DANIELChapter 1

“Living in Babylon & Drawing the Line”

How can I live in the world yet be free from its influence?

July 27, 2014FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHJACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

USA

JULY MEMORY VERSE

James 5:16 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

• Theological Theme: God’s Sovereignty

Daniel 5:21 21 …the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

God controls the destinies of both pagan empires and His exiled people.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

• Chapters 1 – 6– Historical narrative of experiences of Daniel and

his friends in Babylon

• Chapters 7-12– Apocalyptic (futuristic) visions and revelations of

future events

Language: Daniel 1:1-2:4; 8-12 in Hebrew & middle sections written in Aramaic

REFERENCES

Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler, Harper Collins, 2005.

Daniel: God’s Pattern For The Future, A Study Guide by Charles R. Swindoll, 1992

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore, 2006

Daniel 1:1-2

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.

Daniel 1 – The Dates & Author

• Daniel was in 1st deportation in 605 B.C.

• Ezekiel was in 2nd deportation in 597 B.C.

• 3rd deportation in 586 B.C. with Temple and Jerusalem destroyed

• Daniel is author with completion date of 530 B.C.

Daniel 1 – The Wars & Power

• Nebuchadnezzar succeeds his father as King

• Leads the Babylonians to defeat the Egyptians under Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish (Syria)

• Judah had depended on Egypt for protection

• Nebuchadnezzar seizes opportunity to seize Judah

• Jeremiah has prophesied all of this!

Daniel 1 - Babylon

• City in Iraq – 50 miles south of Baghdad on Euphrates River

• Surrounded by 11 miles of outer wall

• Inner wall wide enough for 2 chariots to pass

• Entered by 8 gates – famous for Ishtar Gate

• “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” – 7 Wonders of the World

• A planned community!

Babylon

Babylon

Babylon - A Planned City

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Ishtar Gate of Babylon

Ishtar Gate

Babylon Area in the Bible

• Garden of Eden – Where Tigris & Euphrates Rivers meet (southern Babylonia/Iraq)

• Tower of Babel – Genesis 11:1 describes the “plain of Shinar”, known as Babylonia

• Abraham – Ur of the Chaldeans (southern Babylonia) in Genesis 11:28

Tower of Babel 3500 B.C.?

Nebuchadnezzar’s god -Marduk

• Marduk (Merodach or Bel) – chief god of Babylon

• Credited with creation- reenacted each new year & celebrated with a festival

• Resided in temple of Esagila

Temple of Esagila for Marduk

Ziggurat & Esagila Temple

Prophecy Fulfilled in Daniel 1:1-2

Isaiah 39:5-75 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 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."

Daniel 1:3-4

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king's service 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 1:5

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.

Daniel 1: 6-7

6 Among those who were chosen 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.

• (Goal was to remove Jewish heritage and assimilate into Babylonia culture)

Name Changes

Jewish

• Daniel – God is my judge

• Hananiah – The Lord shows grace

• Mishael – Who is what God is?

• Azariah – The Lord helps

Babylonian

• Belteshazzar – Marduk, protect his life

• Shadrach – command of Aku (pagan god)

• Meshach – Who is what Aku is?

• Abednego – servant of Nego/Nebo

Daniel 1:8-10

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. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."

Food in the Bible

• People & animals were vegetarians until after the flood.

Genesis 1:30 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

Food in the Bible

• After the flood, God added meat to man’s diet, with one restriction

Genesis 9:3-43 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

Food Restrictions for Israel

Leviticus 11:45-47 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46 "'These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. 47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten. '"

Why Food Restrictions for Israel?

• Kashrut – body of Jewish law dealing with dietary regulations

• Kosher – foods that meets Kashrut standards

• Health benefits – sanitation, disease, spoilage, digestion (meat & dairy together)

• Environmental – camel more useful as beast of burden than food source; pig consumes a quantity of food disproportional to its value

Why Food Restrictions for Israel?

• Short answer: “Because the Torah says so.”

• Torah does not specify the reasons

• “Chukkim” – laws for which there is no reason

• We show our obedience to God by following these laws even though we do not know the reason

• Following kashrut reminds one of Jewishness

Daniel’s Resolve Not To Defile His Body

• Royal food & wine may have been offered to idols before serving.

• The food was not prepared according to Jewish regulations.

• Daniel demonstrated the courage of his convictions.

Daniel 1:11-14

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

A Lesson from Daniel

• When faced with a seemingly impossible situation (directive) in life, pray for an alternative plan that will not compromise your values.

• Have an alternative plan before refusing to comply.

• Some things are not negotiable.

Daniel 1:15-16

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

Royal Food & Wine

• The young men had just walked 4 months from Israel to Babylon

– Minimal food and water

• 10 days of heavy foods & wine –

– Bloated, lethargic, GI distress

• Montezuma's Revenge?

Daniel 1:17

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

• Did not refuse to learn opposing views

• God used knowledge of opposing views to enhance their service to Him.

Applications of Daniel 1:17

• Know the enemy!

• Study opposing views to confirm your beliefs– Example: Evolution

• Daniel was 20 years old (Age appropriate)

• Teach your children a Biblical World View– View of world based on God as creator/sustainer

– View based on God’s word as TRUTH

– God is the source of all knowledge

– God allows man discovery of knowledge

Daniel 1:18-19

18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service.

Daniel 1:20-21

20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

- Daniel served from 605 BC to 538 BC (67 years)

4 LESSONS FROM DANIEL 1by Rev. Ray Ellis

1. When we experience inevitable interruptions in life, we should look for possibilities.

- Daniel and friends accepted their situation and allowed God to use them.

- Daniel and friends had to redefine “Normal” in their lives.

- God is present wherever we are.

LESSONS FROM DANIEL 1

2. Resist the temptation to play the blame game.

- Daniel could blame others for his situation, he was truly a victim of war.

- Daniel chose to honor God while living in a pagan culture

- Romans 8:28 gives a promise that God can work our situation for good and His glory

LESSONS FROM DANIEL 1

3. Resist the belief that you are entitled to a “The Good Life”.

- Remember this world is not our ‘home’

- The Good Life is not a promise.

- God promises to be with us in every situation

- Thankfulness is the first step to moving away from self-pity!

LESSONS FROM DANIEL 1

4. Remember that God wants to use us in more significant ways than we ever dreamed.

Ephesians 3:20-2120 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Matthew 5:13a13a “You are the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:14a, 1614a “You are the light of the world.”

16 “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

The Plan of Hope & SalvationRomans 3:23 NKJV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a NKJV23a For the wages of sin is death,

Death in this life (the first death) is 100%. Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins. The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23b NKJV23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NKJV8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 21:7 NKJV7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more.

Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-979-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/