by W. Chaz Glass
Daniel’s diet, emphasizing the importance of abstaining from the kings food in Babylon, laid the foundation for Daniel’s character and the blessings that surrounded him throughout the book. While many have participated in “Daniel Fast”, I believe every believer is on a perpetual Daniel fast. In this post, we will chart the concept of The Perpetual Daniel Fast.
Daniel’s diet offers key insights for understanding the concept of spiritual resilience and purity. When taken from Judah to serve in Babylon’s royal court, Daniel and his friends faced immense pressure to conform to Babylonian customs, including dietary practices. Nevertheless, they remained determined not to defile themselves with the king’s food (Daniel 1:8). Their unwavering commitment to God, their desire to remain close to Him, and their dedication to staying free from spiritual blemishes offer valuable lessons for modern Christian living.
It is crucial for leaders and believers to engage in thoughtful analysis and interpretation of texts like Daniel. By doing so, the church can maintain its spiritual vitality, resist false teachings, and navigate the evolving landscape of societal and technological changes and the temptations they bring while upholding the foundational truths of the gospel. This process of applying spiritual insights to our daily lives is essential for the churches growth, resilience, and relevance in an ever-changing and decorating world. It emphasizes the importance of staying rooted in the Word of God and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern how to address present-day issues within a biblical framework.
One of the key lessons from Daniel’s diet is the importance of resisting conformity to worldly practices that contradict our faith and values. Daniel refused to defile himself with the kings food, likely offered to Babylonian gods or not adhered to Jewish dietary laws. Daniel made a bold stand, choosing obedience to God over compliance with the cultural expectations of those serving in the Babylonian court. In the natural, Daniel abstained from eating certain foods, but in the spiritual, he was resisting, covering himself, and protecting himself from anything that might jeopardize his relationship with God. He didn’t use his captivity or his position in the royal court as an excuse to violate the covenant. This inner commitment not to defile himself is the true essence of the Daniel fast.
Today, Christians are confronted with numerous temptations to compromise their faith, whether through unethical business practices, moral compromises, or giving in to secular societal pressures. The story of Daniel encourages us to have the courage to say no; no to practices that conflict with our faith, even when it seems difficult or unpopular. Daniel and his friends, exiled to Babylon, found themselves far from their homeland, surrounded by a culture and belief system that contradicted their own. Nevertheless, they remained steadfast in their faith.
In our modern context, while we may not experience literal exile, we are absolutely in a foreign culture—the world of the prince of the air. Globally, believers encounter situations where Gods truth is challenged by seeds sown while men slept and even goats within the church. Whether it’s at school, work, and family circles, the pressure to conform to social norms are intense, and it’s akin to converting to a foreign faith. Daniel’s example reminds us that faithfulness to Gods truth should not waver, even when we are in an environment seemingly incompatible with our beliefs that convict those around us. This early demonstration of faithfulness sets the stage for Daniel’s continued reliance on God throughout the book, particularly in the face of later trials and plots on his life. When we refuse to defile ourselves, God honors and responds to what we propose in our hearts in our resistance against worldly pressures and fulfilling our own sinful desires. Real pressure, or refinement, exposes our true commitments. It’s easy to be faithful when we’re in our personal sanctuaries of comfort, but when away from them, our true character is revealed. This illustrates the principle that when individuals remain faithful to the gospel and resist worldly pressures to conform, they can experience Gods favor, guidance, and blessings. Daniel’s commitment to maintain his spiritual purity and adhere to his religious convictions led to a demonstration of Gods provision and favor, not only regarding his diet but also in the areas of wisdom, understanding, and effective service in a foreign royal court above all others. Daniel was elevated not because he interpreted dreams, but because he remained spiritually pure and committed to God.
Fasting, including a Daniel fast, often involves abstaining from certain foods, but it’s essential to recognize that the true essence of fasting extends beyond temporarily eating just fruits and vegetables. The real fast involves sacrificing and not conforming to systems or values of darkness that surround us in the world. When we feel spiritually faint; due to the enticing pagan food surrounding us, we need to fast for strength to maintain the mind of Christ, to see clearly, and not yield to pressure. This fast encompasses not only refraining from physical nourishment but also abstaining from behaviors, attitudes, and practices that are contrary to one’s faith and values. It is a way of seeking spiritual purification, drawing closer to God, and demonstrating a commitment to living in alignment with His principles.
The connection between Daniel and the Teachings of Balaam and Jezebel in Revelation
While the specific context and issues in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation differ, there are parallel themes of remaining faithful to Gods commands and resisting cultural or societal pressures to compromise ones faith. Both texts highlight the importance of maintaining spiritual purity and fidelity to Gods truth. The rebukes of the churches in Revelation, including the references to eating and drinking, can be challenging to interpret in a spiritual setting today. Rather than taking these references literally, it’s important to seek a deeper understanding of their symbolic meanings. Much of Revelation employs symbolism, and the references to eating and drinking extend beyond their historical context.
The teachings of Jezebel and the teachings of Balaam represent two distinct but related issues. They both warn against aligning oneself with a foreign culture and pagan gods. These teachings can be likened to eating from the enemy’s table, indulging in practices that compromise spiritual purity and represent unholy allegiances. The teachings of Balaam in the church of Pergamum are associated with compromising with worldly influences. The reference to Balaam implies that some in the church were compromising their Christian faith by participating in practices associated with idolatry and pagan culture. This is reminiscent of Balaam leading the people of Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality. The Bible says Israel, “yoked himself” to Baal-Peor. Today, closely associating, or yoking, with groups or individuals who clearly do not follow Gods commands and live an antichristian pagan lifestyle, will have the same result.
The teachings of Jezebel in the church of Thyatira are associated with promoting sexual immorality and also eating and drinking food sacrificed to idols. The union of Ahab and Jezebel in the Old Testament demonstrated Israel relying on alliances for protection and provision rather than on God. Jezebel used her position of leadership as queen to introduce the worship of foreign gods in Israel. I associate this with church leaders introducing false teaching with the intent of turning believers away from the truth. The church in Ephesus tried those who claimed to be Apostles and found they were not. These leaders in Thyatira were not tested and Jesus rebukes them for tolerating false teachers. Such leaders convince believers that problems the Word says to preach against in society are not sinful, even acceptable, and, like Jezebel, will violently attack true men and women of God.
Daniel’s unwavering faith and refusal to compromise in his worship of God in Babylon can be seen as an example of resisting the influence of Balaam, who symbolizes being lured and joining oneself with the world. Daniel’s steadfastness serves as a model for believers to recognize the enemy’s tactics and resist compromising their faith. Daniel’s story also parallels the challenge posed by Jezebel in promoting idolatry and false worship in Israel. In churches dealing with the influence of Jezebel, Daniel’s resistance to bowing to false gods is a symbol of resisting the decoy of idolatrous practices and teachings, urging believers to maintain fidelity to the true faith. Just because someone is in a position of authority turned the truth into a lie, does not grant us an opportunity to indulge in behaviors we know the Spirit is trying to purge. Both Daniel’s experience and the challenges faced by the churches influenced by Balaam and Jezebel involve a mix of internal and external pressures. In the case of the churches, these pressures may come from within the faith community (internal) and from the broader culture or external influences. Daniel’s story illustrates the need for believers to stand firm in their faith despite these pressures. The idea here is that when one aligns with values and practices that are at odds with their faith, they risk distancing themselves from Gods truth and nourishing themselves spiritually with things that are not aligned with Gods will. Wavering individual begin to replace the Bread of Life with the delicacies of darkness. This can lead to a weakening of ones spiritual foundation and a departure from the principles and teachings of God. Daniel’s case was obvious, but ours may be difficult to detect. The enemy is subtle and it’s possible to be unaware you are yoked in spirit to pagans and following the teachings of Jezebel.
The specific temptations and challenges faced by each generation of the church can vary based on the cultural, technological, and societal context of the time. While the core human tendencies and sinful inclinations remain consistent throughout history, the methods, and opportunities for succumbing to these temptations can change with advances in technology and shifts in societal norms. No matter the time or place, the state of idolatry is eating and drinking from the enemy’s table. This highlights the importance of adaptability in addressing contemporary challenges while maintaining principles of faith and morality that do not change. We must-see modern-day Babylon with spiritual eyes and the food being offed to us in order to “fit in”. The church must remain vigilant in recognizing how cultural and technological shifts can influence the temptations and struggles that individuals face. By acknowledging these changes and addressing them within a biblical and moral framework, the church can continue to provide guidance, support, and spiritual direction in a rapidly changing world that can be hostile to Christians.
The enduring nature of sin and temptation emphasizes the perpetual nature of the Daniel fast. The ultimate goal for all of us is to promote holiness, righteousness, and truth as a royal priesthood, and to build a deeper relationship with God in every generation. The enemy’s agenda is to separate you from God, to lead you into a situation where you make a conscience decision to disobey. We are enticed by the flesh to engage in godless acts that lead to this separation. Once we do, he accuses us, wanting nothing more than to see God’s judgement upon us. But there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Even when internal and external pressures are intense, we must separate ourselves from these factors as much as possible. Any thought entering your mind that temporary indulgence is acceptable due to circumstances is a lie. In this context, Daniel’s decision not to defile himself goes beyond the natural context into the spiritual. This helps us understand and interpret Ephesians 5:26-27, which states, That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
As individuals in our daily walk, we are on a perpetual Daniel fast, making conscious decisions guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to avoid defiling ourselves by indulging in the delicacies offered by the prince of this world, because we are in the world but not of it.