Daniel Prove His Commitment: Daniel 1 v 14 - 17

Daniel 1:14 "So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days."

Since this will not get him in trouble, Melzar agrees to it.

Daniel 1:15 "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."

God intervenes and feeds Daniel and his friends’ food that the steward knows not of. This is food from God.

The success of Daniel’s plan was due more to the sovereignty of God in blessing his spiritual commitment than it was to the diet. Certain kinds of meat were not prohibited to the Jews, but a vegetarian diet in this case may have been inherently superior to the king’s table.

Exodus 23:25 "And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."

Fatter indicates healthiness.

It is better to obey God, than to have a feast of unclean food. They are in great shape at the end of the 10 days. This is the first of the great manifestations of God in Daniel.

Daniel 1:16 "Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse."

When the steward saw they were no worse for their restricted diet, he allowed them to continue on that diet.

Daniel 1:17 "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

Notice where their skill and knowledge had come from, God had given it to them as a gift. Their faithfulness to God was overwhelming. God gave them gifts to help them in this hostile place.

Daniel's gifts were even more.  He received the gift of interpretations, along with the understanding and wisdom.  God would, also, communicate with Daniel in dreams. The things these 4 received from God are very much like the gifts of the Spirit the Christians receive.

I Corinthians 12:7-10 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;" "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"