What would I do?  Have I already decided?

In the third year of King Jehoiakim, the first collection of prisoners were taken captive by the Babylonians. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaria. (2^nd Kings 24:1) (Daniel 1:1) Those meeting specific conditions were chosen to be students of the Chaldean’s language and customs that they may serve in king Nebuchadnezzar’s court. (Daniel 1:3-4)

“…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.” (Daniel 1:5) NKJV

The king’s delicacies most likely had been sacrificed to his gods. To eat of them was to participate in their worship. (Numbers 25:1-3)

Likewise, the meat provided may have been considered unclean or ill prepared according to the Law of Moses. (Deuteronomy 14:3)(Leviticus 17:4) 

The king’s wine likely had been used in worship as well. To drink, would be to have fellowship with other deities. The inability to keep an unimpaired mind and the associated dangers would likewise be compromised. (Proverbs 23:29-35)   

Daniel and his three friends were selected and given Babylonian names. For the chosen, submission to the king’s decreed daily order was non-negotiable. An attempted renovation of heart was underway for those of Judean nobility. This overhaul would inevitably require defiance of GOD’S Law if completed.

What would you do?

“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…” Daniel 1:8 NKJV

“Daniel purposed in his heart…” Purposed- sûwm, soom- to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix… (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary)

“Purposed” in Daniel 1:8, is the same word, “put” used in Genesis 2:8. Consider how this contributes to Daniel’s success in abstaining.  

The creation of man and the garden where he would be placed, were purposed and decisive. “…the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.” Genesis 2:7-8

GOD did not act based on a “let us decide as we go” mentality, rather, His actions were planned and resolute. Daniel’s decision to not defile himself was likewise resolutely pre-planned. He did not have to decide what he would do when the king’s daily provision was appointed to him. He had determined beforehand to be loyal to GOD.

Perhaps the problem we face, is not necessarily a lack of knowledge regarding what is right and wrong, rather, a lack of resolve in our heart. Instead of purposing in our heart beforehand, do we “decide as we go?”

If faced with Daniel’s decision, what would I do? Have I resolutely pre-planned to be loyal to GOD in all situations? If I have, I would likely abstain, if not, I would likely partake.

What would I do?

The better question is, “Have I already decided?”