DANIEL 1 - TRAINING IN BABYLON
Dec
11
Written by:
12/11/2011 9:06 PM
Daniel 1
Training in Babylon
Nov. 5, 2011
(Dan 1:3 NIV) Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- (Dan 1:4 NIV) 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.
Today’s message is the first of 12 messages that I will be giving on the Book of Daniel. We are now in the end times that the prophets told about. The Book of Revelation in the New Testament tells about the end times. The Book of Daniel is considered the “Book of Revelation” of the Old Testament. It is probably for this reason that the Book of Daniel is the most read and studied of the Old Testament prophetic books. The messages on the Book of Daniel will help us to understand the times we are living in. The book tells about prophetic events that were close at hand and fulfilled during the time of the book as well as future events that include the times of the end.
Daniel was one of the most amazing men of the bible. He served God faithfully in Babylon, a foreign land and probably died there. The prophet Ezekiel was in Babylon during part of the time Daniel was there. Ezekiel places Daniel in the company of Job and Noah as righteous men. (Ezek 14:14 NIV) even if these three men--Noah, Daniel and Job--were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD. Daniel was probably a teenager when he was taken along with other men from the royal family as captives from Jerusalem to Babylon. He lived in Babylon all the 70 years of the Jewish captivity in Babylon.
Jerusalem was attacked during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar. It was at this time that King Nebuchadnezzar ordered some of the members of the royal family in Jerusalem be brought to Babylon to be trained for three years as leaders to run the government. The reason was probably because the Babylonian empire had expanded so fast that there weren`t enough educated men in Babylon to run the government. In addition to Daniel three other men are mentioned in the first chapter of Daniel. All were given new names. (Dan 1:6 NIV) Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (Dan 1:7 NIV) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Daniel and his friends had been taught from an early age by their parents and others about God`s laws and statutes. They obviously loved God and were determined to follow God in the pagan land of Babylon even if it cost them their lives. This fact was amazing because many of the Kings of Israel and Judah did not follow God`s laws, etc. It was for that reason that the Israel had already fallen and Judah was taken into captivity in Babylon.
Daniel and his friends had three years to learn the literature and language of the Babylonians. They were also given food from the kings table. However, Daniel believed they would be defiled by the royal food so they ate only vegetables. (Dan 1:8 NIV) 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. (Dan 1:9 NIV) Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, (Dan 1:10 NIV) but the official told 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." (Dan 1:11 NIV) Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, (Dan 1:12 NIV) "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. (Dan 1:13 NIV) 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." (Dan 1:14 NIV) So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. (Dan 1:15 NIV) At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
God gave Daniel and his friends special knowledge and understanding. (Dan 1:17 NIV) To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Understanding visions and dreams would prove to be extremely important for Daniel. In a similar way Joseph was given the ability to interpret dreams many years before.
Daniel and his friends were presented to the King after three years. (Dan 1:18 NIV) At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan 1:19 NIV) The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. (Dan 1:20 NIV) 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 his whole kingdom. With God`s help doors would be opened for Daniel and his friends to be used by God in a mighty way in Babylon. In my second message Daniel`s ability to interpret dreams saved the lives of Daniel, his friends and all the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers in Babylon. Daniel`s task was especially difficult because King Nebuchadnezzar refused to tell what his dream was. However, he expected the dream to be interpreted.