DANIEL 1:1

The book of Daniel is a good book to study after the book of Jeremiah because Jeremiah basically ends at the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity into Babylon. Daniel was one of those who were taken captive to Babylon, and the events that are recorded in the book of Daniel took place in Babylon. The Bible says in Daniel 1:1-4, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.[2] And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.[3] And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;[4] Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” There are several facts told us about Nebuchanezzar. 1. Of course, he is the king who conquered Jerusalem. 2. Nebuchadnezzar was a heathen like most of the people who were not Israelites. 3. In order to be a king who conquered the entire middle east region and part of Africa, he had to have some practical sense about him. He understood that only certain people are qualified for certain tasks. He wanted the most intelligent and well-educated people to serve in his court. That is how Daniel ended up in the court of the heathen king. God is in control of all things and He brings them all together in just the right way and at just the right time to accomplish His purposes. The people of the world have their purposes and they think that their ways are the only things happening in the world. They do not see nor understand that Jesus is in control. That is why it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The Bible says in Daniel 1:5-8, “And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.[6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:[7] Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.[8] But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” The situation that Daniel was in, being a captive in Babylon, was not unlike the situation that all Christians are in. We are captives in this world, surrounded by heathen people. Because of our surroundings, there will be situations where we will either compromise or be true to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to take a stand. We have to make the right choices. We have to be willing to say, “No.” This is the spiritual principle of separation. Being true to the Lord Jesus is more important than anything else. It is definitely more important than being popular and accepted by the heathen. It says in Second Corinthians 6:14-17, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

The Bible says in Daniel 1:9-21, “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.[10] And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.[11] Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,[12] Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.[13] Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.[14] So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.[15] And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.[16] Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.[17] As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.[18] Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.[19] And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.[20] And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.[21] And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.” Whoever thinks that it does not pay to serve the Lord is wrong. There is no greater success that can possibly come than by serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He will move heaven and earth and every person in them to accomplish His will for any believer who follows Him. You will go as far as God wants you to go. You would not want to go any farther than that anyway, because if you did, it would be based upon evil self-will. Daniel was in the favor of the prince of the eunuchs because of the hand of God.

Of course, there is a symbolic meaning to the whole issue of what Daniel would eat and would not eat. The world has its way of doing things, and these ways are not always God’s ways. In the Old Testament law, the children of Israel were given very specific instructions about their diet. Certain animals were called unclean, and the Israelites were not allowed to eat them. A Christian wants to please God and follow Christ, and thus there are certain activities that we will not get involved with such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs, going to rock concerts, going to worldly parties, or going to movies. Just as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah benefitted from doing things God’s way; so will Christians benefit from following Jesus. All of Satan’s apples have worms. God tells us to avoid the sinful activities of the world because He wants us to prosper. Notice the result of Daniel and his friends sticking to their convictions. It says in Daniel 1:19-20, “therefore stood they before the king.[20] And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

The Bible says in Daniel 2:1-6, “And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.[2] Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.[3] And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.[4] Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.[5] The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.[6] But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.” We see here that Nebuchanezzar was very demanding and very harsh. He gave out the death penalty whenever he wanted: no trial, no jury, and no judge. Nebuchanezzar was very troubled about a dream. Not only did he want the wise men to interpret the dream, he also wanted the wise men to describe the dream because he could not remember it. He could only remember that he had dreamed a dream that troubled him greatly and kept him from sleeping well. All of this was of God. The dream came from God. God used the fact that Nebuchanezzar was troubled and demanded help from the wise men to bring Daniel into even greater prominence an d to reveal information about the future of the world to every generation of believers. As it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The Bible says in Daniel 2:7-9, “They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.[8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.[9] But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” One of the reasons that Nebuchanezzar was harsh with these supposed wise men can be seen in verse nine when Nebuchanezzar said to the wise men, “for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me.” He did not trust them one bit. They probably had lied to him before, and once someone lies to you, you cannot trust them. That is one of the reasons that telling the truth is so important.

The Bible says in Daniel 2:10-18, “The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.[12] For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.[13] And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.[14] Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:[15] He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.[16] Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.[17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:[18] That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from these verses is the fact that Daniel went directly to other believers and asked them to pray about this critical situation. Some prayers are more likely to result in divine intervention when more than one person prays about the same request. That is what Jesus taught in Matthew 20:19-20, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” It is also one of the primary reasons to have church services: to share prayer requests.

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