Determined or Doomed

Daniel 1:1-16

Today we want to look at Daniel so we can answer some questions as to who he is.

The orders were given by the King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:3-5) The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility—4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the Chaldean language and literature

Orders were bring only the best of the royal family. Did you ever think as to why he ordered to choose from this group?

Well conciser this they had already had schooling on many things in other words these would be teachable that is the intention of the king. Think about it, they were of the noble family. Should we be able to bring them into our religious and government structure then ruling over the remaining people would be easy. sounds like a good plan.

Even to the point that the king was going to give them everything they would need. ( Daniel 1:5 )

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to attend the king.

The story unfolds as we see in (Daniel 1:6-7)

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

6 Among them, from the Judahites, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief eunuch gave them names; he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.

New names were given, to them well you can give me a new name however that will not change who I am on the inside or will it. One must answer that question, and the question is will I defile myself or not. Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with food or wine from the Kings table in other words Daniel was putting his life on the line.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.

Look! we must get a clear view if this determination of his first of all he could be killed for this rebellion, remember they chopped off heads for this type of action. The term Daniel determined infers a planed out response, as well a plain of action lets look.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. 9 God had granted Daniel kindness and compassion from the chief eunuch,

Daniel did not try a crafty plan he only made a simple request. and then God moved within the heart of the kings person in charge. Now that man says in verse 10 yet he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink. What if he sees your faces looking thinner than the other young men your age? You would endanger my life with the king.” He told Daniel if i grant your request and your look sick then the king would kill Me because I did not do as the King had ordered.

Daniel came back and said how about a test!

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

11 So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king’s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see.”

The chief eunuch agrees to test them:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

14 He agreed with them about this and tested them for ten days.

And a time to examine them, what did they see? Four people at the top of the class. Healthy as well as wise, God had indeed come to their aid.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

15 At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16 So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.

Why do we find it so hard to believe God, after His promise is to care for his children. We will trust the simple things of life yet we find it hard to trust the unseen God. Thomas said after the resection in (John 20:21-30) Thomas would not believe until he saw for himself, Christ allowed him to see for himself. Look at what the believers of today have, the faith that have not seen but still believe.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 20

THOMAS SEES AND BELIEVES

24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”

28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GOSPEL

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,, and that by believing you may have life in his name.