Resolve to be Right

DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT September 25, 2022 DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • Daniel: A Man Of • Prayer • Purpose • Prophecy • Character • Courage • Consecration DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT — 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 delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. • Daniel 1:1–8 (NIV) DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT God’s Justice Enacted As He Punishes His People—1:1-2 • Daniel 1:1-2 (NIV) 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 delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. • God Is Merciful -- He Is Also Just and Must Punish Sin DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT God’s Warning To His People--Future Captivity If They Did Not Turn To Him • See: Isaiah 39:5-7 •Jeremiah 25:8-11 (NIV) 8 Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon," declares the LORD, "and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT Why Did The Lord Allow Babylonian Captivity? •They Didn’t Listen To God’s Prophets •They Neglected God’s Word •They Didn’t Even Care About God • “The Lord Delivered Jehoiakim Into Nebuchadnezzar's Hand." • Nebuchadnezzar Was A Tool Of Judgment In The Lord’s Hand DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • God Would Use Babylon To Sicken And Repulse Israel By Her Own Sin • Proverbs 13:15 (NIV) 15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. • Galatians 6:7 (NIV) 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. • They Sowed The Seed Of Their Idolatry -- They Reaped The Powerlessness Of The Worship Of A Lifeless God DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT The Enemy Wants The Best Young People—1:3-4 • Daniel 1:3-4 (NIV) 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. • Daniel Was Near 15 yrs. When He Was Taken Into Captivity • Babylon Worked With The Youth -- Gaining Strongholds On The Cultural And Societal Changes That They Wanted To Install DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT This Takeover By Babylon Was Prophesied • Isaiah 39:7 (NIV) 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." • 2 Kings 20:18 (NIV) . 18 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and They Will Become Eunuchs In The Palace Of The King Of Babylon." • Based On What Isaiah Said Daniel Was Made A Eunuch • They Emasculated His Manhood DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • THE CREAM OF THE CROP Daniel 1:4 (NIV) 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 1. They must be princes (Dan. 1:3). 2. They must be youths (children, Dan. 1:4). 3. They must be without blemish physically (Dan. 1:4). 4. They must be handsome; good in appearance (Dan. 1:4). 5. They must be well educated -- skillful in wisdom. 6. They must be skillful in knowledge (Dan. 1:4). 7. They must be proficient in the sciences (Dan. 1:4). 8. They must be refined and polished so as to be able to stand before kings (Dan. 1:4). • Dake's Annotated Reference Bible DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •These Young People Had To Be Very Intelligent And Resourceful To Be Able To Learn The Language Of The Babylonians There were three tongues used in Babylon 1. Aramaic= Used for ordinary business and diplomacy. 2. Assyrian, = This is the language of historic and legal documents. 3. Accadian, the sacred tongue= the magical formulas and rituals DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •The Enemy Hates You And Has A Plan For Your Life -- He Hates Your Young People And Has A Horrible Plan For Their Lives As Well •We Must Guard And Train Our Young People To Be Careful About What They Give Themselves Away To DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT The King Assigns Their Food & Training—1:5 •Daniel 1:5 (NIV) 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. •For Three Years They Were To Go To Nebuchadnezzar U. •To Be Reprogrammed And Reeducated In The Ways Of The Babylonians DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT The Babylonian Perspective And Beginnings – See Gen. 11:1-9 Nimrod And His Followers In Opposition to God Wanted To: 1.Build A City 2.Build A Tower That Would Reach To The Heavens 3.Make A Name For Themselves – Glorifying Man Not God DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT There Were Two Seats Of Power In Their Rebellion 1.Governmental Power – A Political Power To Build A City In Opposition To God’s Plan 2.Religious Power – Based On Rebellion & Apostasy – ”We Worship God The Way We Want To” DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •There Is A Significance Of The Word “Babylon?” •It Means One Thing To Man –Another To God A. To The Babylonians, Babel = “The Gate Of God.” B. God Put His Definition Of Babel =“Confusion.” Babel Wasn’t A Gate To The Gods --It Was A Door To Confusion DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT The Spirit Of Babel Continues To Live On • There Is A Desire Today For Everything To Come Under A United Nations Of Religion, Government And Economy • A One World Religion • A One World Government • A One World Economy • It Is Coming At Us From All Angles In Our Day DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •Jesus Said, “Without Me, ye can do nothing,” (John 15:5). Humanity answers, “Yes we can. We can build whatever we want to with our super computers and brilliant technology. We are the world.” • Jon Courson’s Application Commentary • We Will Build A One World Economy • We Will Build A One World Government • We Will Build A One World Religion DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT Why Is All Of This Happening Today? • It Is The Resurfacing Spirit Of The Babylonian System DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT Babylon Wants To Mold, Shape, Retrain You, To Become Babylonians 1.Your Freedoms 2.Your Worship / Values / Spiritual Treasures 3.Your Family / Their Relationships / The Future a.Their Strength And Beauty b.Talents, Abilities, Aptitudes c.Education , Indoctrination d.Their Service, Language, Literature 4.Your Devotion To God a.Your Lifestyle b.Faith-based Living 5.They Take Away Your Name / Who God Says You Are 6.Take Away Your Gender Specific Means Of Fruitful Reproduction DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • Babylon Today Wants To Choose The Best Of Our People To Integrate Into Their System. To Eat Their Food Period To Learn Their Way And Their Version Of Truth Period To Make All People To Be One With Them. • This Is A Warning Friends You See Today Babylon Wants To Mold You, Shape You, And Retrain You To Become One Of Them • We Must Take A Cue From Daniel Who Faced The Very Same Thing • Daniel Resolved Not To Defile DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT The Resolve Of Daniel—1:6-8 •Daniel 1:6-8 (NIV) 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. • He Also Gave The Directives To Change Their Names • Your Name Is Who You Are. It Is Your Identity DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •He Changed Their Names From Names That Spoke Of The True God To Names That Spoke Of The False Gods Of The Babylonians  The King Is Trying To Get Them To Forget Their Old Life And Allegiance To God Almighty  The Names That These Boys Have Reveal That Their Parents Feared The Lord  They Are Singled Out Because They Are Going To Take A Stand For The Lord -- Rod Matoon DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • It Doesn’t Matter What The Enemy Calls You •We Live Up To Who God Says We Are •His Children •Valuable •Purchased With His Blood •Powerful Great Future -- Family •Accepted, •Secure • Significant •Because God Says You Are. DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT • Daniel 1:8 (NIV) 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. • They Took A Stand On The Food And Drink May To Keep Their Faith -- To Stay Close To God In Trying Times… •Resolved Means "To Determine, To Fix, To Purpose And Be Devoted To Principle; To Be Committed To A Course Of Action." • Daniel Said By His Actions “I Am Not Going To Bend Or Bow” DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •The World’s Agenda Must Never Set Our Agenda •We Must Resolve That We Will Not Defile •We Will Not Give In To Go The Wrong Way •We Are Not Worried About What The World Calls Us • We Are Who And What God Says We Are DANIEL: RESOLVED TO BE RIGHT •We Know The One True God •We Have A Relationship With Him Through Jesus Christ •If We Will Lean On Him -- He Will See Us Through •He Will Provide For Us •All Credit—Glory--Honor Goes To Him