God was working behind the scenes for these faithful individuals. " God granted Daniel favor..." (v9). " God gave them knowledge..." (v17). Daniel’s God is always working behind the scenes for His followers who are determined to be faithful to Him - even when He doesn't appear on center stage! Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is the way to heaven, the embodiment of truth, and the way to eternal life. Jesus came proclaiming truth and living truth out for us to see and follow. Being like Jesus involves living out and proclaiming His truth.

How should we do this? Thankfully the New Testament shows us how, and it shows us that an exemplary approach to the Bible is gospel-centered too. Daniel took a stand (v9-16). He didn’t give up when his first approach seemed to fail (v10). This was no "sign from heaven" that he could join the crowd and compromise. The very fact that his request was shelved - but not denied - encouraged Daniel to try a more tactful approach (vs11-14). Daniel persevered in his determination to find a way to obey the Lord in this seemingly impossible situation - and God opened up a way! (See Luke 11:9-10) New Testament texts citing positive examples from the Old Testament include Romans 4 (Abraham and David); James 2:21-26 (Abraham and Rahab); 5:13-18 (Elijah); 1 Peter 3:5-6 (Sarah). New Testament texts citing negative examples from the Old Testament include Romans 9-11 (Israel); 2 Cor 11:3 (Eve); Hebrews 3:7-4:13 (Israel); 12:15-17 (Esau); 2 Peter 2:6 (Sodom and Gomorrah); 2:15 (Balam). Daniel 6:10 when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Third, to dare to be a Daniel means to be enabled by God and to trust in His enabling – Daniel 1:17. Daniel was not a superhero. He was not superhuman. Daniel was who he was and was able to do what he did because God enabled him. It states:This is the whole point of Hebrews 11: faith leads God's people to look to their heavenly reward and therefore act with bold confidence in God during their earthly sojourns. How should we respond to these examples? We, "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses," must "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely," and "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:1-2). In other words, we should follow the example of the saints of old as they too looked forward to heaven in faith and hope. It should mightily strengthen and encourage us to learn of the countless ways in which God's people have been able to look to God's saving grace and thereby find strength to remain near to him by faith during their earthly pilgrimages (Heb 11:13). Following their examples is as far from moralism as is possible. God has been faithful to save his people during all generations, and he has left us a record of this in the Bible to help us on our way to our heavenly home.

The story of Daniel takes place during those dark days of exile, and it comes as a welcome light in the darkness of defeat. It’s the thrilling account of how a few faithful individuals were blessed and honored by God in the midst of a situation that seemed hopeless. The life of Daniel contains some powerful lessons for us today - especially lessons for Christians who are faced with the temptation to compromise their faith. I could continue long at this point; but I have given you the general principle, which you can work out for yourselves. Christians have meat to eat of which the world knoweth not. We have our re-creation; that is the way to pronounce recreation, re-creation; we go to our Creator, and he makes us anew. We have our nights of holy mirth; we have our days of delight. There is a King, a portion of whose meat we rejoice to eat, and of whose wine we delight to drink; but as to questionable things, things of the world, and all that tendeth towards departure from the living God, we say that, by his grace, we determine not to defile ourselves therewith. Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV) – 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.III. Now, in closing, I want to show you that THERE ARE CERTAIN POINTS WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE PROVED BY EXPERIENCE. I Speak now to you Christian people who hold fast by the old doctrines of the gospel, and who mean to hold fast by the old ways, and will not be led astray by modern temptations. Now what have you to prove? What should we do with all of those figures in the Bible who have done mighty deeds in the service of God? What, if anything, can we learn from them? Should we ever ask the questions "What would David do?""What would Joshua do?""What would Paul do?" Even: "What would Jesus do?" The point of the story isn’t his wisdom or his bravery but that he had all of those things because he recognized who was in charge of the universe and he acted accordingly. Then observe that, the protest must he courteously home. While Daniel was very decided, he was very courteous in his protests. He went to the prince, and he told him his scruples. He requested that he might not be obliged to defile himself. There are many ways of doing the same thing; and some people always select the very ugliest way of doing everything. Let us ask for wisdom and discretion in doing that which is right. Firmness of purpose should be adorned with gentleness of manner in carrying it out. It was so with young Daniel.