Daniel and his three friends were taken as teenagers from their home in Jerusalem and forced into a three-year training program to serve before King Nebuchadnezzar in the foreign (and pagan) land of Babylon. Yet, even as a teenager, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” with the king’s food (Dan. 1:8). The Bible does not tell us the exact reason, but we know that Daniel was determined to follow the law of God and not break it.
After a trial period of not partaking in the king’s provisions, the Hebrew teens were examined by the king and were found to be “ten times better than all” the others in the king’s “realm” (1:20). How was that “ten” times measured? Perhaps it is to emphasize “complete” (by the number ten) superiority over the others who were not following God’s law.
Take that and apply it to your life. By following God’s law and being determined to not defile ourselves with the things of the world, our lives are “ten times better” than anyone else!