Daniel 1:1-21
Key Verse:
1:8
Welcome to the study of the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel is clearly representative of God’s prophetic voice to his people. It presupposes that God, who created the world and sustains it, controls the events of history and will bring them to an appointed end, judging the wicked and rewarding the righteous. Daniel shows, not just to his own people (the Jews), but to a series of heathen kings, that God is in control of history. The rise and fall of powerful leaders and nations takes place under his controlling hand, and will culminate in God’s desired end. God reveals how his nation will suffer periods of oppression and discouragement, but that in the end the righteous will be vindicated by the coming of the promised Messiah. The kingdoms of this world will rise, only to fall victim to successive kingdoms. But in the end, the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah will be inaugurated, and God’s rule of justice and mercy will be established throughout the earth. The main theme of the book of Daniel is that God is sovereign over all of human history, past, present, and future. Chapter 1 mentions Israel’s historical background of the time. Because of their sins, God punished the people of Israel and sent them into Babylonian captivity. Daniel was one of them. He made a decision of faith not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Daniel chose God over the luxurious life offered by the king. God honored his decision and was with him in a foreign land and blessed him to reveal his sovereignty. May God bless us to keep our identity as God’s chosen people and reveal his glory through our life of faith. I pray that God may help us to make a decision of faith to live a pure life in the sight of God.
PART I. WHEN ISRAEL DID NOT MAINTAIN GOD’S BLESSING (1,2)
Look at verses 1
and 2. “ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah,
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord
delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the
articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god
in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.”
What was the situation of the people of Judah and Jerusalem? Born during the middle of King Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22-23), Daniel grew up during the king’s reforms. During this time, prophet Jeremiah warned his people about the danger of the Babylonian exile (9:2). People did not listen to his warnings and remained in their wickedness. In 609 B.C., Josiah who tried to bring the people of Judah back to God was killed in a battle against Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, and Neco made Jehoiakim king in place of his father Josiah. Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his fathers had done. Within four years, the southern kingdom of Judah had returned to its evil ways. In 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylonia that was a rising super power nation at that time. In September of that year, he swept into Palestine and surrounded Jerusalem, making Judah his vassal state. It was the saddest time of Israel’s history. The people of Judah felt that they were punished due to their sins. They knew that the wrath of God was upon them due to their wickedness. Daniel and his three friends were distressed and wounded due to the helpless condition of God’s people. So we could not understand why God allowed his people to suffer destruction and shame in front of the pagan king.
Why did
this tragic event happen to God’s chosen people? The first part of verse 2
says, “And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand.” King
Nebuchadnezzar thought that his mighty army conquered Judah. Israel people
thought that they were defeated because they did not have a powerful army. They
said, “Our military sucks.” But the author of Daniel says that it was a
sovereign act of God. When God saw his people, they were corrupt and
unfaithful. They needed divine discipline. Out of his divine love, God
delivered his people into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. For God, it was an
unbearably painful event. Of all the nations, God chose Israel to be his
people. (Ex 19:5,6) They were God’s covenant people. (Gen 17:7) God gave his
promises to his people Israel through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Most
importantly, they were called to be a priestly nation and to fill the earth
with the knowledge of God, and thus fulfill God’s plan of world salvation. God
provided them all things they needed. God was present with them. God was
patient with them. God was faithful to them, but God’s chosen people were
unfaithful to God. By doing so, they did not maintain God’s blessing. It is
hard to maintain God’s blessing due to our unfaithfulness.
Why did they not maintain God’s
blessing? It was because they abandoned God and his law. God taught them to
seek God wherever they went.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 says, “When the Lord your God brings you into the
land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land
with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds
of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and
olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful
that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery.” God’s repeated lesson to them was “do not forget me when you are
blessed.” But when God blessed them, they forgot God who was the source of
their blessing. When they lived in a house they did not build, they said, “I
earned it all.” They were satisfied when their refrigerators were stacked up
with good foods. They felt secure when they earned 6-digit salary. They began
to have the Canaanite dream. They began to enjoy the Canaanite disco dancing.
They began to follow popular pagan music. They became pragmatic and began to
seek the worldly success. They abandoned God’s mission and melted into the pagan
culture. God also taught them to love God when they would live in the promised
land. Deuteronomy 6:5,6 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give
you today are to be upon your hearts.” Did they love God living in the promised
land? No! They did not love God; they loved the things of the world more than
God. When Peter loved his life more than Jesus, he could not follow Jesus and
denied him three times. After he met the risen Jesus, he confessed his absolute
love for Jesus and he was able to feed God’s flocks because he solved his love
problem. Today we will hear S. Jay Jagun’s testimony. She confessed that she
could not say to Jesus before, “I love you Jesus more than these.” Why? Because
she loved the world more. But through the Spring conference she met the risen
Christ and confessed, “Yes, Lord! I love you more than these.” Then the peace
of God came into her heart and she began to love Sarah B. with joy. If we want to live in God’s blessing, then
we must seek God and we must love God with all our hearts. I know God sent me
America to be an excellent Bible teacher and fruitful disciple maker. How often
I forgot God’s mission and indulge in American dream. I must love God more than
God’s blessings.
PART II. DANIEL’S DECISION OF FAITH (3-16)
To demonstrate his dominance, Nebuchadnezzar took many of
Jerusalem’s wisest men and most beautiful women to Babylon as captives. Daniel
was among this group. Nebuchadnezzar, the supreme leader of Babylonia, was
feared throughout the world. When he invaded a country, defeat was certain.
After a victory, the Babylonians usually took the most talented and useful
people back to Babylon and left only the poor behind to take whatever land they
wanted and to live peacefully there (2 Kings 24:14). This system fostered great
loyalty from conquered lands and ensured a steady supply of wise and talented
people for civil service. The purpose of this policy was to cause a brain drain
in the conquered land. What
were the qualifications of those selected? Look at verse 3-5. “Then the
king ordered 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, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He
was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king
assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were
to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's
service. “ The selection criteria was strict and tough. It was harder than
entering into the Harvard University. Even the University does not ask what you
look like. You don’t have to become Mr. America to go to the Harvard. In any
case they should come from the royal family. They should be young men without any physical
defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed,
quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. The Terrapins
are not qualified to be selected because they are slow. They should learn the
language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily
amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for
three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Among these were
some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (6) Nebuchadnezzar
changed the names of Daniel and his friends because he wanted to make them
Babylonian—in their own eyes and in the eyes of the Babylonian people. New
names would help them assimilate into the Babylonian pagan culture. They were
supposed to become Babylonians. They were supposed to eat and drink like the
Babylonians. They were supposed to speak like the Babylonians. Name symbolizes
a person’s identity. The first thing the king did was to change their names.
This was how the king attempted to change the religious loyalty of these young
men from Judah’s God to Babylonia’s gods. This was the king’s scheme to
transform them into pro-Babylonians
and to support Pax-Babylonia and to erase their Israelite identity. It is
certain that most people of Israel despaired and fell into self-pity. Probably some of them only tried to save
their own skins. In this situation Daniel had something to do for God.
Look at verse 8. “But Daniel
resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the
chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” In a sense
Daniel was like our student missionaries. The king offered Daniel a best
package. It was very attractive no one could refuse. The king provided him
three-year scholarship including room and boards. After he guaranteed a secure government
job. He was privileged to eat the royal food and wine. Tasty Babylonian
hamburger and KFC and wine were premiums the king offered. Wow! What a big deal
it was! But it meant that Daniel would give up his Jewish identity and become
Babylonian government official. He would achieve his American dream in a
foreign land. But he must belong to the king not God. He should bow down before
the pagan god. In a desperate situation, most smart people are in danger of
becoming opportunists and being blinded by their selfishness. Daniel could have
eaten royal food in the court and just studied. He could have ignored all the
troubles happened to God’s people far away and jumped into this golden
opportunity to pursue his personal success in the capital of the super power
nation. He could have enjoyed the best wine provided by the king. These days
many young men love to drink beer. Most cool commercials are beer commercials.
Humanly speaking, he was lucky. He should have taken advantage of this
situation. But he did not think he was lucky. He was sorrowful because of his
people who were under God’s wrath and anger. But he did not just sit down and
cry about it. He sought God. He made a decision not to drink wine. From the
beginning he did not want to compromise with the pagan culture. One compromise
feeds another compromise and we lose purity before God. He decided to trust God
not the king’s security package and reveal God’s power. It was risky. For this, he asked the chief official for
permission not to defile himself this way; not to eat all kinds of luxurious
royal food, but only vegetables and water. Of course, eating vegetables is not
an act of faith. Because my children hate vegetables. It was a matter of faith.
It was too presumptuous for a POW to make such a request. But God was with him
when he made a decision of faith to live as a man of God. Daniel and his three
friends resisted Babylonian policy and followed their faith and maintained
their purity as God’s chosen people. God was raising up his remnant through
these four young men to continue his work of world salvation.
When Daniel made a decision of
faith, God caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel. God helps
those who help themselves. But this time the official said to Daniel, “I am
afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he
see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then
have my head because of you.” (10) What the official said was negative. If
Daniel gave up easily, his decision would not be serious. But Daniel was
resolved, so he did not give up. He tried again. This time he turned to the
guard who was in charge of them. Daniel pleaded with him. Look at verses 12,13,
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat
and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who
eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”
Daniel did not shrink. Probably he prayed a lot during this period. So the guard
agreed to what Daniel had said and gave them vegetables and water only.
It is worthwhile to think about why
Daniel made such a decision. What benefit does it bring when a POW makes a
decision of faith not to eat royal food? His resolution seems too small to
change the world. Anyway he made a decision of faith. Obviously he resolved not
to eat royal food in order to keep the dietary law based on Leviticus. There were many kinds of animals and fish
that the people of Israel were forbidden to eat. (Lev 11) It is most obvious
that he resolved not to eat royal food in order to keep his faith pure. But
when he made it before God, he became a useful person to God; otherwise he
could have been one of the corrupted people. Daniel’s decision of faith in that
tragic situation was indeed great in the sight of God. S. Tinuke made a small
decision to quit going to ballroom dancing in D.C. in order to come to the
Friday group Bible study. It was a beginning of her spiritual life. Today, she
became one of the influential YDJ members. S. Sarah B. is majoring in business.
She learned that material desire would be endless. She made a decision to join
the soldier dancing team and God blessed her abundantly to live as a soldier of
Christ. Shannon Smith made a small decision to share his life testimony once
again and God opened his spiritual eyes and he was spiritual awakened through
the Conference. He said, “I felt I was in the little kingdom of God.” S.
Augustine Park made a small decision of faith to pray for 30 minutes and God
blessed his faith to meet the risen Jesus through his life of prayer. Moses was
in the palace of Egypt as a Hebrew-born. Moses made a decision of faith not to
enjoy the pleasures of sin in the palace. His decision made him grow as a
leader over 600,000 Israelites after the Exodus. In this adulterous and
perverse generation, we have to make many kinds of decisions of faith. But the
most important decision is the decision to keep oneself pure before God.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” One
person, Daniel’s decision of faith was very significant for the people of
Israel down through the generations. His decision illuminated his people with
God’s light whenever they were in a dark situation. Common people do not make
any decision or commitment. But the people of God must make a decision of faith
to please God. Then God can bless us.
PART III.GOD WAS WITH
DANIEL (17-21)
What happened to Daniel and his
friends? Look at verse 17a. “To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.” When Daniel made a
decision of faith to live as a man of God, God gave him knowledge and
understanding. Here we learn the source of knowledge and understanding comes
from God. S. Folake worried exams and projects before going to the Conference.
But she went there by faith. When she got her exam back later, she was happy
that she got “A”. When we trust God in our study, God will give us wisdom and
understanding. Three student shepherds are preparing the medical school
entrance exam. They need to trust God and God will give them understanding.
That does not mean that we should not study hard. We need to seek God’s help.
Verse 17b says, “And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.”
God gave him spiritual eyes to understand spiritual things. We must seek God
and love God with all our hearts. Then God gives us what we really need. Many
people complain about their human conditions. This is not wise. Like Daniel, we
must seek God and love God. We must make a decision of faith to live a pure
life before God. Then God gives us everything we need. God exalts those who
follow his word. Their wisdom exceeds others ten times. Proverb 1:7 says, “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
discipline.”
Look at verses 18-20. After three
years and at the appointed time, the chief official presented them to
Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every
matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he
found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the whole
kingdom. When Daniel made a decision of
faith to live a pure life, God blessed him and his friends to be the most
excellent fellows in the royal academy. God made him become an eminent leader
throughout his lifetime who served over eight kings. Later, Daniel interpreted
the king’s dream and revealed God’s sovereignty to the heathen king. Daniel
revealed God’s glory among the Gentiles. In this chapter we learn that we must
make a decision of faith to seek God and love God earnestly in any situation
and God will give us wisdom and strength to overcome the world. Let’s remember
that one person’s decision of faith can change the course of world history.