SCRIPTURE: DANIEL 1
INTRODUCTION:
The book of Daniel tells of the experience of Daniel and his friends with the divine revelation in dreams and visions during his lifetime. the theme of this book emphasized that God is in control of world events.
Daniel was one of the hostage taken from Jerusalem in 605 BC to Babylon. Since he was able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he was given a position with power. He served in the government for about 770 years during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. He wrote this book during Israel’s captivity to encourage the people to trust in God.
Daniel and his three friends were examples of dedication and commitment. They determined to serve God regardless of the consequences. They did not compromise to the demands of an ungodly society but persist in following God faithfully. God also showed his faithfulness to Daniel by delivering him from prison, from a den of lions and from enemies who hated him.
Our first allegiance must be to God. We must have courage to put our faith in God who controls everything. Be relentless in prayer and serve Him continually. Trust God to be with us through any trials because He is a faithful and powerful God.
DANIEL’S TRAINING IN BABYLON (vs. 1-21)
In the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Jehoiakim was captured and Nebuchadnezzar carried him together with the articles of the temple to Babylon. The king also order Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility – young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. They were to be trained for three years before they could enter the king’s service. (vs. 3-5)
When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel, he made Judah his vasal state. He took many of Jerusalem’s wisest men and most beautiful women to Babylon as captors. Among those men chosen were from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were given new names: Daniel – Belteshazzar; Hananiah – Shadrach; Mishael – Meshach; and Azariah – Abednego.
The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. But Daniel and his friends resolved not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine. So he asked the chief official for permission to eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days. After 10 days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard gave them vegetables and water instead of the choice food.
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the king found Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah more distinguish than the others. So they entered the king’s service. God gave the four young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. So, in matters of wisdom and understanding about what the king questioned them, they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of king Cyrus.
THOUGHTS:
When Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylonia, they had a new home with strange new name, new teachings and offered a new diet. But they kept themselves dedicated to the Lord by living God’s standards in an entirely different culture. Daniel suggested an experiential 10 days diet of vegetables and water instead of the royal food and wine. He thought of a practical, creative solution to save life and the lives of his companions.
Sometimes, we may feel like foreigners whenever we experience changes. Alien culture comes in many forms – a new job, a new school, a new neighborhood. We can use the same principle to adapt to the new surroundings without abandoning God.