Daniel

Intro: Continue in our series on Biblical characters with one of the prophets of Israel, Daniel. His background was of royalty – 1:3 – which is not usually a good sign – ; ; – also he was taught in the wisdom of this world – vs.4 – which also is not usually good sign – .

Isaiah 3:14 ESV

The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: “It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

Jeremiah 2:26 ESV

“As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,

Ezekiel 45:8–9 ESV

of the land. It is to be his property in Israel. And my princes shall no more oppress my people, but they shall let the house of Israel have the land according to their tribes. “Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

I) Uncompromising trust in God

Even though Jerusalem has been conquered and he is a captive, as a youth he did not accept the king’s choice food – – which would have been a defilement (personal integrity)

Daniel 1:8 ESV

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Spoke truth even when it was dangerous or difficult – – did not soften the message to Belshazzar – – or make up something pleasant for Nebuchadnezzar – the worse thing to do to a child or neighbor is to care more about tact than truth

Daniel 5:17 ESV

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.

Daniel 4:19 ESV

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Daniel 4:19 ESV

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Daniel would not compromise his worship to God even when it might mean death – , – our physical good (if we are qualified to know what is truly good) is never as important as spiritual health

Daniel 6:5–7 ESV

Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:10 ESV

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

II) Cared for those who were close to him

Made request for his friends – – love is caring more for others than self

Daniel 2:49 ESV

Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

Showed this loyalty even to the king – , – even though Daniel would never consider the king to be one of God’s people

Daniel 4:19 ESV

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Daniel 4:27 ESV

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

III) Cared for God’s people

When the 70 years were nearly complete, he was in prayer and fasting – – to learn when God would restore the blessings of Israel

Daniel 9:2–3 ESV

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

He was in mourning for Israel when he saw a vision concerning the future of Israel – 10:1-3 – his fasting/mourning is a reflection of his desire for good for God’s people

This attitude of Daniel personified the whole law –

Matthew 22:36–37 ESV

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Concl: In all of this, Daniel always gave glory to God – ; ; .

Daniel 2:28 ESV

but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:

Daniel 5:18 ESV

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.

Daniel 6:21–23 ESV

Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.