Dan 1:6 (NIV) Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These are just young people who had godly parents who gave them a chance to be exposed to the training, principles, and power of God. The parents could have allowed themselves to be contaminated by all that was going around them; but, they didn’t! The parents could have looked at all the wrong, bad, and evil and decided God and the things of God wouldn’t help; but, they didn’t! The parents could have lived a dedicated and committed life with God and neglected to share those things with their children; but, they didn’t! It was HIGHLY possible that their children were already showing signs of leaning toward sin, the world, and humanistic trends. Their parents could have allowed these signs to discourage them and decide the children wouldn’t be interested or receptive; but, they didn’t!

Dan 1:7 (NIV) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. These young men were being forced into new identities; they were being renamed after foreign gods that were evil. The names that they were going to be called with were going to try to take away who their parents had trained them to be. Their clothes had been changed; their training had been changed; those in charge of them had been changed; their geographical location had been changed; and they were no longer able to consult their parents in times of confusion. But, their parents had built a relationship with God in them and had taught them how to look to God and His Word for their guidance. The parents didn’t just teach their children to obey them; they taught them to obey God.

Dan 1:8 (NIV) But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. You might admire Daniel for HIS resolve; you may see a young man who wasn’t easily influenced by his environment. If Daniel had NOT been properly prepared by his parents, he wouldn’t have known anything about being defiled. If Daniel hadn’t been properly prepared by being led into a close relationship with God, he wouldn’t have had the power or resolve to stand up against such odds. It is true that Daniel had to be receptive to his parent’s training; but, once he opened his heart, his parents were right there to provide him with what he needed.

Dan 1:9 (NIV) Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel. Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity operate in supernatural power. When you raise your child using Biblical principles, it isn’t just another philosophy or school of thought. It isn’t like being trained on how to be a mechanic or a plumber. You aren’t just filling your child’s mind with information and knowledge. You are giving them a relationship with God that works with power in their lives that they are going to desperately need. It’s important not to think that Daniel was just a unique, special child different from your child. The reason God made sure he was in the Bible was so you could have faith that the Bible and a relationship with Jesus works. The book of Daniel isn’t in God’s Bible so as to impress you with Daniel. He isn’t in the Bible so as to depress you about how your child is, or, how your child raising isn’t going. Daniel is your example of what Jesus wants you to “eat” and “feed” your child spiritually.

Dan 1:10 (NIV) But the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” You have seen certain foods and drinks make a difference in your body. You understand what it takes for an athlete to develop their body. You have seen what exercise and physical training can do to an athlete. But, if food, training, philosophies, and exercise involve doing things that pull your child away from putting their trust in Jesus, you have to be aware of these sinister tricks of the devil that hurt your child. Pop psychology, secular humanism, and believing in themselves seems to be spiritually neutral; but they aren’t. Once your child tries to use these things in real life, it puts them into a relationship with themselves that removes God from their life.

Dan 1:11-12 (NIV) Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. What made Daniel believe that such a test would work? What kind of training and experiences would cause him to think that the lack of “proper” foods would make them physically fit? What’s wrong with just going along with the rest of the young people? In the Old Testament, a lot of Daniel’s relationship with God had to do with his diet. In the New Testament, concepts, philosophies, principles, belief systems, and spiritual training have much to do with you and your child’s relationship with God. If you or your child embrace things from the world that structure your character and attitudes, God will step back and allow you and your child to run your own lives.