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Readings in the Book of
Daniel
Daniel 1:
Reading #398 Living in the Spirit
In this week’s reading we begin to look at what I believe is one of the most important books in the Bible. It gives us the clues we need to enable us to unravel many prophecies scattered throughout the Scriptures, especially in the book of The Revelation, yet at the same time shows us in unmistakeable language how religious persecution starts, and what causes it.
We’ll find as we read that the first six chapters of the book deal mainly with historical events, and the last six with things to come, although there is a bit of the other in each section, for God’s WORD and His word are two-fold.
Let’s read:
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.1
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(End Quote)Babylon was the city/kingdom which was set up in opposition to God’s way on the site of the Tower of Babel
[in today’s Iraq] soon after the Flood. It is written, "And Cush [the son of Ham, the son of Noah] begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth [an important person]. He was a mighty hunter [killer] before [against] the LORD: wherefore it is said [in the proverb], ‘Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.’ And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar". Genesis 10:8-10.What Nimrod did was follow in the footsteps of his ancestor Cain, who had left the area where his parents lived after he had killed his brother, and then built a city in an effort to congregate opposition to God’s way.
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(Begin Quote)Genesis 4:
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city [in rebellion against God’s desire that they live in gardens (the country)], and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch". [This Enoch is not the one who was translated into heaven – that one was a follower of God in the seventh generation. Genesis 5:18.]16
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(End Quote)You don’t build a city for one family, therefore many of Cain’s brothers and sisters must have followed him in the split in the human family. When Cain and Abel came to offer sacrifices they did so as the leaders of two groups of people. (It is written that they came "in the process of time
[when they were full-grown and heads of their own families]", so it was some time after the rebellion of Adam. Genesis 4:3-4.) Ever since then we have had "political" groupings as well as "tribal" ones. One system (a nation) builds its strength by the people who live in a particular area, while the other finds its power in a God-given hierarchy of parent and child. One presents its own works for the blessing of God, while the other relies entirely on His sacrifice.We are told that by the time of the third generation from Adam (the rebel Enoch’s time) the gap was wide enough for men to begin to publicly identify themselves, for it is written, "then began men to call upon the name of the LORD".
[The margin reads, "men began to call themselves by the name of the LORD"]. Genesis 4:26. Later, the city of Jerusalem and the city of Babylon became representative of two opposing groups, the professed followers of God and the obvious rebels.Our reading begins about 605BC with a battle between the young king of Babylon and the king of Jerusalem. On his way into Egypt Nebuchadnezzar settled the problem of the independent state of Judah by besieging the city and eventually forcing it to surrender, as he had done with all the surrounding nations. Judah was "independent" in that it refused to publicly acknowledge the superiority of the sun god of Babylon.
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
And the LORD gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the [holy] vessels of the house [temple] of God: which he [Nebuchadnezzar] carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.2
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(End Quote)When we are told that the Son of God GAVE His city and people away, we should always remember that He can only protect to the limit we allow Him.
So here we need to distinguish between three groups of people – those who profess to follow God, those who deny His position as the Creator, and those who actually do follow Him. The king of Judah and most of the Hebrew people (but not all) who lived in Jerusalem at that time only professed to follow Him, really doing their own thing, living in the way of a nation or state.
See 1 Samuel 8.The king of the Babylonian state was more honest and openly defied the God of heaven and claimed that his god was greater. This boast was apparently correct in that the soldiers of the kingdom of Babylon soon conquered the people of the kingdom of Judah, and even took the treasures of God’s temple back with them into Babylon. To those looking on without understanding there could be no other conclusion – the Babylonian god was the greatest – and he became worshipped by the majority of the then known world.
But . . .
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs [the captain of the household], that he should bring certain of the children [teenagers] of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 children [young people] 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 [of royal blood], and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.3
5
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat [food], and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king [in an examination].***************
(End Quote)Nebuchadnezzar was a wise king and knew that the best way to keep a conquered kingdom under control was to get important young ones on his side, and then place them back in control of their own people. To do this he took hostages into a university type situation in Babylon and filled them with the latest in world knowledge and luxurious living. He reckoned three years was enough to thoroughly indoctrinate them into his way of thinking. And normally it had been with other nations, BUT . . .
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel [whose name means God is Judge], Hananiah [Yahweh is gracious], Mishael [belongs to God], and Azariah [Yahweh has helped]: 7 to whom the prince of the eunuchs gave [new] names: for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar [Bel (aka Baal the "boss" god) protects the king]; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach [(the god) Aku commands]; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego [servant of (the god) Nebo].6
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(End Quote)The first thing to do when wanting to change a person’s allegiance is to teach them your language and prohibit the use of their own. (This is still being done today in many conquered countries.) The names given the Hebrews had great meaning to the givers although we are no longer sure of what they were, so I have given some popular explanations, although Meshach doesn’t seem to have one which survived.
Daniel, who was about fourteen at the time, had obviously been well brought up by his parents (of whom we know nothing), and had been taught that to eat the normal food of the world was dangerous to health and mind.
Leviticus 3:17. He lived in the vicinity of Huldah the prophetess who taught many of the young people of the time in "the college", so he was well clued up on what was right and wrong. See 2 Kings 22:14.Eating wisely is important – it is written of those like Judas that "their table
[would] become a snare before them". Psalm 69:22 and Acts 1:15-20.***************
(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat [food], nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.8
9
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has 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 you make me endanger my head to the king".11
Then said Daniel to Melzar [his personal overseer], whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Prove your servants, I beseech you, ten days; and let them give us pulse [vegetables] to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before you, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with your 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 [a vegetarian diet].***************
(End Quote)What can a slave do? And that’s what Daniel and his friends were – even though treated with a great deal of respect because of the positions they were to fill. However, as a follower of God, he knew that courtesy is first and foremost a characteristic of a good Christian. (Jesus even prayed for His persecutors as they nailed Him to the cross. Luke 23:34.)
So Daniel rested in God and had been very obedient to the Babylonians even though he probably didn’t understand why he had been torn from his home and family and taken so far away across the world. He doubtless reasoned that God knew what He was doing, and that this was the best He could do under the circumstances. So when the steward of the house was prepared to listen to his request although worried about the outcome, Daniel asked the Spirit of God for the right words to say, and the test was on!
Of course, ten days is not long enough to make a big difference in anyone’s looks, but a lifetime of living well meant that Daniel and his companions revived much quicker than those who gorged themselves on the king’s "good" food. They had all trekked across a vast expanse of land to get to Babylon and now their way of life showed up in their recovery.
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
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.17
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(End Quote)Believing that God can make good come out of any circumstance, they knuckled down and set themselves to study all that was set before them, discarding that which they were shown by the Spirit to be error. However, because Daniel desperately wanted to know why they were in such a position, and what God intended to do with them, he continually pleaded for light and understanding, and therefore received it. He "grew in grace" and had many "conversations" with the Son of God. 2 Peter 3:18. (Remember the "importunate widow"? Luke 18.) You can also see the story of the Shunammite woman at http://4dw.net/nonconformer/Miscellaneous/shunammite.html#.
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(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
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.18
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And the king communed with them [he was bright enough to ask many searching questions]; and among them all [there were many candidates] 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. [Daniel was about 17 years old.]***************
(End Quote)Those who were prepared to follow God’s plan for their appetite were also those who were prepared to listen to His Spirit in other matters, and they soon excelled even the teachers of the university, because they had a Helper who explained many things which were "hidden" from those who rely on their own wisdom.
Remember these words?
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(Begin Quote)Matthew 13:
And the disciples came, and said to Him, "Why speak You to them in parables [or visions and dreams]?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever has [spiritual desire], to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not [a listening ear], from him shall be taken away even that he has. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, ‘By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them’".10
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(End Quote)Ten times better means that if the best of the world could get 10% right in an examination, then Daniel and company would get 100%. Because Christians have a God who not only prepares us beforehand, but also promises that He will give answers in emergencies, we should always be more well-informed than the people who reject such help.
See Mark 13:9-11.***************
(Begin Quote)Daniel 1:
And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.21
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(End Quote)Cyrus was the commander of the Medes and Persians who conquered Babylon in 539BC, and he became its king in 537BC. That means that Daniel stayed in the civil service for about 68 years, through the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus and Belshazzar (and some others in between), even to Darius the king of the Medes. Being about 14 when taken captive, that means that he lived to be at least 82 years old.
The Son of God needed Daniel in Babylon as His witness. Nebuchadnezzar the heathen king had the spiritual desire to know something, and was willing to listen to the answer (for a while anyway). The Son of God intended that he was to be like Saul of Tarsus, the rebel who became Paul the apostle. (Acts chapter 9.) Through Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar God was able to show the rest of the world, and for ages to come right down to our time, certain principles of history. We’ll be able to see something of those next week.
In the meantime, have you seen the three groups plainly? In this chapter there is one group which lives in Jerusalem, one which lives in Babylon, and they are continually at war with one another, although they are the same in principle. (Babylon = sun worship and Jerusalem = self-worship.) But in this story the real group is that which is captive in Babylon (the God-worshippers)! Thus we can see that throughout history the people of God can be found living wherever they were needed, with the professed Christians and/or with the open rebels. Sometimes they were free, sometimes they were slaves – sometimes loved, sometimes despised – always misunderstood. The Son of God can use us in either position, but of course, He prefers us to be free in "Jerusalem" for our own peace of mind, and because there we can be seen by outsiders, and the Spirit may be able to raise a desire in them to be like us. (But we are actually safer in "Babylon" because there we have no illusions of patriotism, or excessive loyalty to our group!) As a wise man once told me, the real church consists of one person and God. Our system of marriage, which is a picture of the gospel, is based on that fact.
But, as we should realise as we get further into the book of Daniel, the God of heaven has no failures; like Jesus, His people move from success to success, a series of uninterrupted victories, although not seen as such by many. Another distinguishing mark is that the gods of this world live by the use of physical force, but the God of heaven implants a principle in His people, and this outlasts all the others.
Bye for now, Ron
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
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(Begin Quote)So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. 15 And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel . . ." Back14
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(End Quote)The following words applied to Daniel and his friends as they do to us:
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(Begin Quote)But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you shall be beaten: and you shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither do you premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you: for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Back9
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(Begin Quote)Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, 5 and said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways: now make us a king to judge [lead] us like all the nations".4
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But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us". And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also to you. 9 Now therefore hearken to their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them". Back***************
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(Begin Quote)It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that you eat neither fat nor blood. Back17
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(End Quote)oooOooo
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