“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17
God gave Daniel special insight. He could understand visions and dreams, which is the foundation upon which the whole book rests. Daniel’s interpretation of visions and dreams spreads through all the ages and into the future. He will go down in history as a man used of God in advance of the major events of history. God wants us to know future events so that we can have the hope of God in our lives. No matter how bad our world gets as Christians we know how it ends. We know if we follow God and believe in Jesus Christ all will turn out well.
The special intellectual ability of Daniel and his companions was not due to their diet, but to the special intervention of the Lord. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams: This shows that purity of heart and faithfulness to God come before enlightenment in divine mysteries. Daniel would later receive great revelation, but now he simply showed himself a dedicated follower of God. “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (James 3:17) God poured out His Spirit on Daniel and as we get closer to the end times we will see God doing the same to us. “In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)
These young Jewish men gave themselves to the LORD in a remarkable way and God blessed them in a remarkable way. If Christians would only give over and above their reasonable service, the Lord would give over and above the usual blessing.” Daniel and his friends understood this principle, and God blessed them for acting on it.