Introduction to Daniel:

Author is Daniel:

Danile Means God is my Judge

Danile as born into a Royal family of noble birth

Daniel 1:3 ESV

3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,

Daniel 1:6 ESV

6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.

Daniel was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C.

Probably around 16 years old

Daniel lived until about 536 B.C.

Daniel spent most of his life as a government official in the heathen kingdoms, as a Jew.

Yet we must note that Daniel didn’t compromise or waver in His faith and trust in God.

The Book of Danile was written in 537 B.C.

One year before his death

One year before the return of Israel to Jerusalem

The Book of Daniel also intersects two other Major Prophets:

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

A History of Daniel

Daniel 1:1–2 ESV

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

To give us some context here, I want us to turn to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 25:1–9 ESV

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), 2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 3 “For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. 4 You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, 5 saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. 6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’ 7 Yet you have not listened to me, declares the Lord, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. 8 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, 9 behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.

The reason we look at both of these passage we see a couple of things when it comes to dating the captivity in which Daniel was taken

Dating the Captivity:

Jeremiah says 4th year

Daniel says 3rd year

The difference is based upon two different calendars, one Jewish and one Babylonian.

Jehoiakim: (Daniel 1:1)

Was a the son of Josiah, A godly king who led a revival in Judah

2 Kings 23:31–37 ESV

31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

Jehoahaz:

Ruled 3 months being removed by Pharaoh Neco

Did evil in the sight of the Lord

Eliakim (Johoiakim)

Ruled Judah for 11 years

Did evil in the sight of the Lord

The Consequence:

In 605 B.C. God brought/used Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem where he besieged the city taking it in 604 B.C

It was in this first conquest of Israel Nebuchadnezzar didn’t destroy it rather took the best and the brightest captive

Among this group was Daniel.

The Best and the Brightest:

Daniel 1:3–4 ESV

3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Out of this crop of captives the King of Babylon wanted the best of the best to be brought into his courts

They had to be of Royal blood

They had to be without blemish (of Good report)They had to be good looking

They had to be skillful in wisdom (that is they had to be able to not only be wise but know how to apply that wisdom)

Endowed with knowledge

Able to learnAnd competent to stand in the presence of the kingAnd able to teach them the language of the Chaldeans

The Heart of a Faithful Servant:

Daniel 1:5–7 ESV

5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

So as we read here the young men that were assigned to the Kings court were:

Daniel (Belteshazzar)

Hannaniah (Shadrach)

Mishael (Meshach)

Azariah (Abednego)

Now we know that later in Daniel we are going to see that Those in the court with Daniel are going to see God do some amazing things! But more on that later!

Needless to say that these young men are not having the best time

Taken captive from their homeland with little hope of ever returning

Now made to serve in the kings court

Having their names changed

And then being made into eunuchs

But as those serving in the kings court they were alotted a protion of food that the king ate!

Now if your like me, free food is free food!

Especially if you are these guys!

At this point you are gettin all you can

But these were devote Jews!

They were obedient to the Law of God given to Moses

So the food of a pagan king, was not something that they could eat!

This was a huge conflict for these young men

To eat was to mean that sure they might live in the presence of a King who knew not God

But it meant that they would have to defile themselves and break the law of God!

What would you have done?

Sure mabye we sit here this morning saying in our hearts that we would stand, that we woudl not give in

But how many other Jews did Daniel right of who stood for what was right and good before God

Even later in Daniel how many Jews bowed down to the image Nebuchadnezzar made?

Conclusion:

I want to conclude with this thought for us this morning!

God seldom acts and works in ways that we understand

Largely because we can’t see the future, we can’t see all that God is doing to work all things together for rhe good of those who love Him

We are finite, locked in the flow of time in history

So it is hard for us to understand the providential and sovereign ways that God works in our lives and through our lives.

And if we can’t see and know all that God is and will do, it means that we have to trust him!

We have to lean in on Him and let Him be God in our lives!

We need to surrender to His will, not fight against it, and not even know the full scope of it!

Not that is not itellectual sucicide, it is simply acknowleding who we are in light of who He is!

Daniel and his friends could not change their circucmstance!

Maybe you can’t either

And like Daniel we are not always meant to

But as follower of God we are commanded to trust in oru loving and kind God

As Followers of Christ we are to know that he has what is best for us and His glory in mind as he acts

As Followers of Chirst we are to are called to remain faithful to what he has commanded, what He has written for us to follow!