Hearts of Purpose

Hearts of Purpose (The Tale of Two Men)

Text: Daniel  1:1-20

Contrast of Backgrounds

I. Daniel

 A. Description of the Young Men Taken into Captivity

·         These young men were roughly 14 - 16 yrs. of age.

·         They were handsome, skilled in determining riddles, & possessed the ability to discern (v. 4)

·         They were to be schooled in the Chaldean language  (v. 4)

·         Bring back certain of the C. of Israel, the King’s seed, and princes (cream of the crop)

 B. Names Were Changed (Identity)

  1. Daniel (God is my Judge)  >  Belteshazzar (Whom Baal favors)

  2. Hananiah (The Lord has been gracious)  >  Shadrach (servant of Aku “sun god”)

  3. Mishael (Who is equal to God)  >  Meshach (Who is like the moon god)

  4. Azariah (The Lord has helped)  >  Abednego (servant of Nego (Venus / morning star)

 C. Eating from the King’s Table

  1. Drawing the line!!

  2. The meat was often swine, meat from which the blood remained, or had been offered to a pagan god.

  3. Daniel purposed in his heart NOT to defile himself…why?

·         There was a foundation of godly teaching in his heart (Family)

·         There was a foundation of godly preaching in his head (Jeremiah)

·         Daniel – 10 times better than the other wise men in the Kingdom…..

II. Jehoiakim

·         Josiah, his father  – 2 Kings 22

·         This portion may seem to be more about Josiah than about his son, Jehoiakim. However, the importance must be shown of the father and of preceding generations in that they carry much weight and influence in the succeeding generations.

 A. Ascended the Throne at Eight Years of Age

  1. Did right in the sight of the Lord; walked straight  – 22:2

 B. Sent Workers to Repair the House of the Lord – 22:3-7

  1. The Book of the Law was found  - 22:8

  2. Report of progress given and Book read to the king – 22:9-10

 C. The Effect of the Word of God on Josiah (Personally)

  1. He rent his clothes

  2. He understood the words

   a. To the High Priest – “Intercede for Judah…our generation hasn’t hearkened unto Yahweh.” 

   b. God said He would move in wrath against his people – 22:17

 D. The Word of God to Josiah

  1. You have a “tender heart” - 19

  2. You “humbled yourself”  (when God spoke) - 19

  3. You “heard” when God spoke - 19

  4. You “tore your clothes” when God spoke - 19

  5. You “wept” when God spoke - 19

  6. God said…“I HAVE HEARD THEE!” - 19

 E. The Effect of the Word of God on Josiah (Kingdom) – 2 Kings 23:3

  1.Made a Covenant with God Before the People

   a. The people stood and covenanted as well. – 23:3

   b. Removed idolatry and its priests – 23:5

   c. Removed the groves – 23:6

   d. Broke down the houses of the sodomites.

    1. Homosexuality – houses “joined” to the house of God – 23:7

   e. Broke down the “high places” at the gate of Joshua

    1. Joshua – OT => Jesus => Salvation

    2. Sp. Implication – broke down the stumbling blocks or hindrances to the path of Salvation

   f. Stopped the taking of the lives of children (Molech) – (Abortion) – 23:10

 F. He Broke Down the Altars of the Previous Generations / Kings -

 H. He Reinstated Worship of Jehovah God in Judah – 23:21

  1. He died…his epithet reads, ”Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” [i]  23:25

·         With such a background of godliness, surely the son would be a godly king, RIGHT?

·         Lessons: Every person must stand on their own decisions…will give account for their decisions.

III. Jehoiakim’s Reign

 A. Twenty-five Years Old When He Ascended the Throne

  1.Reigned for 11 years

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[i]The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Ki 23:25). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.