“The pattern employed by Nebuchadnezzar to draw Daniel away from the Lord is employed all around us today: isolation from God’s influence to produce holiness in our lives; indoctrination with the worldly ways of thinking (of course, we do not share all of the world’s conclusions, but too often we think about everything in the same way and operate with the same value system – how many of us would rather die for the glory of God than live half-heartedly for Him in a measure of comfort?); compromise with the riches of this world instead of commitment to what John Newton’s hymn calls “solid joys and lasting treasures” that none but Zion’s children know;” confusion about our real identity and purpose in life. Yes, too many of us would have found quite excellent reasons for compromise in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. After all, “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” (Ferguson, 1988)

Ferguson, Sinclair “Mastering The Old Testament” Volume 19: Daniel. Chapter 1, Word Publishing, Pg. 37