Scripture Focus
“The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” — Daniel 1:5–7 (ESV)
Devotional Thought
If you’ve been following my devotional writings through the book of Deuteronomy, the opening chapter of Daniel probably won’t come as much of a surprise. Moses repeatedly warned Israel about what would happen if they entered the Promised Land, forgot the LORD, and turned to other gods. Tragically, that is exactly what they eventually did. So Daniel tells us something very important at the beginning of his book: “The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand” (Daniel 1:2).
Nebuchadnezzar had the greatest army of his day, but ultimately Babylon’s victory wasn’t simply because Babylon was stronger than Judah. This exile was part of God’s judgment upon His people for their persistent rebellion. Unless the Lord had allowed it, Nebuchadnezzar could not have taken Judah captive.
But another phrase caught my attention as I continued reading. Daniel and these other young men were “to be educated for three years.”
That’s interesting because they had already been selected precisely because they were intelligent and capable. Verse 4 describes them as “skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace.”
So what exactly did Babylon need to teach them? Certainly there were legitimate things for them to learn. Verse 4 specifically says they were to be taught “the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” But I think something larger was happening as well. Babylon wasn’t simply teaching these young men new information. Babylon was attempting to reshape their identity and worldview.
Think about everything that was changing. They had been removed from their homeland. They were being taught Babylonian language and literature. They were given Babylonian names. They were offered food and wine from the king’s table. Everything around them communicated the same message: You belong to Babylon now.
Nebuchadnezzar could change their location. He could change their curriculum. He could even change their names. But he could not change their God.
That’s why Daniel 1:8 becomes so important: “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.”
Notice that Daniel didn’t refuse to learn. He apparently studied what Babylon placed before him and studied it very well. The issue wasn’t education. The issue was who would ultimately determine what was true and how Daniel would live.
Daniel could learn the language of Babylon without adopting the values of Babylon. He could study its literature without surrendering his convictions. He could understand the culture around him without allowing that culture to become the ultimate authority over his life.
That’s an important distinction for us. Christians should not be afraid of education. There is tremendous value in studying science, mathematics, history, languages, literature, philosophy, music, art, geography, logic, and countless other subjects. God has given us minds capable of learning, reasoning, creating, and discovering. Studying His creation should ultimately deepen our wonder at the One who made it.
I certainly don’t say any of this because I’m opposed to education. I’ve spent quite a few years in classrooms myself. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Music with a minor in Religion from Union University and later earned a master’s degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I’m grateful for those years and for much of what I learned.
But my education also taught me something about the limitations of education. A Christian university can teach someone the Bible. A seminary can teach a future pastor theology, church history, biblical languages, preaching, and ministry methods. Those things can be incredibly valuable. But a seminary cannot call someone into ministry.
It cannot give someone a shepherd’s heart. It cannot manufacture a love for Christ, a burden for people, or a passion to proclaim God’s Word. A person can graduate with impressive credentials and a head filled with theological information while still lacking what only God can provide. Education can prepare and sharpen the person God calls, but education can never substitute for the calling and work of God.
And that principle extends far beyond pastors. A person can know a tremendous amount about business and lack integrity. Someone can understand medicine and lack compassion. A musician can understand theory and technique but lack the ability to move anyone with the music. And someone can know theology well enough to pass every examination while knowing very little of what it means to walk closely with God.
Information and wisdom are not necessarily the same thing. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” That doesn’t mean Christians should refuse to listen to people who don’t share our faith. Daniel certainly didn’t. He learned what Babylon taught him. But Daniel possessed something Babylon could never give him: a foundation by which everything else could be evaluated.
Babylon could educate Daniel, but Babylon could not define truth for Daniel. The same challenge faces us today. We are constantly being educated—not only in classrooms, but through television, social media, entertainment, books, podcasts, friends, teachers, professors, and the culture surrounding us.
The question isn’t simply, “What am I learning?” We also need to ask, “What standard am I using to determine whether what I’m learning is true?”
For the Christian, that standard must ultimately be God and His revealed Word. And near the end of Daniel 1, we discover something fascinating. After describing three years of Babylonian education, verse 17 tells us: “As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom.”
Babylon provided the classroom. The teachers provided the instruction. Daniel and his friends undoubtedly put in the work. But God gave the wisdom.
That’s the proper place of education. Education can sharpen the tools God has given us, but it cannot give us what only God can provide. So learn everything worthwhile that you can. Study carefully. Think critically. Ask difficult questions. Read widely. Develop the abilities God has given you. But never confuse knowing many things with knowing the One from whom all truth ultimately comes.
The greatest education in the world can fill your mind with information. Only God can transform your heart.
Reflection Questions
- What is the difference between receiving an education and allowing a culture to determine what you believe?
- What voices are “educating” you most strongly right now?
- How can you learn from people who hold different beliefs without surrendering your biblical convictions?
- Are there areas where you have confused having knowledge with possessing genuine wisdom?
- How can you intentionally keep God and His Word at the foundation of what you learn and how you live?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for giving me a mind capable of learning, reasoning, discovering, and growing. Thank You for teachers, books, experiences, and opportunities that have helped me gain knowledge. Help me never to make education an end in itself or confuse information with wisdom. Give me the discernment Daniel had—to learn from the world around me without allowing the world to determine what is true. Keep Your Word as the foundation of my thinking, and remind me that every ability, every opportunity, and every bit of genuine wisdom ultimately comes from You. Most of all, don’t simply fill my mind with knowledge; continue transforming my heart so that everything I learn can be used for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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