The term grooming has become a common political talking point in recent years. Grooming in this context is the practice of preparing or training someone for a particular purpose or activity. One of the reasons the National Education Association continues to push liberal and sexual ideology in public education is to groom future voters. Today’s featured passage introduces a group of young lads who are being groomed to potentially serve the King of Babylonia in the near future.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with a part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar [Babylonia] to the house of his god and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring in some of the children of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility— 4 Youths without blemish, well-favored in appearance and skillful in all wisdom, discernment, and understanding, apt in learning knowledge, competent to stand and serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king assigned for them a daily portion of his own rich and dainty food and of the wine which he drank. They were to be so educated and so nourished for three years that at the end of that time they might stand before the king, Daniel 1:2-5.
One of the ways this grooming process begins is by showing children of Israel how lavish the king and his servants live and eat daily. While it’s not clear after reading the below passage, Daniel appears to refrain from eating his initial meal or meals. As he seeks to hold his ground by clinging to faith, Daniel approached the chief of the eunuchs to share his concern. By expressing his spiritual conviction publicly, God has favor on Daniel by being offered a ten-day test to see who looks healthier.
But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by [eating his portion of] the king’s rich and dainty food or by [drinking] the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself. 9 Now God made Daniel to find favor, compassion, and loving-kindness with the chief of the eunuchs.10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear, lest my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, should see your faces worse looking or more sad than the other youths of your age. Then you would endanger my head with the king. 11 Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove your servants, I beseech you, for ten days and let us be given a vegetable diet and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat of the king’s [rich] dainties be observed and compared by you, and deal with us your servants according to what you see. 14 So [the man] consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days it was seen that they were looking better and had taken on more flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s rich dainties. 16 So the steward took away their [rich] dainties and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables, Daniel 1:8-15.
When I was forced to relocate to South Carolina in the summer of 2022, I was offered any shift that I wanted. While I should have chosen Back Half Days so that I could be off every Sunday, I decided to work Sunday through Wednesday so that I could travel every weekend that I wanted. After 15 months of missing out on corporate worship, God reminded me of Daniel’s convictions. A few weeks into my new shift with Sundays off, it is well with my soul by clinging to my faith.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 