Daniel - Programmed and Positioned to Prosper
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In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel had gone into captivity to Assyria in 722 B.C.
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied and warned the people of Isreal to turn from their wicked ways.
Judah also ignored God’s covenant, neglected the Sabbath Day and the sabbatical year (Jer. 34:12–22), and went into idolatry (Jer. 7:30–31).
Therefore, because of the covenant in Deuteronomy 28, judgment had to fall on Judah. God chose Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument to inflict discipline on God’s disobedient people (cf. Jer. 27:6; Hab. 1:6).
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.
“The Lord gave Jehoicakim (Ja-hoy-a-kim) King of Judah into His hand”
This is a true picture of the power of God!
The Lord Gave -
Gave: to deliver v. — to surrender someone or something to another; especially to an authority.
Jehoicakim into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar
God delivered him over!
God was in control of it.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
I still believe that God is in control…
God’s appointment has a purpose!
This is a key verse in the book of Daniel…
“King Nebuchadnezzar took vessels of the house of God and brought them to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.”
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, 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.
Ashpenaz (Ash-pe-naz)
Youth without blemish & Good appearance
God programmed them to be...
Skillful in all wisdom -
Skillful - to understand (cognitive) v. — to perceive (an idea or situation) mentally.
wisdom (ability) n. — ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight.
God programmed them to be…
Endowed with knowledge -
Endowed: to know (cognitive) v. — to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.
knowledge n. — the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning; sometimes simply endowed by God (often with focus on application of the knowledge).
Understanding Learning
Understanding: to be skilled v. — to be skilled or proficient in some activity or specialty.
Learning: he psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning; sometimes simply endowed by God (often with focus on application of the knowledge).
Competent - ability (quality) n. — the quality of being able to perform; especially a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment.
“Teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans”
They had natural God programmed ability but They needed to be taught the literature and the language
Literature: Body of literature (subject) n. — a collection of writings on a particular subject.
Language: language ⇔ tongue n. — a human written or spoken language used by a particular community.
The king wanted them to know the culture and their context.
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.
“They were to be educated for three years”
They were to undergo a rigorous three-year course of training after which they were to enter the king’s service. That educational program probably included a study of agriculture, architecture, astrology, astronomy, law, mathematics, and the difficult Akkadian language.
1) God programmed them from birth with ability…
2) God positioned them even though they were in captivity…
To be found by the chief eunuch to stand in the King’s palace.
Standing in the King’s palace means I’m standing in a place where:
Decisions are made
Movers and shakers are in the place!
Programs are produced
Initiatives are introduced
Influencers
Magicians
Enchanters
The King’s palace could be a place of insecurity…
But they were prepared for the palace (They had a natural desire for the subjects)
God positioned them to be educated for three years!
Education in the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world – Nelson Mandela
Education is the movement from darkness to light – Allan Bloom.
The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you – B.B. King.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever – Mahatma Gandhi.
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Keep making the investment - They were gifted but still needed to be educated
Educated in a system that was going to change their welfare
Welfare: wellbeing n. — a contented state of general welfare.
Peace, prosperity, success; state of health…
Affirmation!
You are programmed/gifted
You are positioned / You are in a space to bring change / You are in a room that your are suppose to be in.
Make the educational investment!
Speak the language and learn the context… In the space God has positioned you in
Pastor!!! You don’t understand… I have some barriers standing in my way!
3) The were programmed (natural ability) and positioned (Kings Palace) to prosper...
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
God gave them.... What was needed to prosper
The learning - The knowledge
Skill - The cognitive ability
In their literature and wisdom
Daniel was given to understand all visions and dreams!
And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.