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Daniel’s Faithfulness

Daniel 1:8-21

V8 - But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank.
Daniel was familiar with the Word he knew that just because he was not in his home land participating in the actions of those around him wasn’t an option. His resolve was to be faithful to his God no matter the cost.

V9 - God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.
When we serve God with our whole lives He gives us favor. God leads us even when we don’t realize it, just because Daniel was being held captive didn’t mean he was a prisoner. Makes me wonder are we free, what is holding us captive today? Why won’t lay it down and walk in His freedom.

V11-13 wisdom on Daniel’s part he trusted in his God and was expecting he would be rewarded for his faithfulness to God because of it. There are many references between Daniel & the book of Revelation in Rev 2.10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Here to is a test of faith - just as Daniel and his companions had to trust in the Lord so will those saints of the tribulation hour. I think this is a good lesson for us to keep our trust in the Lord for every situation.

V14 - 16 God showed Himself faithful to Daniel and the others. We too can experience this kind of walk in our lives as we trust in God we can go forward in a belief that He is faithful to us.

V17 - 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 ( Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) learning and skill. These men were set apart by God to do specific work and task for the position He called them to. The same can be said for us today, God has called us to a specific work we are accountable to Him for these gifts and callings. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
To Daniel God gave a very specific gift and calling regarding dreams and visions. I still believe in the gifts of the spirit, yet I think we see less of them because those whom God would offer to use in these areas refuse to separate themselves for the work of God.

Here's are few things to consider from our text:

1. Living for God means staying close to His heart and not giving in to compromise.
2. Living for God keeps in good standing with men as well as with God.
3. Our faithfulness to God brings blessings to others as well as ourselves.
4. Never look at the situation you find yourself in as a problem, but like these men look to God and commit yourself to serve Him in faithfulness and seek ways to be a blessing to others.

Amen 
Pastor J

Never Far from Home

Daniel Taken to Babylon

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.

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.

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. <Daniel 1:1-7 ESV> 

The book is very relevant today for us. The book of Daniel follows the author beginning in the third year of King Jehoiakim around 606 B.C. up to the reign of Cyrus king of Persia about 536 B.C. Seventy years of service to his people and his God.

Daniel’s life can be summed up by purpose, prayer, and prophecy.

1. Daniel was a man of purpose - from the abstaining of eating pagan sacrifice food to not submitting to the worship of pagan idols. 
2. Daniel was a man of prayer - we can find several specific time in this book where he prayed (Dan. 2.17-23, 6.10, 9.3-19, 10). We can also see how prayer is able to deliver us from our enemies; even the from the mouth of lions.
3. Daniel was a man of prophecy - it has been said that the book of Daniel gives us a “skeleton of prophecy on which all prophecy is placed” qited from J.V.McGee “The Book of Daniel” Thru the Bible Books

In verse V7: 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.

Daniel (Heb.God is Judge/Babylon Belteshazzar which means Baal's prince. Baal was one of the gods of the Babylonians)

Hananiah is beloved of the Lord to Hananiah [was given the name] of Shadrach which means illumined by the sun god 

Mishael, who is as God? to [he gave the name] of Meshach meaning who is like Shak? another one of the Babylonian deities

Azariah, the Lord is my help [he gave the name] Abednego meaning the servant of Nego, which was another one of the Babylonian deities. Why would they do such a thing? “So Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, Belteshazzar, these are all the profane names that were given to them by the eunuch in Babylon as they took away from them their Hebrew names which related to God.” <CSmith_comm_Daniel1>

Friends never forget who you are in Christ Jesus! All these things that took place in order to remove all traces of who they were and where they had come from. We know that this did not work and that they held fast to their faith in LORD.

The book of Daniel deals with political issues and ecclesiastical issue as separate matters but reminds us that God is sovereign over all.

May God bless you and give you a deeper understanding of scripture - amen.

We can see in this first portion of Daniel 1 how he and his friends were taken from their home and trust into a foriegn culture, yet they remained faithful to their God.  A culture bent on removing them not only from their homes but also from their faith. Not even their names were safe from the persecution of the captures. As we walk through a forgien land today may we be as faithful as they were!