Remaining Holy in a Hostile World: Daniel 1--Purposely Remaining Holy
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Jerusalem was in ruins. The temple had been ransacked. The items in the temple had been taken to Babylon. Several of the young men who had been educated in Jerusalem had been taken captive to Babylon. They were to be trained for three years under the instruction of the language, literature of the Babylonians.
Daniel 1:8
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
8 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.
Amplified Bible Chapter 1
8 But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by [eating his portion of] the king’s rich and dainty food or by [drinking] the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself. [Num. 6:1-4; I Cor. 10:21.]
Daniel (by extension the three other men) had resolved in their hearts
This is going back to before Daniel was taken. This is a prior choice.
You must set up boundaries BEFORE you are asked to choose. If you wait until the moment you will fall.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Resolved: literally “put (set) in his heart.” For the Jews the heart was the seat of the will and intelligence of a person, rather than of the emotions and feelings. One commonly-used English idiom that reflects the meaning of the Hebrew expression is “made up his mind” (TEV). Some other verbs that may be used to express the same idea are “intended,” “determined,” “resolved,” or “purposed.”
What barriers and boundaries have you setup in your life?
Maybe it is to turn off the computer or TV at a certain time.
Where are your priorities where is your money going?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God has given you time, talent, and treasure. How are you using them?
Daniel had setup barriers and boundaries BEFORE they were taken to Babylon to not become ritually unclean or to go against God’s commands.
‘The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.’ ” And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat. And the fat of an animal that dies naturally, and the fat of what is torn by wild beasts, may be used in any other way; but you shall by no means eat it. For whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people. Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.’ ”
Maybe the food/wine had been offered to idols or was non-kosher. There could be many different reasons, but Daniel wants to remain faithful to the One true God.
He ASKS (REQUESTS) — not demands.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
Daniel is respectful of authority and follows protocol in seeking a new diet.
Daniel has a good attitude in what he does. He has a discussion and requests.
So often we WANT and we DEMAND our rights, here Daniel requests that he and his three friends have a different diet.
Daniel 1:9-10
Daniel 1:9-10
Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
God was the one giving favor to the chief of the eunuchs.
We something similar to Joseph in Genesis when he is taken to Egypt.
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
Daniel 1:11-14
Daniel 1:11-14
So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
Daniel negotiates and asks the servant whom the chief of the eunuchs set over them (had trust) for a test. For 10 days.
It wasn’t for the whole 3 years. Less than 2 weeks.
Daniel 1:15-16
Daniel 1:15-16
And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
The test is passed.
Daniel 1:17-21
Daniel 1:17-21
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Once again, it is God doing the giving.
Knowledge
Skill in literature and wisdom
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams
Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Three years pass
Conclusions
Conclusions
What barriers have you setup to guard yourself and your relationship with God?
What are temptations and stumbling blocks that could compromise your testimony?
Don’t think that ever time you follow what God has commanded you to do will turn out great like in the case of Daniel and his three friends or even in Joseph’s case. Yet, still do it anyway.