What does Daniel 1:14 mean?

The steward (Daniel 1:11) working under the chief eunuch (Daniel 1:3) almost certainly needed his superior's permission to comply with Daniel's test (Daniel 1:9–12). Daniel asked for a ten-day trial where he and his friends would abstain from the morally dubious food prepared for King Nebuchadnezzar. After this, the steward could do what he thought was necessary (Daniel 1:13). Even so, this points to God's sovereign work in placing Daniel and his three friends in the king's court.

Daniel may have received a direct message from God to make his bold request. Other passages in this book show him in a close relationship with God including many special revelations (Daniel 7:1; 8:1; 9:1–2; 10:1). However, this is not God's typical way of communicating with His people. Christians should not expect direct revelation from God, particularly in the modern era when we have access to the Bible. All that Christians need to know for correct believing and doing is given in God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and we should be careful not to go outside its teachings (1 Corinthians 4:6).