THE BOOK OF DANIEL (1)
DANIEL’S TRAINING IN BABYLON
Daniel Chapters 1:-1-21
King James Version (NIV)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand,
with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of
Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure
house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his
eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the
king's seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and
skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and
such as had ability in them to
stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the
learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the
king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years,
that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he
gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to
Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not
defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he
drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love
with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear
my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should
he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then
shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the
eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let
them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee,
and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat:
and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them
ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared
fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of
the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and
the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and
skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions
and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he
should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was
found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they
before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that
the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king
Cyrus.
Author: Daniel
Date: Late Sixth Century B.C.
Theme: God Controls the Destiny of All Nations
Key Words: Kings, Kingdoms, Visions, Dreams
Author Daniel was deported as a teenager in 605 B.C. to Babylon where he lived over sixty years. He was likely from an
upper-class family in Jerusalem. The deportation of the descendants into
Babylon had been prophesied by Isaiah to Hezekiah (Is. 39:7). Daniel
initially served as a trainee in Nebuchadnezzar’s court; he was later an
advisor to foreign kings.
His importance as a prophet was confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:15.
Daniel
means "God Is My Judge." His unshakable consecration to Yahweh
and his loyalty to God’s people strongly affirmed that truth in his life.
Date Although the siege and
carrying away of captives into Babylon lasted several years, the mighty men of
valor, the skilled, and the educated were taken from Jerusalem early in the war
(2Kings 24:14).
The date usually given for Daniel’s captivity is 605 B.C. His prophecy covers the time span of his
life.
Background Along with thousands of
captives from Judah who were taken into Babylonian exile between 605 B.C. and
582 B.C ., the
treasures of Solomon’s palace and the temple were also transported. The
Babylonians had subdued all the provinces ruled by Assyria and had consolidated
their empire into an area that covered much of the Middle East.
To govern such a diversified
kingdom over such an expanse of space required a skillful administrative
bureaucracy. Slaves who were educated or possessed needed skills became the
manpower for the government. Because of their wisdom, knowledge, and handsome
appearance, four young Hebrews sere selected for the training program (1:4). The outstanding character of Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah secured positions for them in the king’s palace;
and it was Daniel who rose to excel all the wise men of that vast empire (6:1-3).
Personal
Application One
of the beautiful themes of this book is the emphasis on separation to God, with
Daniel as the ultimate example. From
their decision not to eat the king’s food to the refusal to bow to the image of
the king. Daniel and his three friends (now called Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego) displayed such an uncompromising spirit that spectacular
opportunities were opened for God to display His power on their behalf. Their
courageous commitment presents a timeless challenge to believers not to
compromise their testimony of Jesus Christ. Even though it may mean a
fiery-furnace testing, the Lord’s protection and deliverance will be there.
Another theme of Daniel is
the absolute superiority of God over occult attempts to reveal or interpret
spiritual mysteries. Try as they did, all the magicians, soothsayers, wise men,
and astrologers of the king’s court could not arrive at the truth (5:8). This is an enduring encouragement to
believers. Spiritual counterfeiters can never stand before the wisdom
and power of the Holy Spirit
(2 Cor. 10:3-6).
The prophetic section not
only gives future understanding to a believer’s future, but serves to reassure
us that God has history under His sovereign control.
MORE
BACKGROUND TO COME…
Guidelines
for Growing in Godliness. Godly
living requires that we exhibit faith during times of adversity and want, as
well as during times of prosperity and peace. Compromising our faith when
threatened with persecution forfeits the most powerful opportunities for God to
manifest His glory.
1:2 Shinar
is another term for Babylon, modern southeastern Iraq.
1:8-16 Stand fast for our
righteous standards, despite pressure to sin. Believe that God will give
us a means of escape. Trust that He will show us favor and give us wisdom
through "creative alternatives"
1:8
Daniel purposed not to eat the king’s food which was forbidden to Jews.
Such separation is twofold: it is toward the Lord, and away from things that defile.
1:20
The occult forces were no match for the Spirit of God. Modern cultic movements
are merging many of these spiritual counterfeits into a contemporary revival of
occultism. Their influence will continue to rise as a final showdown between
Jesus Christ and Satan nears. In all matters of wisdom and understanding
believers who seek to walk in the full life of the Holy Spirit will find, as
did the Hebrews, that they are ten times better than those who pursue such
practices.
1:21 This verse summarizes more than 60 years, the first year of king Cyrus being 539 B.C. , the year the captured Babylon.
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
info@biblestoriestheatre.org
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
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