Book Of Daniel: Chapter 1

April 31st, 2022/Casey Middle School

Passage: Daniel 1:1-21 ESV

Pray:

Background:

Jerusalem had been overthrown by Babylon and the king was on a mission to identify the best of the best of the Jewish young men that were exiled to help build his administration.

Haymakers:

1. God keeps His promises and will bring about His victory by His means.

   1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

   2. Unpack:

      1. For decades the prophets declared that the day of destruction would come so long as Judah continued in their idolatry, immorality, and injustice.

         1. They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! - Isaiah 13:5-6 ESV. (Also, Isaiah 21 & 39)
         2. The prophet Micah, the contemporary of Isaiah also declared “Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.” - Micah 4:10 ESV.
         3. The prophet Habakkuk couldn’t understand how godless Babylon could overthrow and chasten Judah. (Hab. 1)

         4. Jeremiah lived to see all these prophecies fulfilled in addition to his own prophecies found in Jeremiah 20, 25, and 27. 2. “God would rather have His people living in shameful captivity in a pagan land than living like pagans in the Holy Land and disgracing His name.” - Warren Weirsbe

         5. What looked like a victory for King Nebuchadnezzer was actually a victory for the Lord which would ultimately lead to His covenant being fulfilled His way.

         6. God keeps His promises and will bring about His victory by His means.
         7. The people that were promised provision and blessing so long as they obeyed God’s statues, in their disobedience were brought to Shinar (Babylon), the site of the tower of Babel, which was synonymous with opposition to God. 3. The Babylonians raided the temples and took the articles that were meant for worship to the true God to now be used to worship their god.
            3. Application:

      2. These first few verses are not merely an introduction to the book of Daniel or historical facts. I believe they carry significant practical application for us today.

      3. We can choose direction or destruction. I’ve also heard it said that we have two options to choose, humility or humiliation.

      4. For those that were living in immorality, disobedience, and injustice, they were given over to their evil desires and suffered great consequences as a result. They were given that which they desired the most.

         1. If you continue to live in direct disobedience to God’s commands, then don’t be surprised when you receive that which you are already chasing after.

         2. The reality and promise that we are given is that there is freedom and restoration in repentance. That when we come to Christ, He forgives us, restores us, and makes all things new! 4. But for those during this time that loved God and were living according to His commands, I can imagine that they were devastated to see the temple desecrated and all the resources given over to false gods.

         3. Where does your mind go when you hear of church scandals, church splits, churches closing due to physical damage or financial struggles?

         4. It is right to feel a sense of grief, pain, and even frustration. It is also right to lean in even more to the sovereignty of God and His rule and reign over His Kingdom, His Church.
         5. The 4 men that we are going to discuss over the course of this series did not shrink back or become cynical over the work and character of God, but they became even more convictional and courageous.
         6. There is always a bigger story than what we can see or imagine. Our responsibility is to seek Him above all else and to steward His assignment over our lives with reverence, humility, and obedience.

2. You may change my name, but you will not change my story!

   1. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 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. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 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.

   2. It’s likely that Daniel was of the royal family, a prince. He was a young man, probably 15 years old.

      1. His attributes stood out among all the other young people in Judah. It may have been his attributes and skill that made him stand out, but as we will see later in the story, it was God’s grace that brought about his success and faithfulness.

      2. You can tell in the stories that Daniel and his friends lived with the value of “Excellence is our pursuit”. They weren’t just good looking young men that were selected based on their appearance, they were disciplined and extremely hard workers.

         3. Nebuchadnezzar changed their names because he wanted to make them Babylonians. These new names were meant to help shape their identity and integrate them into Babylonian culture.

      3. Daniel means “God is my Judge.” // Belteshazzar means “Bel, protect his life.” (Bel was the chief Babylonian god)

      4. Hananiah means “the Lord shows grace.” // Shadrach probably means “under the command of Aku.” (Aku being the moon god)
      5. Mishael means “who is like God?” // Meshach probably means “who is like Aku?”

      6. Azariah means “the Lord helps.” // Abed-Nego means “servant of Nego/Nebo” (the god of learning and writing)

         4. Application: Just because you integrate into a new culture, it does not mean that you lose who you are and who you have been called to be!

      7. To be a Boulderite does not mean that you have to think one way or embrace “free and open” beliefs and ideals!

      8. You may put a label on me, but that will not change my convictions and calling from my God! You may change my name, but you will not change my story!
      9. I am “beloved”, “redeemed”, “child of God”, “heir with Christ”, “saint”, “chosen, holy, and blameless before God”, “set free”, “adopted”, and a “citizen of Heaven”.
      10. Focus less on WHAT you are called in culture and more on WHO called you?!

3. Convictions held over an extended period of time will ultimately lead to growth and maturity in your life.

   1. 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

   2. “But Daniel resolved”. This word is not merely making the right choice at the appropriate time, but having made the decision in advance that he would not compromise.

      1. We will get ourselves in trouble if we have not decided in our hearts ahead of time what we will choose.
      2. It’s been said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence - that’s superstition - but obeying in spite of consequences.

      3. When faced with whether they would obey the law of man or the Word of God, they chose the way of FAITH!

         3. Eating of the king's food and drinking their wine would have defiled them and made them ceremonially unclean before God. But even more than that, the food being offered to them was first offered to idols, and no faithful Jew would eat such food.

      4. This was risky for Daniel to make this request and it was extremely dangerous for the eunuch to consider this adjustment in the young mens diet. Daniel could have easily said “Well, I don’t want anyone to get in trouble, I guess I’ll just play along.” Daniel could have easily said “I don’t want to stand out or appear rebellious.” Daniel didn’t make excuses, he made an appeal, and God granted him favor.

      5. Question: What have you purposed in your heart? What convictions have you established in your life that you will waiver no matter the cost?
      6. It would have been easy for Daniel to fudge this one just a little, but he remained steadfast in his convictions.
      7. Illust: Maybe it’s certain positions you put yourself in that would cause you to lust, have a critical spirit, be judgemental, be angry, or gossip.

      8. As followers of Jesus we are called to conviction over compromise!

         4. Everyday we get the opportunity to choose either to commit to our convictions or compromise to culture. You may adjust to culture so long as it doesn’t compromise your convictions.
         5. People that are serious about honoring God and maturing in their faith, live by a standard of convictions that has been predetermined in their heart.

      9. Convictions are the core principles that so govern your life that you would be willing to die for them.

      10. Convictions are found in the Word of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
      11. Question: What has God been speaking to you about in His Word and in prayer that you have yet to commit your life to?
          6. Daniel challenged his superior to watch them for ten days and see if their appearance changed. After ten days they were stronger than all the others. And when they were presented before the king they were 10 times greater than all the others.
          7. Convictions held over an extended period of time will ultimately lead to maturity, favor, and success in your life.
          8. “The important question isn’t “How can I get out of this?, but “What can I get out of this?” The Lord use this private test to prepare Daniel and his friends for the public test they would face in years to come. The best thing about this experience wasn’t that they were delivered from compromise, as wonderful as that was, but that they were developed in character. No wonder God called Daniel “greatly beloved”, for he was very much like His Beloved Son.” - Warren Weirsbe

Closing:

God keeps His promises and will bring about His victory by His means.

You may change my name, but you will not change my story!

Convictions held over an extended period of time will ultimately lead to growth and maturity in your life.

How to remain faithful in a foreign culture:

1. Learn the culture
2. Achieve excellence in your work
3. Serve people
4. Pray for God’s help
5. Maintain integrity