Daniel and his friends, as young men, would have been trained in the royal court of Judah and would have been taught the Jewish laws. They also would have been taught the prophecies of Isaiah, who lived 100 years prior and Jeremiah, who was a contemporary. When they were being trained, they had no idea that in a short time this training would be challenged.
As the story of Daniel unfolds, it becomes obvious that their religious training was not just a ritual to them. They were in a relationship with God. They brought the presence of God with them into a foreign land. Isaiah 41:10 Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’[1] They knew who their God was and trusted Him despite a grim situation.
We never know when we will be thrown into a similar grim situation. Today it is a pandemic and we can not gather in a church. Tomorrow it could be some other unexpected circumstance, a car accident, tornado, or job loss. It is important to pay attention to God and be willing to have a relationship with Him. Use this time of “safer at home” as a time to grow in faith. If you don’t have a Bible, you can access one on line via https://www.biblegateway.com/ or https://www.blueletterbible.org/ Choose a contemporary translation to help make the reading easier. Search on a church near you and find their internet services. God gives us a promise in Jeremiah 29: 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.[2]
To hear more about Daniel and his situation, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/daniel-a-man-of-character/following-the-lord
[1]The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC.
[2] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.