Week 1: Babylon is forcing assimilation, Daniel Hannaniah, Mishael, Azariah taken. They resists the Kings food
Will the Hebrew boys try to make a great name for themselves by way of Babylon!
Or will they accept the level of greatness and significance that the Lord gives!
Week 2: Application - How do we stand against Babylon and What am I standing against.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
The Daniel 1 test
Before participating in something, ask:
- Does Scripture directly call this sin?
- Does this require me to deny, disobey, or dishonor God?
- Does it involve idolatry or agreement with false worship?
- Does it feed lust, greed, pride, hatred, or deception?
- Is it controlling me?
- Can I do it with thanksgiving and for God’s glory?
- Would participating violate my conscience?
- Would it knowingly encourage someone else to sin?
CONTEXT OF DANIEL SO FAR:
Babylon a wicked nation overtakes Judah and Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah are taken there to serve King Nebuchadnezzar.
This was forced assimilation:
They are forced to change their:
- God
- Language
- Home
- Customs
- Food
- Name
Daniel 2:
1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.
4 Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks!
10 ……….. No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.
How do we handle trials?
13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
20 and said:
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Daniel went to the executioner and said:
24…….. “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
The executioner told the king:
25……… “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.
45…….. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,
49….. while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
So how did Daniel deal with trial:
1. He Recognized God put me here. (God handed Judah over to Babylon)
2. He prayed and asked God to turn it around v17-18 (asked for mercy)
3. He bet on God (Set up a meeting before the interpretation) (operated in the fulfillment)
4. He praised God the whole time. (When facing death and when exalted)
How do we deal with trial:
- We Recognize, God put me here. (Who am I here to help)
- We pray and asked God to turn it around. (Lord save US)
- We bet on God (Trust in his faithfulness)
- We praise God the whole time. (Maintain gratefulness)
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