7 Instances of Thankfulness in the Life of Daniel

1. When He Chose to Eat Vegetables

Daniel 1:8-10; 12-15 says, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now, God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, 'I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.' So, he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." 

Because of Daniel's sacrifice of his comfort, God gave him wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams, which eventually elevated him to a prominent position.

2. When He Interpreted the Dream

Daniel 2:19-23 says, "During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: 'Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wisdom and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.'"

Despite Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to enlist help from astrologers and other diviners, none were able to interpret the dream as the king wanted. However, God was faithful and allowed Daniel to understand the dream. When he interpreted it, the king (in verse 48) gave him a high position and made him ruler over Babylon. That is until the seeming rebellious acts of Daniel's friends infuriate the king again.

3. When the King Bows to Daniel

The king assigned food to Daniel (called choice food) and prohibited him from eating anything else. Daniel refused to eat it and chose to eat vegetables instead. When he is better nourished than the king and his servants, he is highly revered by the king. God gives him the ability to interpret the king's dream. Once Daniel interprets the king's dream, the king is overjoyed: "Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, 'Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.'"

This is the first time we see the king display humility. This is because of Daniel's example. This causes Daniel to have more power to stop the wickedness going on around him.

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4. When Daniel Was Promoted to Ruler

As Christians, we strive to have a good reputation and deal with others with integrity because of the Holy Spirit within us. But it's one thing to merely act like it; it's another to gain a reputation for being a man of integrity. 

Daniel 5:10-12 says, "There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father, he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind, knowledge, and understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."

God was faithful to Daniel, and he successfully told the king his interpretation. When everything he had said came to pass, Daniel was elevated and promoted to ruler. Daniel displayed humility by telling the king to give the robe and rewards to someone else. But the king wanted to show his gratitude to him. Daniel is thankful that God gave him his keen knowledge and wisdom and, in turn, gave God glory.

5. In the Lion's Den

The king issued a decree that no one could pray to any god except Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was faithful to pray to God, and when one of the king's servants heard him, he reported him to the King. The king made good on his promise and threw Daniel in the lion's den to be eaten by the lions. He placed a stone at the den entrance and sealed it with his signet ring. But when morning arose, the king called to Daniel in the den to ask if he had died. Daniel responded: "May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty." The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (6:21-23). Because of being found innocent in God's eyes, God saved Daniel from a literal pit of despair.

6. When Daniel Interprets His Own Vision

When Nebuchadnezzar had horrible dreams, Daniel was the only one who could interpret them. But in chapter seven, we see Daniel now having visions of his own. At first, they deeply trouble him, and he keeps them to himself. But in chapter nine, it says, "In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So, I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed…" (verses 2-4).

The difference between Daniel and the king was the favor of God and the ability to interpret the visions regarding the future. No matter how the king tried, he could not interpret the visions. Then, when more disturbing dreams happen in real life (the writing on the wall from a human hand on a wall), he is overtaken with fear. But Daniel gets relief from his fear as God finds favor with him and gives him the ability to interpret the vision and declare the destruction of Jerusalem would end in seventy years. This revelation brought him comfort, but instead, it caused Daniel to confess his sins, fast, and praise the Almighty God for these words. He demonstrates his thankfulness to God through this act.

7. God Strengthens Daniel

After his confession and interpretation of a vision about Jerusalem, Daniel enters a trance where God touches him and reveals a vision regarding Daniel's people. This vision exhausts Daniel. But then God strengthens him: "Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong. When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength." (10:18-19)

Even in moments when Daniel is exhausted because of terrifying visions about the future, God honors him by strengthening him physically and emotionally, as he declares Daniel is "highly esteemed." Daniel is grateful to God for his favor and physical provision.

Daniel was a righteous man who was blameless in God's sight. Because of his dedication to God, his refusal to bow to other gods, and his displays of humility, God saw him in a good light and elevated his position. May we all choose to allow our reputations of being devoted followers of God to lead us into receiving wisdom and understanding and give God glory through our actions.