Bible Studies
Daniel Determined to Serve the Lord
Series: There is a God in Heaven (Studies in the Book of Daniel)Introduction:
1. This lesson is the first in a series that I am working on on the Book of Daniel. 2. For the next several Sunday mornings we will work our way through the book giving attention to the historical setting, what the text actually says, and thinking about its relevance in our lives. 3. This morning we will give attention to chapter 1. 4. Read with me 1:1-2.Discussion:
I. This statement helps to define for us the historical setting of the Book of Daniel.A. It is the third year of the reign of king Jehoiakim of Judah.
1. The books of 2 Kings (23:31-24:5) and 2 Chronicles (36:5-8) give additional information about the historical setting.
2. There were three major political powers vying for control of the region occupied by the tiny kingdom of Judah.
a. Judah was already a vassal kingdom of Assyria. Assyria had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Judah was now bounded on the north by Assyrian provinces under foreign governors.
b. King Hezekiah had rebelled against Assyria and in 701 Sennacherib of Assyria had reduced the country to a desert. Isa. 1:7-9 describes the circumstance.
c. Sennacherib records the capture of 46 walled cities and “countless small villages,” and his eviction of 200,150 people (Kidner, p. 14).
d. But the power of Assyria was beginning to diminish. Pharaoh Neco of Egypt took control of Judah after Josiah’s death and put Jehoahaz on the throne in Jerusalem.
e. When he rebelled Neco made Jehoiakim king in his place.
f. But the Babylonians under Nabopolassar and his son, Nebuchadnezzar, became the dominate power. Jerusalem was attacked. Jehoiakim was bound with bronze chains to be carried away to Babylon. Evidently Daniel was among those taken to Babylon at this time.
B. The Lord gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (v. 2; cf. 2 Kings 24:2-3).
1. While Assyria, Egypt and now Babylon exercised power it was God’s power that was dominant.
2. God was using Babylon to bring judgment upon Judah for their sin.
C. In these first two verses of Daniel we are introduced to a contrast between the Lord God and the god(s) of Nebuchadnezzar.
D. So Daniel is a young man, probably in his teens, in Babylon.
II. Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was to assimilate Daniel (and his three friends) and use him in his personal service (1:3-7).A. They had to meet qualifications (3-4b).
B. They would be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans (4c).
C. They would be educated 3 years (5).
D. Their names would be changed.
1. Daniel (God is my judge) to Belteshazzar (Bel keeps his secrets).
2. Hananiah (Yahweh is gracious) to Shadrach (command of Aku (moon god)).
3. Mishael (Who is like God?) to Meshack (Who is like Aku?)
4. Azariah (He whom God helps) to Abed-nego (servant of the god Nebo/Nabu).
E. They would eat from the king’s choice food (5). Obvious from what comes next Daniel saw this as a challenge to his loyalty to God.
1. Was the king demanding them to eat things against the dietary laws of the Jews? Some have explained it that way.
2. C. F. Keil says, “The partaking of the food brought to them from the king’s table was to them contaminating, because forbidden by the law; not so much because the food was not prepared according to the Levitical ordinance, or perhaps consisted of flesh of animals which to the Israelites were unclean, for in this case the youths were not under the necessity of refraining from the wine, but the reason for their rejection of it was, that the heathen at their feasts offered up in sacrifice to their gods a part of the food and drink, and thus consecrated their meals by a religious rite; whereby he who participated in such a meal participated in the worship of the idols, but the meat and the wine as a whole were the meat and wine of an idol sacrifice, partaking of which, according to the apostle (1 Cor. 10:20f) is the same as sacrificing to devils.”
III. Daniel made up his mind to be loyal to the Lord (1:8ff).A. The world presents the man of God with a counter-cultural challenge.
1. Like Nebuchadnezzar, the world has a plan for us and that plan runs in a different direction than the plan of God.
2. The world would assimilate us into its plan.
3. But we have to “make up our mind” to follow the Lord’s plan. We can’t be the light and salt of the world (Matt. 5:13-16) . . . we can’t serve the purpose of God in our generation (Acts 13:36) if our influence is defiled/watered down with the world’s plans.
B. Daniel saw this situation as a defining moment.
1. He might have reasoned, “An idol is nothing. It won’t matter one way or another.”
2. But it is such defining moments that reveal our direction. Are we going to head down the broad way that leads to destruction or down the narrow way that leads to life? (Matt. 7:13).
C. The text says, “Daniel sought permission from the commander that he might not defile himself” (v. 8).
1. His approach was not rude, fanatical or forceful.
2. Even though Daniel has made up his mind he does not come across as harsh. Contra. “I am not doing this and you can’t make me!”
3. Respectfully he made his request.
4. He received favor and compassion from the commander.
5. Too often we come across with harshness/anger when our faith is challenged. Gentleness was more effective for Daniel. The commander’s head was on the line. Daniel needed to respect the predicament he was placing the commander in. Daniel needed an ally not an adversary.
6. God must have been behind the proposed test.
a. Ten days is probably not enough for the effect of diet to naturally produce such marked results.
b. Had God told Daniel to do this?
c. He certainly blessed the situation.
IV. God blessed Daniel and exalted him.A. “God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander” (v. 9).
B. “God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams” (v. 17).
C. God caused Daniel and his friends to excel ten times better than their counterparts (vs. 18-20).
D. God gave Daniel longevity of service (v. 21).
V. What does this mean to me?A. You are going to come to some cross roads in life. You need to make up your mind where you are going—down the road of destruction or down the road to life, serving the purpose of God.
B. Don’t water down your influence with worldliness. If the salt has lost its savor . . .
C. When your convictions are challenged there is no need for rudeness, anger and disrespect. Do not create a hostile situation. Rather be respectful, understanding. Your convictions can be of steel. Don’t compromise them, but cover them with the velvet of grace.
D. God blesses those who make up their mind to serve Him.
Conclusion:
1. There is a God in heaven. 2. Have you “made up your mind” to serve Him?
