Letters to the Faithful - Daniel 1:9
Berean Standard Bible
Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
King James Bible
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Hebrew Text:
וַיִּתֵּן הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־דָּנִיֵּאל לְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי שַׂר הַסָּרִיסִים׃
Transliteration:
Vayiten haElohim et-Daniel lechesed ulerachamim lifnei sar hasarisim.
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Now God had granted
This phrase highlights the sovereignty and providence of God in the affairs of men. It underscores the biblical theme that God is actively involved in the lives of His people, orchestrating events according to His divine will. This divine intervention is a recurring theme throughout the Book of Daniel, as seen in Daniel's ability to interpret dreams and visions. It also reflects the biblical principle found in Proverbs 21:1, where the hearts of leaders are in the hands of the Lord.
Daniel favor and compassion
The favor and compassion granted to Daniel are reminiscent of Joseph's experience in Egypt, where he found favor in the eyes of Potiphar and later Pharaoh (Genesis 39:4, 21). This favor is not merely human kindness but is divinely inspired, suggesting that God is preparing Daniel for a significant role in the Babylonian court. The Hebrew words for "favor" and "compassion" indicate a deep, heartfelt kindness, which is essential for Daniel's survival and success in a foreign land. This also prefigures the favor Jesus found with God and man (Luke 2:52).
from the chief official
The chief official, likely Ashpenaz, was responsible for the training and well-being of the young captives from Judah. His willingness to show favor to Daniel is significant, given the cultural and religious differences between the Babylonians and the Israelites. This relationship is crucial for Daniel's ability to maintain his faith and identity in a pagan environment. The historical context of the Babylonian exile, where captives were often assimilated into the culture of their captors, highlights the miraculous nature of this favor. This scenario also foreshadows the way God would use Daniel to influence the Babylonian empire, much like how Esther found favor with King Xerxes to save her people (Esther 2:17).
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Beloved brothers and sisters, saints of the Most High, hear the Word of the Lord today with hearts made ready by the Spirit, for we stand not merely before a historical passage, but before a divine pattern, a holy principle etched into the dealings of God with man. Daniel 1:9 may appear at first glance as a simple line of narrative, a transitional moment in the story of a young exile. But oh, how much more it is! It is a revelation of the quiet sovereignty of our God. It is a testament to divine favor in the midst of captivity. It is the mark of providence in an alien land. And it is a living word for the Church today.
The Scripture says, “Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” Let us pause and let this truth sink deeply into our spirit: Daniel was not in Jerusalem. He was not in the land of promise. He was not standing at the altar of the temple, but in the corridors of Babylon, under the authority of pagan rulers. Yet it was there—in exile, in the shadow of idolatry, far from the land of covenant—that God gave him favor. This is the God we serve: the One who is not bound by borders, not hindered by empires, not distant in our darkest places, but present and powerful, working even in Babylon.
God gave Daniel favor. This was not a result of mere personality. It was not political savvy. It was not human charm or cleverness. The Scripture makes it plain: it was God who moved the heart of the prince of the eunuchs. It was God who softened the gaze that fell upon His servant. God opened the way. And this is a recurring theme in Scripture, is it not? That even in foreign courts, among those who know Him not, God gives favor to those who walk uprightly. Joseph in Egypt, Esther in Persia, Nehemiah before the king—time and again, the Lord shows that He can incline the hearts of rulers and stewards toward His chosen ones, even when they dwell in lands of captivity.
Oh Church, are you not comforted by this? Are you not strengthened? For some of you feel as though you are living in a kind of Babylon now. You look around at a culture that mocks your values, a system that rejects your God, an environment that seems hostile to truth. And yet—do not despair. For the same God who gave Daniel favor can give you favor. The same Spirit that rested on Daniel in Babylon rests upon you now. And God still moves the hearts of kings, employers, teachers, judges, and authorities. His sovereignty is not theoretical—it is active, personal, and precise.
But listen closely: Daniel was not favored so that he could live in comfort. He was favored so he could live in conviction. The verse before this reveals Daniel’s resolve—not to defile himself with the king’s meat or the wine of the royal table. He made up his mind to walk in purity before the Lord, even in Babylon. And then—then God gave him favor. Holiness preceded honor. Conviction preceded promotion. It was not compromise that brought Daniel blessing—it was consecration. And oh, how this truth needs to be sounded again in our time!
We live in an age that often confuses favor with fame, and influence with assimilation. But Daniel teaches us that divine favor is not the reward of selling our convictions to gain a platform. No, true favor is the result of fearing the Lord more than the king, of honoring heaven more than earth. And when a man or woman dares to stand apart, to walk clean in a defiled generation, God will open doors no man can shut. God will make room where there is none. God will raise up His servants and seat them before rulers—not for applause, but for witness. Not to be celebrated, but to be consecrated.
And what kind of favor did Daniel receive? The Scripture says not just favor—but “tender love.” Oh, what a phrase! Not merely tolerance. Not grudging respect. But an affection, a kindness stirred in the heart of the very one assigned to manage Daniel’s captivity. Only God could do that. Only God can take the cold machinery of an empire and warm it with divine tenderness. Only God can cause compassion to spring up in unlikely places. And some of you need to believe this today—not just as a story, but as a promise.
You who feel surrounded. You who work in dark places. You who walk into schools or jobs or cities where faith feels foreign—hear me. You are not alone. You are not forsaken. And you are not without favor. God sees. God knows. And if you will walk as Daniel walked—in humility, in holiness, in the fear of the Lord—He will go before you. He will open hearts to you. He will make a table for you in the presence of your enemies. He will make even your captors show you kindness, if that serves His purpose.
But I must warn you, beloved: favor will not shield you from trial. Daniel would later face lions. His friends would face the fire. But they would not face it alone. For the One who gave favor is the same One who sends angels into dens and walks with the faithful in the furnace. God does not promise us an easy road. He promises us a faithful presence. And in every trial, His favor is not withdrawn—it is made manifest.
Let us then walk in the spirit of Daniel. Let us resolve in our hearts not to defile ourselves with the compromise of the age. Let us live lives of integrity, prayer, courage, and compassion. And let us believe—truly believe—that God still grants favor. That He still goes before His people. That He still raises up the humble. And that He, not Babylon, writes the final story.
So take courage, saints. Favor is not the crown of the powerful, but the gift of the faithful. It is not earned, but bestowed. And when it comes, it comes not to glorify the vessel, but the God who fills it. Let us then be vessels worthy of honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work—even in Babylon.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all dominion belongs, now and forever, amen.
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O Sovereign and Eternal God, the One who rules over kings and councils, over nations and generations, over heavens above and earth below, we come before You today in holy reverence and in trembling awe, for You are God and there is no other. You speak and it is done. You move and no one can stand against You. You are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Daniel in Babylon, the God of the exiled and the faithful, and You are our God now and forevermore.
We thank You, O Lord, for the light of Your Word, for the record of Your works and wonders that shine through the Scriptures like stars in a dark sky. We praise You for Daniel 1:9, where You, in Your mercy and hidden might, brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. It was not by Daniel’s ambition, nor by charm, nor by skillful maneuvering, but by Your hand—Your sovereign, quiet, providential hand—that hearts were turned and doors were opened. You gave favor. You gave affection. You gave access.
So now, Lord, we come before You as a people longing for that same divine touch, that same holy intervention. We do not trust in the strength of our personality, nor in our credentials, nor in our influence. We cast ourselves upon Your mercy and ask, O God, let Your favor rest upon Your people once again. Let it rest not as a fleeting feeling, but as a divine appointment. Let it not be rooted in our comfort or popularity, but in Your purpose and kingdom.
Lord, we live in a kind of Babylon now—an age filled with idols and compromises, where the name of our God is often dishonored and the path of righteousness mocked. And yet You have placed us here—not as victims, but as witnesses, not to conform but to shine. So we cry out to You, O God: give us the spirit of Daniel. Give us hearts that are unshaken by the pressure of culture. Give us a holy resolve, a sacred resistance, a purity that does not waver even when it costs.
And as we walk in faithfulness, Lord, grant us favor—not for our sake, but for Yours. Favor that opens hearts to truth. Favor that creates space for testimony. Favor that magnifies Your Name through our obedience. Let it be said of Your Church in this hour what was said of Daniel in that one: that God brought them into favor and tender love even in a foreign land, even under ungodly rulers, even in the midst of exile.
Let Your Spirit move upon the hearts of those in authority over us. Cause employers to show kindness, judges to rule justly, neighbors to see light in our lives, and even adversaries to be disarmed by the fragrance of Christ upon us. Cause policies to shift, barriers to fall, and opportunities to rise—not for the promotion of our names, but for the advance of Your gospel.
O Lord, do this work in the hidden places. As You moved in the heart of the prince of the eunuchs, move in boardrooms, in classrooms, in courtrooms, in governments, and in families. Work behind the scenes where no eye can see. Let Your providence weave unseen threads that lead to salvation, restoration, and glory.
But Father, we do not ask for favor at the cost of truth. We do not seek ease over holiness. Should favor be withheld and persecution rise, still let us be found faithful. Let us be as Daniel was—faithful in resolve, faithful in diet, faithful in prayer, faithful in spirit. And should favor come, let it humble us, not exalt us. Let it be a channel of grace, not a throne of pride. Let it point to You, not to us.
Lord Jesus, You who walked in perfect obedience, You who found favor with God and man, You who stood before governors and kings and spoke the words of life—live in us. Be the wisdom that guides us. Be the boldness that speaks through us. Be the favor that covers us. Be the glory that shines from within us. Let Your name be lifted high in our words, in our work, in our witness, and in our walk.
And now, O Holy Spirit, Comforter and Keeper, seal this prayer in the courts of heaven. Make it more than words. Make it a reality. Go before us, prepare the way, and let Your favor fall like dew upon every place You have called us to stand. Let no man close the door You have opened. Let no darkness overcome the light You have kindled.
We give You glory, O God of Daniel. We trust You in our Babylon. We follow You in faith. And we wait for You in hope. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray.
Amen.
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