give or transmit the same riches, attractions, decorations or health, into those who are deceived into eating them. Deceitful meats or Deceptive Foods are robbers, taking more away from their eaters than they give to them, just as the forbidden fruit did to Eve and Adam. Therefore, it is better to put a knife to your throat than to put deceptive foods into your mouth. As it is written,

[Proverbs 23:1‭-‬3 NKJV] — When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you; And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.

Deceitful foods have charms, but do not have offering and enduring of life to those deceived by them. Yes, there are also deceitful drinks and deceptive wine: as it is written,

[Proverbs 20:1 FBV] — Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.

Esau ate Jacob's reddish portage, but lost his birthright to Jacob for it. Some women ate or drank some things given to them by friends, but lost their virginity/purity to those friends for those things they gave. The young man of God from Judah ate and drank from an old prophet's house in Samaria, but he lost his prophetic grace (visions) and lost his ability of hearing God speak, to the old prophet who gave him those food and drink. The young man of God began to depend on the old prophet to hear what God is saying immediately the young man of God had eaten "Deceptive Foods" offered to him by the old prophet. (1 Kings 13).

Behold Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, gained more flesh by not eating flesh that defiles flesh; and their handsomeness or fairness increased within ten days. Ten days earlier, they were not as handsome or fair in their countenance as they became ten days after. Not only were they the best in Macho, they were also the most handsome and fairest among the princes in their class.

Behold the days are coming when, those who have not defiled themselves and who have kept their bodies in sanctification and honor, they shall be made fairer and brighter (more brilliant) in countenance, handsomeness/beauty, appearance and grace, than those who were defiled. This is the great "Transfiguration." During the Days of the great Transfiguration, all those holy and righteous men and women who were not handsome/beautiful or fair before, they shall be made fairer, brighter and more in their countenance than all their fellows who defiled themselves; as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, were used to demonstrate in the top bible verse above.

When those days of the Transfiguration come, people shall know the true "Beauties of God's Holiness." Remember, Jesus Christ was not the most handsome man when He walked this earth and died (Isaiah 53:2); but behold the Jesus Christ has now become the most handsome and fairest among men. Hence, behold the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, which includes the alteration or changing of Jesus' Face from not being so handsome into becoming very handsome and fairest among men. As it is written,

[Luke 9:29] — "And it came to pass in His praying, the appearance of His face was altered (changed), and His clothing became dazzling white."

[Psalms 45:2 AMP] — You are fairer than the sons of men; Graciousness is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.

Again, it is written,

[Song of Solomon 5:9‭-‬16 AMP] — “What is your Beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your Beloved more than another beloved, That you should so command us to take an oath?” “My Beloved is exquisitely handsome and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His Head is like [precious] gold, pure gold; His Hair is [curly] like clusters of dates and black as a raven. His Eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk and reposed in their setting. His Cheeks are like a bed of balsam, banks of sweet, fragrant herbs. His Lips are lilies dripping sweet-scented myrrh. His Hands are rods of gold set with beryl; His Abdomen is a figure of carved ivory inlaid with sapphires. His Legs are [strong and steady] pillars of alabaster set upon pedestals of fine gold. His Appearance is like Lebanon, stately and choice as the cedars. His Mouth is full of sweetness; Yes, He is altogether lovely and desirable. This is my Beloved and this is my Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

"Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them vegetables."

Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. [Daniel 1:16 NKJV]

In this Bible verse above, a steward (Melzar by name) took away some people's portions of rich food and wine, and replaced them with vegetables. Was the steward doing those people a robbery or he was doing them a favor? That was a favor disguised as a robbery. A robbery could be turned into favor to those deprived.

The portion which the steward Melzar took away from them were "Their Portions," but for purification reason they exchanged their portions for Vegetables. Esau sold his birthright in exchange for Jacob's portions, and Esau became profane. But Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, forgone their portions for Vegetables, and they remained undefiled. Those were men who were not moved from hunger or appetite for food/drinks, but by zeal for purity.

How do you compare between "little" and "much," or between "Eating Vegetables" and "Eating Rich Meat?" Do you judge them by the "Virtues" and "Spiritual Values" involved? As it is written:

It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be wealthy and have much trouble. It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you than to eat meat with those who hate you. — [Proverbs 15:16‭-‬17 ICB]

[Daniel 1:17 AKJV] 

"As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

[Daniel 1:17 AMPC]

As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all [kinds of] visions and dreams. [Luke 21:15; James 1:5-7.]

Here are two extracts from this Bible verse:

• 1.**** God gave the four young men knowledge and skill in all Academics (all learning) and wisdom, but only gave one of them (Daniel) understanding in all visions and dreams.
   

They were all spiritual gifts, but not all in spiritual matters. There are spiritual gifts but in pursuance to non-spiritual matters, and on the other hand there are spiritual gifts exclusively in pursuance to spiritual matters — "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Notice that God gave the four of them spiritual gifts that became talents, skills or soundness of mind, in non-spiritual matters which were All Academics, meaning all learning and curricular Wisdom. But God did not give the four of them spiritual gifts that could make the four of them prophets or oracles of God, except Daniel that was given the gifts of understanding spiritual mysteries in all visions and dreams or revelations.

Therefore, God is relatively more selective or careful in giving out spiritual gifts that would make the receiver a prophet, interpreter or oracle, of God. In other words, there are more people that God gave skills, intelligence, in physical matters, sciences, technologies, arts, histories, culture, languages, economics, politics, etc. But compared to those, there are fewer people that were chosen to have gifts that cross the physical realms into spiritual Realms or mysteries of God. As it is written,

[Luke 8:10 NKJV] — And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

Like Joseph in Egypt had, Daniel in Babylon also had understanding in all visions and dreams.

• 2.**** When God gave these four young men skills and intelligence, God did not give to the rest of their fellow classmates that had defiled themselves. Nevertheless, all of them already had some skills or intelligence to qualify to be enrolled or admitted into that class. God just gave of His grace to those four students to set them far above their fellows.
   

They were not lacking in skill or intelligence, seeing their initial qualifications proved they were all skillful and intelligent. Written:

[Daniel 1:4] — "Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans."

Now they all had these skills or talents in them, but only four of them still received more of those as "Gifts of God" despite having them as qualifications. So no matter how much they had wisdom, knowledge, skill or understanding, there was still room for them to receive more of those as Gifts of God. When it comes to such grace, a cup is never truly full. There's always room to increase in learning, increase in wisdom, grow in knowledge and grow in grace. Do not stop to receive such grace from God. As it's written,

[Proverbs 1:5] — "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:"

[Luke 2:52] — "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

Notice Daniel already had skills and understanding before God gave more to him here. But even after this, Daniel still set his heart to understand more, and God sent Angels to give Daniel understanding and skill more.

[Daniel 9:22] — "And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding."

"Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar." [Daniel 1:18 AKJV]

Now at the end of the time which the king had set for bringing [all the young men in], the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. [Daniel 1:18 AMPC]

In the Bible verse above, there's something about "the End of Days" or "the End of Time" in relation with the gathering and presentation of all the appointed men before the King at the throne, for their "final Judgment" or "final Trial" by the king himself being their Judge. The king himself had set the appointed men (eunuchs), set the appointed time (3 years - Daniel 1:5), set their appointed courses (assignments) and set their appointed provision (king's food/wine); and all those appointments were basically for one important "Purpose" — which was to prepare them for this "Presentation of them before him (the king), to ensure they were fully ready or prepared to meet the king on his Judgment seat, to review, evaluate, asses, compare them, in judging them."

[Amos 4:12] — "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel."

Well, we have been gathering ourselves together and presenting ourselves before God in fellowship or church gatherings. What's the difference? Two differences between gathering to meet Him in fellowship/temple and gathering to meet Him at His Judgment Seat (Throne).

№*1 — In gathering to meet Him in fellowship altar, you give Him "Offerings;" but in gathering to meet Him at His Judgment seat, you give "Accounts." Many Churches have devoted more messages in teaching their members about "Giving offerings, gifts or tithes," during meet Him; but many of those Churches have neglected teaching their members the weightier matters such "Judgment, Standing Trials and Giving Accounts."

[2 Corinthians 5:10] — "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad."

In that our meeting with Him, we propose or decide on our own what offering to give to Him, and He accepts: infact, we decide our presentation before Him, deciding when (the time), where (the place) and what (the presents/gifts), and He agrees with us. But in this presentation and meeting with Him, we do not decide anything because He decides our presentation before Him, such as, He decided when (the appointed time), where (the appointed place) and what (He makes the demands or asks the questions, the interviews or chooses what He requires from us or judges us) during the meeting/presentation. Surely, He will not ask for gifts, but for fruits.

Even so, Nebuchadnezzar the king was not expecting gifts (offerings) from those young eunuchs presented before him; but was expecting their fruits.

№*2 — In gathering to meet Him in fellowship, He knows you by your constantly coming to Him, and always fellowshiping with Him. But in gathering to meet Him in Judgment, He does not know you by how much fellowship you attended or by how much prayers you made; rather He knows you by your Works, your Deeds or by those Books that shall be opened pertaining you. As it is written,

[Luke 13:25-28] — "After the Master of the House gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But He will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.’ And He will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out."

Nebuchadnezzar the king then may never had known those young eunuchs before their presentation to Him, and so he was not being partial or favoring any of them when he thoroughly reviewed or tried them by fruits.

Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. [Daniel 1:19 NKJV]

And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service. [Daniel 1:19 BSB]

Each one of us will get the privilege of being interviewed by the King Himself, and not just by the King's delegate. Such interview is also an opportunity to enter into the King's Service for those who excel in the King's Judgment or Interview. In this Bible verse above is an example of a king who would choose to interview, judge and select, the candidates he wants into his king's services rather than delegating that task to a third-party recruiting agency or to some of his staff. If not for his pride and idolatry, I would have said Nebuchadnezzar is one of the wise kings I  respect in the Bible. Basically, I appreciate it when the king himself, the president himself, the governor himself, the overall boss himself, the MD or CEO Himself, conducts the interviews for job applicants into his services, employments, or companies. But we have lazy leaders, who allow others select their workers, and those who do the selection or interview sometimes compromise, misjudge or are biased and bribed.

Away from focusing on the King's Wisdom in interviewing the candidates himself rather than assigning his staff or ministers to do the selection for him. Let us now focus on the four Candidates who excelled the king's interview and finally got employed into the king's service as public servants in royalty. These included Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Many were called, but few were chosen. Many were invited for oral interview with the Boss (King), but only few (four) were selected (chosen). The "few" was not determined by the number of vacancies available, but determined by the number of distinguished and excellent performers. Meaning, few were not chosen because the vacancies or available positions were few; rather few were chosen because the number of applicants that exceeded and impressed the king (to a degree he could not lose any of them) were just few (four) men. So supposing there were 100 men that had similar effect on the king, the king would have just employed all the 100 men or created positions for them because he would not want to drop any one of them. So when the Lord said, "Many are called, but few are Chosen," He was not implying scarcity of positions but scarcity of qualified.

You may have heard this popular saying, "God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called." That's true if it's "Calling," but that's false if it's "Chosing (Selection)." Many are called, but few are chosen. You may not qualify before God called you, but you must qualify before God chose you.

Nebuchadnezzar pre-qualified the calling of the princes and made provisions for them; yes, the king did not go himself to call them but sent the servants (Chief Eunuch) to call and qualify them. But when chosing instead of calling came, the king himself had to chose and not assigned chosing to his servants. The king chose the qualified. If you were not qualified before you were called, then there's Grace in your "Calling" (invitation); but if you were not qualified before you were chosen, then there's corruption (not grace) in your "Election" (selection). Therefore, calling does not require qualifications, but election requires qualifications for it to be faithful and true.

Let's learn from Joseph, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, how to go through Job Interviews in order to earn and secure the Jobs. Many of us only got invitations to Job Interviews but did not get the jobs, and we need to change that by learning from these five men who were privileged of being interviewed by wise Kings and they shocked those wise kings. Here are some of their secrets:

"They were not passing the kings' interviews to get the jobs or positions, but passing the kings' interviews to reach where no one else is like them in the entire kingdom."

If your target is to prove you are qualified for the job, if your target is to defend your qualifications or years of experience in your CVs, or if your target is to show you are better than your fellow candidates for the job, you are not yet like Joseph, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael or Azariah.

These men were beyond all those targets, which was the reason they were indispensable. They left no other option or comparison to them in the entire kingdom of those kings. Thus, the kings could not have found any one like them in their entire kingdom, even beyond those competing with them. Hear what Pharaoh said about Joseph before giving him the Job:

[Genesis 41:38-41] — "So Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone like this— a man who has God’s Spirit in him?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you. You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I’m Pharaoh.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I now put you in charge of Egypt.”"

Notice the king of Egypt said there was no one like Joseph in whom is the Spirit of God. So also, the king of Babylon found out there was no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. If you are going for interviews, let your target be that after the interview they can testify they have not seen or known anyone like you. Even if others are also good for the jobs, they should not be like you in excellence. Then they will not want to lose you. Remember that in Interviews, wisdom in communication exceeds wisdom in experience. If you have 20 years experience in the job, but your communication shows you have 2 years or 0 year experience, you have demarketed yourself. Have the experience, but build more on communication because interviews are more about communication than they are about experience. Joseph, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, had little or no previous years experience for those jobs the kings appointed them; yet they communicated in the Wisdom and Spirit of God, and shocked kings.

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. [AKJV]

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. [BSB]

Far beyond comparing these 4 young men with their fellow classmates, and now beyond comparing them with all the magicians and the enchanters or astrologers in the entire realm and kingdom of Babylon;  these four young men were ten times better than all the wisest and magical people that were in the kingdom or realm of Babylon. This was discovered by Nebuchadnezzar, himself when he asked them questions, inquired or consulted with them in all matters and secrets of wisdom.

This is not just saying Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, had more understanding than all their teachers. Rather this is saying these four named men far exceeded their "Rated Prejudices" in the king's enquiries. Other Characters in the Bible (like Joseph before Pharaoh, Solomon before the Queen of Sheba) far exceeded their "Rated Prejudices" in Kings' Enquiries of them.

In the King's Enquiries, the "Answers of Wisdom" are as good as or even better than the "Works of Wisdom." Therefore, Wisdom is not just known by Works/Acts of Wisdom done, but also known by Answers/Counsel of Wisdom. A man could have done or built great Works of Wisdom as architect or wise master builder, and yet another man without building such great Works would exceed him by "Answers of Wisdom" greater than "Works of Wisdom."

Magicians, Astrologers, Enchanters or Sorcerers, basically show their works to show their wisdom; or their wisdom is seen or known by their works called 'miracles, magic or powers.' But Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, did no performance or no works that could be seen by men to point out their wisdom; and yet the king found them to be ten times better than the workers, the magicians, the enchanters, astrologers and sorcerers.

Infact, a major difference between Joseph and Daniel in wisdom, or between Solomon and Daniel in wisdom, is that you may point out the physical works Joseph or Solomon later did with the Wisdom in him, but there was no physical work to point at as the achievement of Daniel in all his wisdom, knowledge of science and understanding, both in spiritual and scientific matters.

So if you are like those who require "Work Experience" or "Previous Works Done" before you hire someone to work for you, you may miss someone like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. But if you are hiring like Nebuchadnezzar, you will value people like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To add one more person, add "Ahithophel" that great counselor David had before he rebelled against David and joined Absalom.

Am separating between "Wisdom of Workmanship" (Wisdom to do Works) and "Wisdom of Demystification" (Wisdom to know Secrets or do Counseling).

• * Name 5 men in the Bible that had very great "Wisdom of Workmanship" to do great Works for God:
   

 — Joseph in Egypt, — Bezaleel and Aholiab and all the wise hearted people in the wilderness [Exodus 31:1-6], — Joshua [Deuteronomy 34:9]  — Solomon.

Why I mentioned these 5 men is because with their Wisdom of Workmanship, they had no record of further consulting adviser or counselor for any direction: others with wisdom of workmanship at some point had some advisers, counselors, mentors, or precedence as reference or pattern to follow. These 5 had enough.

• * Name 5 men in the Bible that had very great "Wisdom of Demystification" to know Secrets (mysteries) or Counseling:
   

— The Serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1) before he abused it in counseling the Woman to eat of the forbidden tree, and therefore God overthrew him. Though the Serpent may not have eaten it himself, he was overthrown for counseling another person to eat it 

— Ahithophel before he abused it in counseling a man to commit fornication and have sex with women that another man had, and therefore God overthrew him. Though Ahithophel may not have Fornicated himself, he was overthrown for counseling or telling another person to fornicate. (2 Samuel 16:20-23 and 17:14).

— Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who did not abuse it: for they neither counseled/committed Fornication being Eunuchs, nor defiled themselves with eating and drinking that which was forbidden to them.

Nevertheless, Ezekiel the prophet witnessed that someone was wiser than Daniel in Wisdom of Demystification. As it is written,

[Ezekiel 28:3-5] — "Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from you: With your wisdom and with your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures: By your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches:"

And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. [AKJV]

Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. [Daniel 1:21 NKJV]

Daniel remained politically relevant across five kingdoms because Daniel remained spiritually relevant in them. The spiritual relevancy of Daniel fed or sustained his political relevancy in any kingdom he was. Such a rare gift. Though the four men were found ten times better than all the magicians, enchanters or astrologers, in the entire realms of Babylon, only Daniel among the four remained politically and spiritually relevant through out the entire remaining reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Evilmerodach, Belshazzar, (Kings of Babylon) and Darius (King of Media), and finally Cyrus (King of Persia). And even to the end of the ages, Daniel's prophecies and writings remain relevant over the human race.

But Daniel remained indispensable from one kingdom to another, even across five kingdoms physically and spiritually forever, because Daniel had special gifts of God that made him a useful prophet, which his three friends did not have: though they all had the gifts of Wisdom, Skill and understanding Science, that made them ten times better than magicians, astrologers/ enchanters.

As things are changing and knowledge increasing, old knowledge and wisdom fade away, and so are their relevance fading off. There are books, knowledge, theories, languages, lessons, etc, that were very relevant in the past but suddenly have no place or relevance in the present or future.

Somehow, the political relevance of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) ended with the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. But Daniel's political relevance spanned across five successive Kings with changes of empires or overthrowing of world's kingdoms/superpowers. Somewhere, it was Daniel's political request that made the king consider promoting Daniel's three friends: as it is written,

[Daniel 2:49] — "Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king."

Then later again, after their fire incidence, 

[Daniel 3:30] — "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon."

Now look again at the top Bible verse above, and notice it mentioned Daniel continued till the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia.

Was the first year of Cyrus king of Persia the year that ended Daniel's political relevance? No, seeing by the third year of Cyrus king of Persia was the year the "Prince of Persia" withstood the Angel of God sent to give Daniel understanding. As it is written,

[Daniel 10:1] — "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision."

So what was the significance of the First Year of Cyrus that made Daniel's political relevance tagged to that year?

That first Year of Cyrus was "Beginning of Ezra" or "Beginning of the Seventy Weeks prophetic Calendar" to the coming of Messiah (Daniel 9:24-25).

The First Year of Cyrus as Beginning of Ezra:

[Ezra 1:1-3] — "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem."