Recommended Resource: After you have read through Daniel (one sitting if possible) and then begun to study Daniel 1, I have an Mp3 teaching tape by Calvary Chapel Pastor Rob Salvato which is highly recommended because of his excellent introductory remarks on the important historical background to Daniel and then his comments on the opening passages in Daniel 1:1-8. This Mp3 is about 64 minutes and is well worth a one hour investment as I think you will agree! Link to the Mp3 - Click to listen or Right Click and Choose "Save Target As"  You can easily transfer the downloaded message to your Ipod  and listen while you drive back and forth to work. This audio is especially recommended for all you dads (or dads to be) -- from yours truly, a 63yo dad with 4 grown children. I wish I had known these truths when my children were teenagers!

There are some other important divisions that should be kept in mind as you study the Book of Daniel...

**THE TIMES OF
THE GENTILES

In view of the emphasis on the fate of Gentiles and Jews in Daniel 2-12, it is worth noting that many conservative commentators feel that these events mark the inception of the specific "times" which Jesus referred to in Luke 21 when He declared that...

they (the Jews in Jerusalem - fulfilled in 70AD when Titus sacked the Temple and destroyed Jerusalem) will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until (Time phrase) the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Ed: The time of Gentile domination will come to an end). 25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world (Ed: Referring to the incredible events of the Great Tribulation, described in detail in Revelation 6-19); for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see THE SON OF MAN (Messiah) COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory (Messiah's triumphant Second Coming at the end of the 7 years of Daniel's Seventieth Week [Re 19:13-note, Re 19:14-note, Re 19:15-note, Re 19:16-note, Re 19:20-note, Re 19:21-note] and the last 3.5 years referred to as the Great Tribulation - Mt 24:21). 28 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Lk 21:28)

The times of the Gentiles began with the Gentile nation of Babylon destroying the Temple and initiating Gentile  domination over Jerusalem in 605, 597 and 586 BC. In fact, the essential area of Jerusalem--the sacred site of its ancient temple, Temple Mount--is still under the control of the Muslim Arabs. Thus, the "times of the Gentiles" have not yet been fulfilled, nor will they be until Christ returns (Lk 21:27) to restore Jerusalem, a restoration ("redemption") of which Jesus spoke in (Luke 21:28).

Irving Jensen feels the Key verse is Da 4:17 and the key words are "dream" and "vision".

The first 6 chapters are chronologically arranged (although it is difficult to specifically date chapters 3, 4, 5-see table below), with the prophecies of the last six chapters fitting into these chapters. The following table is from Tony Garland's recommended free online commentary on Daniel (see also his in depth verse by verse commentary on the book of the Revelation, one of the best evangelical commentaries available - A Testimony of Jesus Christ A Testimony of Jesus Christ). Note that Dr Garland chooses Daniel's "starting age" as 14yo but the range in various reputable sources is from 14-21yo.

Some unusual aspects of the Book of Daniel...

God never speaks directly

Written in two languages Hebrew and Aramaic (Aramaic from Da 2:4-Da 7:28)

Contains one of the most direct OT references to resurrection (Da 12:1, 2, 3)

Lays out the history of the world culminating in the return of the Messiah ("The Stone" in Daniel 2:34, 35, 45, "The Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13, 14, et al)

Accurately predicts the time of Messiah's first coming and crucifixion in Daniel 9:24, 25, 26, 27, a section I feel is rightly referred to as "the backbone of all Biblical prophecy". (See notes on Daniel 9:24, Daniel 9:25, Daniel 9:26, Daniel 9:27)

WHY STUDY PROPHECY?
WHY STUDY DANIEL?

The following thoughts are in not necessarily in order of importance and also overlap somewhat...

1) It has been estimated that 20% of Scripture is prophesy and 80% of that prophecy has been fulfilled (estimated). The book of Daniel contains the basic prophecies that form the background for God's Plan for the Ages. In fact, the book of Revelation is difficult to understand and interpret without knowledge of and comparison to parallel passages in the book of Daniel. Even this first verse of Daniel begins to fulfill a prophecy given by Isaiah which fulfills his prophecy in 2Kings 20:16, 17, 18 (Read the context to see what mistake King Hezekiah made that provided the background for Isaiah's prophecy - 2Ki 20:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 {Repeated in Isaiah 39:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} - Lesson? Be careful what you show other people in an act of pride! They may lust for what you have and even try to take it from you! Note Hezekiah's self-centered response = 2Ki 20:19!). Davis commenting on Isaiah's prophecy of the fall of Jerusalem rightly observes that...

This was a startling revelation, for Assyria was the great power of the day and seemingly unassailable. The visit was probably an attempt by Babylon to foment problems for Assyria in the west, thereby diverting attention from Babylon. The postexilic reader would have seen the roots of the destruction of Jerusalem in the foolish pride of Hezekiah and in the greed of Babylon. (Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

2) The cults and false teachers major in the misuse, abuse and perversion of prophecy, especially unfulfilled prophecy which makes it imperative for the believer to know what saith the Lord on this vital subject.

3) Study of prophecy (and all Scripture) increases our faith (Ro 10:17-note). If God has fulfilled prophecy in the past, He will surely fulfill those prophecies that pertain to the future. You can stake your life on this certainty!

4) Daniel demonstrates it is possible to live in Babylon and yet not succumb to the anti-god, worldly Babylonian influence, a truth which should encourage all believers that they can do likewise.

5) Daniel teaches that God is sovereign and able to sustain His children even in adverse circumstances. Years ago when I taught Daniel, one of the couples lost a 22 year old daughter to anorexia nervosa, and the truth they tenaciously clung to in this severe testing time was the truth that the Most High God reigns over all people, all time and all circumstances.

6) As we watch the America (and the world in general) rushing headlong into godless paganism and rank unrighteousness (cp Pr 14:34), we can take heart that the Most High God always preserves His remnant of believers.

7) Daniel teaches like no other book in Scripture, that history truly is "His Story"! In this sense, Daniel is distinct from other Old Testament prophets which call their the people to repent and lead a new life (prophet - used with the sense of "forth telling"). Daniel is a prophet more in the sense of "for telling" or predicting events before they come to pass (as do the other OT prophets who were "forth tellers"). If you want to understand history and what's happening in our world today, you need to understand Daniel.

8) Although God never speaks directly (no "thus saith the Lord's") in Daniel, clearly God's influence permeates the entire book and as we come to know Him better through this book, we will be enabled to stand firm and to take action in the midst of a godless society (see Da 11:32b).

9) Knowledge of the world's future (God's Plan for the Ages) should effect conduct in the present (cp 2Pe 3:11-note). The effect of studying prophecy is not to make us smarter sinners but to make us more like the Savior. The study of prophecy (and all of Scripture for that matter) is to transform our minds so that we conform more and more with the image of God's Son (cp 2Co 3:18, Ro 12:2-note, Ro 8:29-note, 1Pe 2:2-note, 2Pe 3:18-note) Daniel the believer models a life of consistent faithfulness, manifest by unerring obedience, demonstrating that such a godly life is still possible even during times of hardship. As we watch America become more and more "Babylonized", we as believers need to be importuning and pleading with the God of Heaven to empower Christian parents to train up young "Daniel's" and "Danielles" who will be strategically placed in the next generation. Amen

10) Future hope (Da 7:27) stimulates present purity (1Jn 3:2-note, 1Jn 3:3-note). (Note: Remember that "hope" in the Bible rarely means "hope so" but usually refers to one's absolute assurance of future good or that God will do good to me in the future (cp Da 7:18, 22, 27). Our hope isn't just theological; it's ethical -- it has behavioral consequences. If I believe Christ is coming again and that I will stand before His judgment seat, this truth will (or certainly should) transform me and make a difference in the way I conduct my life.  Related Resource: The Blessed Hope = Definition; Blessed Hope = Source of; Blessed Hope = Stabilizing Effect; Blessed Hope = Sanctifying Effect).

11) Miracles and fulfilled prophecy clearly establish God as the only God. (see Is 42:9, 44:7, 45:21, 46:9, 10, etc, cp similar teaching by Jesus in Jn 14:29)

12) Daniel begins with captivity of the chosen, blessed people, which finally exhausted the merciful patience of God, a fact which should serve as a examples warning all NT believers to not "play" around with sin! Remember that rebellious Israel in the OT is often an excellent picture of our fallen flesh, the old evil, anti-god tendency that still lurks in believers! Paul makes reference to sins of Israel in the OT writing...

Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved...Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1Co 10:6, 11)

13) The apostle Paul also emphasizes the positive effect of studying Daniel writing that...

whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Ro 15:4-note)

14) Daniel's (and other OT) prophecy is like a lamp to which we do well to pay attention as we live our our lives in the darkness of this present evil age. The Young's Literal Translation of 2Peter 1:19-note reads...

And we have more firm (more firm than what? then even human experience - the apostle's witness of the transfiguration) the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise -- in your hearts; (Note: Some interpret this passage to mean that the Transfiguration substantiated the OT prophecies. Young's Literal which is more true to the original Greek word order would support the idea that the Word was more sure than the experience. This original arrangement supports the interpretation that Peter is ranking Scripture over experience. The prophetic word [Scripture] is more complete, more permanent, and more authoritative than the experience of anyone.)

15) Daniel is the key to a full and accurate interpretation of the book of the Revelation. As Pastor Ray Stedman explains...

The book of Revelation explains the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel lays the basis for the book of Revelation. If you would like to know God's program for the future, it is essential that you understand this book of Daniel. (Daniel - On the Way to the Future)

As Pastor Ray Pritchard says...

Daniel is one of the most popular Old Testament books. Since I was a child it has been one of my favorites. This book has it all: history … prophecy … politics … prayer … lions … statues … wild animals … a fiery furnace … dreams and visions … a king who thought he was a cow … incredible adventure … amazing escapes … angels … demons … detailed information about ancient history … and amazing prophesies about the end times. I heartily recommend Daniel as one of the best Old Testament books for young people to read. Here we discover the difference godly teenagers can make in the world (The Four Freshmen How the World Tries to Seduce the Church)

Related Resources:

(1) Excellent Bible studies on Daniel [each 6 weeks long] geared to children ages 8-12 -

[a] Daniel 1-6 - You're A Brave Man, Daniel!
[b] Daniel 7-12 - Fast Forward to the Future)

(2) Discovering What the Future Holds - 40 Minute Bible Study

THREE INVASIONS
OF JUDAH
BY BABYLON

Babylon attacked Judah and Jerusalem in 3 waves over a period 19 years. Keep this in mind as you read Daniel for he ascends to power in the first two years ...

1) 605BC - (Daniel 1:1) Daniel and the 3 friends taken captive

605 BC May-June (from  D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of the Chaldean Kings 626-556 B.C., page 25) – General Nebuchadnezzar (his father was still king at this time) of Babylon completed his conquest of the Assyrian empire at the famous Battle of Carchemish (located in modern day Syria). The rule of the known world literally changed hands at this great battle, because not only did Nebuchadnezzar defeat the once invincible Assyrian army but he also defeated their Egyptian allies and pursued them southward through Palestine.

605 BC June-August - Wiseman writes that at this time "The effect (of Nebuchadnezzar's victory over Assyria and Egypt) on Judah was that King Jehoiakim, a vassal of Necho (Egyptian King), submitted voluntarily to Nebuchadnezzar, and some Jews, including the prophet Daniel, were taken as captives for hostages to Babylon" Around this time General Nebuchadnezzar learned of his father Nabopolassar's death, which prompted his return to Babylon to be crowned king.

605 BC September 7 - Nebuchadnezzar is crowned King of Babylon

2) 597BC - (2Ki 24:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) Ezekiel and 10, 000 taken captive

3) 586BC - (2Ki 25:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) Judah was defeated, Jerusalem sacked, the Temple was burned and the walls of the city destroyed.

In the third year - Critics attack this as "inaccurate" because Jer 25:1 says "the fourth year of Jehoiakim" (see also Jer 45:1; 36:1; 46:2). The critics are correct about one thing -- God is not a God of confusion but of order and thus He never contradicts Himself! So how can one give a defense for this apparent "contradiction"? In Daniel 1:1 the author uses the Babylonian system for dating the reign of a king and not the Jewish system utilized by Jeremiah. In the Babylonian system of dating the reign of a king, the first year of ascendancy was not counted, whereas it was counted in the Jewish system. There is no contradiction.

Gleason Archer after giving a detailed explanation of the "discrepancy" (between Da 1:1 and Je 25:1, 46:2) concludes...

Hence there is no discrepancy whatever between the two reckonings and the often-repeated argument (based on these reckonings) against the historical trustworthiness of Daniel is worthless. (Expositor's Bible Commentary)

Nebuchadnezzar (ruler of Babylon ca. 605-562BC) - He was the king of Babylon and yet was but a "servant" of Jehovah (Je 25:9, cp Da 1:2 "the Lord gave", Hab 1:6 "I [God] am raising up the Chaldeans...to seize dwelling places which are not theirs", Hab 1:12 "appointed them to judge...established them to correct [discipline]")

Nebuchadnezzar - Used 59x - 2 Kgs 24:1, 10f; 25:1, 8, 22; 1 Chr 6:15; 2 Chr 36:6f, 10, 13; Ezra 1:7; 2:1; Neh 7:6; Esth 2:6; Jer 21:2, 7; 22:25; 24:1; 25:1, 9; 27:6, 8, 20; 28:3, 11, 14; 29:1, 3, 21; 32:1, 28; 34:1; 35:11; 37:1; 39:1, 5, 11; 43:10; 44:30; 46:2, 13, 26; 49:28, 30; 50:17; 51:34; 52:4, 12, 28ff; Ezek 26:7; 29:18f; 30:10; Dan 1:1, 18; 2:1
 

Babylon (see art/pictures related to Babylon) - In the NAS Babylon is first described by the synonymous term "Babel" (confusion cp Ge 11:9) in Ge 10:8, 9, 10, 11. In this passage we encounter the first use of the word "kingdom" which indicates Nimrod was a king, and specifically one who is repeatedly called "mighty". The name Nimrod means to rebel, to be rebellious or a rebel, indicating that this earthly king was opposed to the true King. Ge 11:1,2,3,4 substantiates the rebellious spirit of Babel (pictures of "Tower of Babel" = a "monument" to sinful pride opposed to the rule of God) or Babylon who John describes as "Babylon, the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth" (Rev 17:5-note). In other words Nimrod's kingdom of ancient Babylon was the fountainhead of every idolatrous, false world religion, as her evil seed was spread throughout the earth (Ge 11:8). This "divine scattering" in Genesis 11 also helps understand John's enigmatic statement of how Babylon came to sit on “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (Rev 17:15-note). In Revelation John records the final demise of Babylon (Rev 18:21-note), cp Jeremiah's prophecy - Je 51:63, 64)

Tony Garland writes that...

In the record of Babel, as minimal as it is, we see the first human king and kingdom in direct rebellion to the commands of God resulting in judgment. In Babylon of the end, we will see the last human king and kingdom in ultimate rebellion to the commands of God resulting in the final judgment of all human kingdoms to be replaced by the Millennial Kingdom ruled by Messiah

Babylon - 294 times in Scripture - 2 Kgs 17:24, 30; 20:12, 14, 17f; 24:1, 7, 10ff, 15ff, 20; 25:1, 6ff, 11, 13, 20ff, 27f; 1 Chr 9:1; 2 Chr 32:31; 33:11; 36:6f, 10, 18, 20; Ezra 1:11; 2:1; 5:12ff, 17; 6:1, 5; 7:6, 9, 16; 8:1; Neh 7:6; 13:6; Esth 2:6; Ps 87:4; 137:1, 8; Isa 13:1, 19; 14:4, 22; 21:9; 39:1, 3, 6f; 43:14; 47:1; 48:14, 20; Jer 20:4ff; 21:2, 4, 7, 10; 22:25; 24:1; 25:1, 9, 11f; 27:6, 8f, 11ff, 16ff, 20, 22; 28:2ff, 6, 11, 14; 29:1, 3f, 10, 15, 20ff, 28; 32:2ff, 28, 36; 34:1ff, 7, 21; 35:11; 36:29; 37:1, 17, 19; 38:3, 17f, 22f; 39:1, 3, 5ff, 9, 11, 13; 40:1, 4f, 7, 9, 11; 41:2, 18; 42:11; 43:3, 10; 44:30; 46:2, 13, 26; 49:28, 30; 50:1f, 8f, 13f, 16ff, 23f, 28f, 34f, 42f, 45f; 51:1f, 6ff, 11f, 24, 29ff, 33ff, 37, 41f, 44, 47ff, 53ff, 58ff, 64; 52:3f, 9ff, 15, 17, 26f, 31f, 34; Ezek 12:13; 17:12, 16, 20; 19:9; 21:19, 21; 24:2; 26:7; 29:18f; 30:10, 24f; 32:11; Dan 1:1; 2:12, 14, 18, 24, 48f; 3:1, 12, 30; 4:6, 29f; 5:7; 7:1; Mic 4:10; Zech 2:7; 6:10; Matt 1:11f, 17; Acts 7:43; 1 Pet 5:13; Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21

WHY WAS JUDAH
TAKEN INTO EXILE?

Through Jeremiah, Jehovah summarized Judah's sin declaring that...

My people have committed two evils: (#1) (the sin of "omission") They have forsaken Me , the fountain of living waters, (#2) (the sin of "commission") to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jer 2:13)

Comment: In ancient Israel there were two major sources of water, running streams of fresh, clear and cool water and large pits called cisterns. The landowners would dig cisterns to collect rainwater adding a coat of lime plaster in an attempt to insure the cistern would hold water. However frequently cracks would develop and the water would leak out, not to mention that this water was brackish. How sad that in a similar foolish way Israel abandoned Jehovah, the "fountain of living waters" (Ps 36:9; Pr 16:22; Isa 55:1; Jn 7:37, 38, 39) to make for themselves  powerless "gods" (cp Lev 26:1 where Hebrew word for "idols" = literally "something worthless", cp  Ps 96.5; Is 2:8; Hab. 2:18)!

A W Tozer was correct when he said that...

Nothing twists and deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God.

The sins of Judah which eventually resulted in the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC were...

(1) Idol Worship in place of Worship of the One True Living God - cp Dt 32:15, 16, 17 where "Jeshurun" is another name for Israel.

(2) Failure to observe the Sabbaths for the Land for 490 years.  - Every seventh year the Jews were to keep the Sabbath year and allow the land to rest (cf Lv 25:4). Judah was reaping the harvest of conforming to the mold of the pagan world, rather than obeying God's clear instructions!

THE ABSOLUTE
SOVEREIGNTY
OF GOD

The Lord gave - Adonay (Septuagint = kurios [word study]) is the name for God indicating that He is the supreme Master. The use of this name in this verse indicates that He is in complete control of removing kings (and kingdoms) and establishing kings (and kingdoms) (Da 2:21). The fact that the Lord is in control (See study of Sovereignty - note verb in this word = "reign"!) is emphasized throughout the book of Daniel (eg, see Da 2:37,38; 5:18). But God is a God of great compassion and in the midst of His righteous wrath (the defeat and exile of Judah), remembering mercy (cp Hab 3:2), "granting favor and compassion" (Da 1:9) as well as "knowledge and intelligence" (Da 1:17) to His chosen servants.

In Proverbs 21:1 we read that...

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

We see the Sovereign Hand of God in the disciplinary action on Judah in a parallel passage...

He (Jehovah) brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans (Nebuchadnezzar) who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand. (2Chr 36:17,18, 19, 20, 21)

Gleason Archer...

the theme of God's absolute sovereignty is here implied. It continues to dominate the entire Book of Daniel, along with the accompanying theme of God's unwavering purpose to bring his people back to repentance through disciplinary suffering, so equipping them spiritually for restoration to the Land of Promise. The divine motive behind all this dreadful humiliation, suffering, and loss was redemptive and altogether in harmony with God's promises given to the generation of Moses (Lev 26; Dt 28; cf. also 2Chr 36: 14-21). (Ibid)

Nebuchadnezzar thought he conquered Judah with his military campaign and siege (Da 1:1), but Daniel records that the victory was given by the Lord, a truth all believers must keep continually in mind as they fight the good fight of faith. As David wrote...

Some boast in chariots, and some in horses (King Nebuchadnezzar trusted in his power), but we will boast in the name of the LORD (Ps 124:8), our God (by faith we lay hold of His supernatural power). (Ps 20:7-note, cp Pr 21:31, Ps 33:17, 18, 19, 20-note, Ec 9:11, Is 31:1, 2Chr 16:7, 8, 9, King Jehoshaphat = 2Chr 20:15, 16, 17, 18, 19-22, David against Goliath = 1Sa 17:45, 46, 47, Hezekiah = 2Chr 32:7, 8)

Judah refused to heed the warnings of her prophets or the fate of her idolatrous sister Israel and continued to practice idolatry. Finally, God gave Judah into the hands of the land of idolatry. If you continually pursue idols, beware, for God may just give you what you want!

Daniel 1:1,2 is not only a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah (alluded to above [see note] - 2Ki 20:16, 17, 18) but is also a fulfillment of a prophecy recorded by Moses (Dt 28:49, 50, 51, 52).

Tony Garland summarizes the

COUNTDOWN
TO CAPTIVITY

#5 - Josiah (note)  - Josiah begin his reign while a boy of only eight (2Ki 22:1) and reigned for 31 years. His reign was patterned after the godly king Hezekiah. He initiated repairs to the temple whereupon the high priest Hilkiah rediscovered the Book of the Law which had been neglected for many years (2Ki 22:8 - Ed note: Where was the Book of the Law was lost? In the very place it should have had preeminence. Beloved, is this not what we see in pulpits across America where there is a veritable dearth of delivered doctrine that is fully "sound" = Greek in 2Ti 4:3-note). Upon reading the Law, it became apparent just how far Israel had neglected her duties causing Josiah to repent of the ungodliness of the nation. But it was “too little too late”—God confirmed through the prophetess Huldah that judgment would not be averted (2Ki 22:16, 17). (This could also be known from the prophecy previously given to Hezekiah that Babylon would eventually cart off Israel’s treasures and some from among her people: 2Ki 20:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) Nevertheless Josiah continued following closely in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Hezekiah by instituting religious reforms.

Observe (1) All of the last 4 kings after Josiah were evil. (2) Three of those kings were sons of Josiah, the godly king. One cannot help but wonder why they were not positively impacted by the "revival" that occurred during their father Josiah's reign! Another young man named Daniel  seems to have been at least in part  the fruit from that last great revival in Josiah's day. Daniel would have been very young, but his parents would certainly have experienced the revival associated with finding the Book of the Law. However, where Scripture is silent we must tread lightly and not speculate too far a field! It's just good "food for thought".

#4 - Jehoahaz (note) (Shallum-note) - After the death of king Josiah, his son Jehoahaz reigned. He proved to be an ungodly king who reigned for only three months before being deposed by Pharaoh Necho and taken to Egypt where he eventually died (2Ki 23:31, 32, 33, 34; 2Chr 36:1, 2, 3, 4; 22:1-12).

605BC
1st Deportation from Judah
(Daniel 1:1, 2Ki 24:1,2,13; 2Chr 36:5, 6, 7)

#3 - Jehoiakim (note) (Eliakim-note) - After deposing of his father Jehoahaz, Eliakim was appointed as a vassal king by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt and renamed Jehoiakim. Like his father before him, he was an evil king (2Ki 23:37). He reigned 11 years. It was during his reign that Daniel was taken captive to Babylon. In his 4th year (Jewish mode of dating, the 3rd year from the Babylonian mode of dating a regal reign), the Battle of Carchemish also took place at which time Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt which marked the beginning of Babylon’s ascendancy over Egypt in the region of Palestine (Jer 25:1; 45:1; 36:1; 46:2 = the 4th year of Jehoiakim = the Jewish mode of dating the regal reign. Contrast the phrase in Da 1:1 - the 3rd year of Jehoiakim = the Babylonian mode of dating the regal reign). The other notable result of the battle of Carchemish was the final defeat of Assyria which made Babylon the leading world empire at that time. Thereafter, Jehoiakim was made vassal king of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar until late 601bc when Nebuchadnezzar suffered defeat while advancing on Egypt whereupon Jehoiakim switched allegiance to Egypt (2Ki 24:1). This proved to be a fatal mistake when in 598bc Babylon attacked Jerusalem and Jehoiakim was killed.

As an aside John Whitcomb notes that...

It was once a commonplace of negative criticism to deny that Nebuchadnezzar could have besieged Jerusalem in 605 B.C. In 1956, however, a cuneiform tablet was published that revealed that Nebuchadnezzar "conquered the whole area of the Hatti-country after the Battle of Carchemish in May-June 605. The term Hatti-country covers all of Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine.' (Whitcomb, J. Daniel Everyman's Bible Commentary)

597BC
2nd Deportation from Judah
Ezekiel and 10,000
(2Ki 24:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)

#2 - Jehoiachin (note - includes some nice art work) (Jeconiah-note, Coniah-note) - Upon the death of his father Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin (also known as Jeconiah or Coniah) reigned for a period of three months before he surrendered to Babylon. After surrendering to Babylon, he was deported and his uncle, Mattaniah was installed as vassal king and renamed Zedekiah (2Ki 24:12, 13, 14, 15, 16). Treasures were carried out from the king’s house and the temple (2Ki 24:13) in fulfillment of the Word of the Lord given to Hezekiah by Isaiah (2Ki 20:16, 17, 18, 19). Ten thousand captives were taken to Babylon (2Ki 24:14), including Ezekiel (Eze 1:2) and Mordecai’s great-grandfather Kish (Esther 2:5, 6). Jehoiachin was imprisoned in Babylon until the reign of Evil Merodach (who reigned after the death of Nebuchadnezzar). He remained in Babylon and was provided for by the king (2Ki 25:30).

586BC
3rd Deportation from Judah
Razing of Jerusalem and the Temple
(2Ki 25:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

#1 - Zedekiah (note) (Mattaniah-note) - The final king to reign over Judah was Zedekiah, who reigned for 11 years as a vassal king subject to Babylon. Like all the kings following Josiah’s reign, he was evil. When a new Egyptian Pharaoh (Hophra) came to the throne in 588 B.C., Zedekiah took the occasion to rebel against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar responded by the siege which led to the final downfall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the city and temple, and the deportation of the majority who were left. In fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecies that Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon but never see it, his sons were killed before him, his eyes were put out, and he was taken to Babylon where he died (Jer 39:6, 7; 52:9, 10, 11; 2Ki 25:6, 7 cf. Eze 12:13; 17:16). After capturing Jerusalem, the Babylonians burned the leader‘s houses and the temple and broke down the city walls. (Daniel - Introduction Part 7 - with slight modification)

Land of Shinar - In southern Mesopotamia  (Ge 10:10), site of the Tower of Babel (Ge 11:2) and continued in Scripture to have "the nuance of a place hostile to faith...the place to which wickedness is banished" (Zech 5:11).

Babylon = Babel = Shinar = Chaldea

Brought the vessels into the house of his god - Symbolic gesture demonstrating Babylon's pantheon of gods was great than Judah's God.

His god - Some translate gods plural which would certainly be appropriate as by some accounts there were more than 100 Babylonian gods (polytheism = literally "many gods").  The chief Babylonian god was  Marduk (or Bel , related to Baal = lord, master) along with Nebo (incorporated in Nebuchadnezzar's name). It is little surprise that God inspired Daniel to specifically use His Name Adonai or Master. Not only had Isaiah predicted the sacking of Jerusalem (predicted about 702BC), but he also prophesied the fall of Bel (Isa 46:1) at the hands of Cyrus the Persian in 539BC, in a sense then describing the beginning and the end of the Babylonian empire (although the final end will not occur until Rev 18:21).

As a typical polytheist and clever diplomat, Nebuchadnezzar took no chances with Israel's God, Jehovah, and carefully en­shrined His sacred vessels in Marduk's temple in Babylon. Contrast the treatment accorded these vessels sixty-six years later by Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1-4). After the fall of Babylon, King Cyrus (Ezra 1:7) and King Darius (Ezra 6:5) encouraged the Jews to carry these vessels back to their Temple in Jerusalem.

Whitcomb, J. Daniel Everyman's Bible Commmentary (Da 1:2-3).

Whitcomb observes that...

BABYLONIAN
BRAINWASHING
(Daniel 1:3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Officials (KJV - eunuchs) (saris/caric) means a court official and is sometimes rendered "eunuch" because of the practice of using men who had been castrated men (presumably to forgo any untoward action with the king's royal harem!) to function in key government roles  (e.g. in the Persian empire where sariys is rendered eunuch even in the NAS in  Esther 2:3, 14, 15, 21, 4:4, 5, 6:2, 14, 7:9). While some commentators (as well as the KJV translation) feel that Daniel was physically a eunuch, the text does not make a definitive statement in that regard. Yes, there is no record of a wife or family which could favor the thought that Daniel was a physical eunuch. On the other hand, Potiphar, "Pharaoh's officer [saris]" (Ge 37:36, cp "an Egyptian officer [saris]" in Ge 39:1) is called a "sariys" and yet he clearly had a wife (Net Bible Note on Ge 40:2 = "evidence from Akkadian texts shows that in early times the title [saris] was used of a court official in general. Only later did it become more specialized in its use.") And so where Scripture is not definitive we had best not speculate further.

Alexander the Great instituted a similar policy of enlisting the brightest, best looking young men (captives) into government service, reminiscent to our modern "think tanks" where ingenious, innovative products and policies are birthed.

Sariys/Cariyc is used 6 times in Daniel, only in chapter 1 ( Dan 1:3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18).

HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN
FROM BEING "BABYLONIZED"!

Some of the sons of Israel - While we cannot be certain of the number of "sons of Israel" (some historians estimate the number at between 50-75), it appears that only four drew the line and and refused to compromise their beliefs and core values. Apparently the Babylonian influence proved too much for most of the young men. Most scholars place Daniel's age at around 15 which is certainly not a time when one would expect a young man to manifest the strength of character to resist the sophisticated Babylonian brainwashing. Furthermore, consider the risk associated with resisting the will of the most powerful pagan king in the world. And consider how taking a stand would surely jeopardize the chance for advancement in the Babylonian court.  And yet we see in Daniel 1:8 that these four took an uncompromising stand. Why? How would this have been possible? The answer is not directly stated but there were at least 3 things that could help understand their ability to resist indoctrination.

(1) Godly parents taught the Word of God - They named their children with God honoring names. They also knew (especially after the revival) Deut 6:4, 5, 6, 7, 8 which charge godly parents to "saturate" (the Hebrew word for "teach...diligently" in Dt 6:7 = engrave a stone tablet and figuratively = "teach incisively"!) their children with the Word of God.

(2) Revival of interest in the Word of God - There was a "revival" under King Josiah when the "book of the law" which had been lost in the house of God (the temple) was discovered. If Daniel was 15 in 605BC, it mean roughly the first 10 years of his life would have been during this time when the Word of God was once again prized in Jerusalem.

(3) Prophets spoke the Word of God - Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Habakkuk were prophesying the Word of God and it is likely Daniel was impacted by his ministry (Daniel later refers to Jeremiah's written word - Da 9:2).

In sum, these young men had a strong faith nourished by their exposure to the Word of God (cp Ro 10:17-note), and God's Word provided a grid through which they could filter the godless Babylonian curriculum. If our children attend "Babylon State University", they need to have been equipped so that their faith and commitment to the Word of God is strong, and they are able to filter out those teachings which are clearly anti-God by comparing them with the Word of God. As we watch America drift further into the darkness of godlessness, many Christian parents fear for the fate of their children. Be encouraged by this young man Daniel. However it does behoove Christian parents to be diligent to practice the principles of Dt 6:6,7,8, for without the Word of Truth their children will be vulnerable to the lies and attractive deceptions of the fallen world system controlled by Satan (1Jn 5:19) (See related resource: Memorizing His Word)

Whitcomb writes...

Youths - Hebrew yeled (plural yeledim) means children but is frequently used for young men. (see Ge 21:8, 14, 15, 16). The Septuagint uses the word neaniskos which in Greek refers to a relatively young man (eg, Mt 19:20, 22). No one knows Daniel's age for sure but most agree that it is in the range from 14-21 years.

To teach them the literature and language - In other words he wanted to "brain wash" them!

Ryrie comments that this would entail study of...

Various subjects such as agriculture, astrology, astronomy, mathematics, and the Akkadian language. (The Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Translation: 1995. Moody Publishers)

Language of the Chaldeans (cp Da 5:8, 9:1; see Chaldean language) - refers to the Babylonian language written in ancient cuneiform (Cuneiform script) (Image of cuneiform). Although Aramaic was the language of the empire, literature was still written in cuneiform. Chaldeans (kasdim) is used in Daniel in (1) an ethnic sense (Da 5:30) and (2) in a religious sense to describe a special class of wise men (Da 2:2, 4, 5, 10; 4:7; 5:7, 11). Whitcomb notes that...

The only other known case of this specialized use of Chaldean is found in a statement by the Greek historian Herodotus (b. 484 B.C.), who traveled in Babylonia and told of "the Chaldeans, the priests of this god." (Ibid)

Criswell writes that Chaldean in an ethnic sense...

SPIRITUAL WARFARE
INDOCTRINATION 101
(Aka "Operation Assimilation")

These introductory verses (Da 1:4, 5) introduces us to the beginning of the training (a euphemism for sophisticated brain washing) of these godly young men in the ways of the (fallen) world system, one of the three mortal enemies of every believer in every age - (1) the fallen world system (see related study of the word kosmos = world ~ world system), (2) our fallen flesh and (3) a fallen angel, the Devil (diabolos [word study]). It therefore behooves us to study how Daniel was able not just to survive, but to succeed, in the face of such an overt assault on his Biblical worldview. Then we need to choose to dare to be like Daniel, a choice which will surely bring us in conflict with the "majority opinion".

Nebuchadnezzar was not interested only in education but indoctrination! Beloved, our children in America are being exposed to the same agenda, for the enemy of our souls knows that the future of a nation is not Wall Street or Washington as much as it is our children.

Indoctrinate - To imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle. To cause to accept a set of beliefs uncritically through repeated instruction.

Tony Garland...

Daniel's name means either “God is judge” or “God is my judge.” Like Cyrus, who Isaiah prophesied was named by God (Isaiah 45:3), I believe Daniel's name was specifically arranged by God in order to underscore a primary theme of the book: the judgment of the nations (both Jew and Gentile). (Daniel - Introduction Part 2)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL
ABOUT A NAME?

Assigned new names - Why? Clearly this was part of the process of "Babylonization" of the boys. By calling them by names that glorified the idolatrous gods of Babylon the captors sought to effectively obliterate from their memory their given Hebrew names which glorified the only true and living God.

There was no divine law prohibiting a name change, even a change to a pagan name! After interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, the Pharaoh exalted Joseph to second in command in Egypt and changed his name to "Zaphenath-paneah [Note: Probably Egyptian for "God speaks; he lives"]; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt." (Ge 41:45)

Daniel = “God is my judge” > Belteshazzar = “Bel Protect the King.” (Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2; 51:44). Every time His name was called it was a good thing reminder that one day he would stand before a holy God (cp 2Co 5:10-note) . Most of don't possess the name "Daniel" but we need to conduct ourselves as if that were our name!

Hananiah = “Jehovah is Gracious” > Shadrach = “Command of Aku” another Babylonian god.

Mishael = “Who is like God?” > Meshach = “Who is what Aku Is?”

Azariah = “Jehovah is my Helper” > Abed-nego = “Servant of Nego” also called Nebo, a god of vegetation (cf. Isa 46:1).

Their Hebrew names indicate their relationship to the God of Israel, truth which their god fearing parents meant to convey.

Have you ever heard the saying "We make our decisions and our decisions turn around and make us"? Certainly this proved true in Daniel's case, just as in Joseph's (Ge 39:9, cp Ge 38:21), Ruth's (Ru 1:16, 17), Moses (Heb 11:24, 25, 26, 27) and a host of other saints many nameless and unknown, except to God Who will cause them to shine forth like stars throughout eternity (cp Da 12:3). A choice in time yields a destiny in eternity. It is interesting that many of these "destiny changing" decisions are made when we are younger, like Daniel and his 3 friends. We are  who we are today because of decisions and choices we made years ago. Two roads diverge in the woods. Which one will we follow?

What's the big deal about the king's choice food? For one thing, the fact that it was the "King's choice food" would be a constant reminder of the source of their daily bread. It is interesting that in the model prayer, one of the first requests is "Give us this day our daily bread." (Mt 6:11-note) The decision Daniel makes here radically changes his entire life. It's interesting that when we first read about it, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. But it turns out to be very big indeed as the "rest of the story" demonstrates.

Baldwin has another thought on why Daniel may have refused the food noting that

by eastern standards to share a meal was to commit oneself to friendship; it was of covenant significance...The defilement he feared was not so much a ritual as a moral defilement, arising from the subtle flattery of gifts and favors which entailed hidden implications of loyal support, however dubious the king's future policies might prove to be. (Ed Note: One is reminded of Jesus in Re 3:20-note which clearly speaks of a spiritual intimacy associated with sharing a meal. Dining conveys the idea of intimate fellowship in Lk 19:5, 6, 7; John 13. See also Covenant The Oneness of Covenant which discusses how the sharing of a meal was a symbolic gesture in a covenant relationship)

It is a mistake to think that the "small choices" don't impact on our lives. What may seem small to us (the refusal to eat the king's food) proved to be a watershed event in that led to the good hand of the Lord upon Daniel's life for the next 60+ years! The impact of "small" bad choices is well illustrated by the giant redwood tree. Ray Pritchard tells the story of such a tree...

This week I read about a 400-year-old redwood that suddenly and without warning toppled to the forest floor. What caused the death of such a majestic giant? Was it fire? Lightning? A strong wind? A post-mortem examination revealed a startling cause. Tiny beetles had crawled under the bark and literally eaten the fibers away from the inside. Although it looked healthy on the outside, on the inside it was virtually hollow and one day finally collapsed. The same thing happens when we refuse to stand our ground for Christ. Every time we compromise something bad happens in our soul. Eventually the little decisions add up and we become hollow on the inside even though we may look great on the outside. Don’t let that happen to you. Godly convictions yield God-given rewards. Here is the final lesson. What starts with Daniel ends with God. What starts with courage ends with a lifetime of blessing. Look what God did for this courageous teenager: God protected Daniel (when he proposed the test) God prospered Daniel (during the test and afterward) God promoted Daniel (in the eyes of the King) I cannot read this story without thinking of the words of God to Eli in 1Samuel 2:30b, “Those who honor me I will honor.” I told you in the beginning that this was the crucial event of Daniel’s life. It may not have seemed important at the time, but his decision not to eat the King’s food shaped the next 60 years. We talk about Daniel 2500 years later precisely because of his decision. If he doesn’t make the right choice, the rest of the book never gets written, and he becomes a forgotten Jew in Babylon who looked and acted just like everyone else. I know that in terms of scientific progress, the world has changed since Daniel’s day, but God has not changed. God’s Word has not changed. And the world still tries to seduce us. The good news from Daniel 1 is that it is possible to live for God in high school, in college, at work, and in your career. Daniel has shown us the way. (Dare to be a Daniel - sermon by Dr. Ray Pritchard - November 1999)

Some lasting principles (from Insight for Living)...

(1) Inner conviction can overcome any outer pressure to compromise.

(2) God-honoring convictions yield God-given rewards.

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ANOTHER TREE ILLUSTRATION - It started as a seedling on the slopes of the Colorado Rockies some 500 years ago. For centuries it had stood tall, enduring violent winds, lightning strikes, blizzards, even avalanches. Now, however, the once-towering tree is just a mound of decaying wood.

What caused its demise? A horde of beetles had attacked it, gnawing away until that skyscraper of nature surrendered to those tiny pests and toppled over.

That's also the tragic story of many Christians. For long years they stood tall for God. They resisted temptations, weathered crises, and were bold in the strength divinely provided. But little sins began to eat away at their lives--little lies, little compromises with greed or lust, sins that gradually eroded their character. And suddenly they fell.

Song 2:15 states, "Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines." This colorful Old Testament verse should sound a loud alarm in our consciences. We must not tolerate the little evils that eat away at the roots of our lives. Otherwise, our once-strong witness for Christ will become a silenced casualty of sin. Let's confess those "tiny" evils to God now, before they lead to a big fall. --Vernon C Grounds

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure,
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever--
He is my all! There's nothing between. --Tindley

A big fall begins with a little stumble.
(I would add a blessed life can begin with what may seem like a little obedience!)

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TAKING A
STAND...

NO MATTER
THE COST!

The OT has a number of examples of men and women who took a "Daniel-like" stand at a pivotal moment in their life circumstances, none more dramatic than Ruth the Moabitess' reply to Naomi (who was trying to coerce Ruth into going back to "her people" the pagan Moabites)...

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. (Ruth 1:16, 17, 18-note)

But Daniel - "But" always marks a contrast, and in this case instead of "going with the flow" or "taking the easy road", Daniel and his 3 friends chose the "narrow road". Is it any surprise that "God granted Daniel favor"? From Genesis to Revelation the way to experience the "good hand of the LORD", the blessing of the LORD, is to conduct one's self in obedience to the revealed will of God. Jesus reaffirmed this basic Scriptural principle in Luke declaring...

On the contrary (to Lk 11:27), blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it. (Lk 11:27, cp Ezra 7:9, 10-note)

Reading the Word is not enough. We must heed (obey) what we read. And here is where the problems begin to arise as one "tries" to obey in their own power only to fall into the subtle trap of legalism and self-effort. Under the New Covenant, believers have the Holy Spirit to enable obedience to the revealed will of God in the Word of God, but we must learn to walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16-note).

Made up his mind - More literally "placed it on his heart". The word rendered "mind" in the NAS is the Hebrew word for heart (Hebrew = leb; Septuagint = kardia [word study]), which in Hebrew thought was the center of reason and decision in Hebrew. The heart was the deepest seat of one's emotions and decisions. The heart in the OT often refers to one's thinking, feeling, choosing - mind, emotions and will. Think of the heart as the control center (like an "Air Traffic Controller") of one's thoughts and actions (conduct, behavior).

Richison...

The word “purposed” carries the idea of decided resolution. Daniel’s character was already formed for following God before the test came to him. The phrase “purposed in his heart” could be translated “laid upon his heart.” Daniel put himself under the full commitment to follow his heart. PRINCIPLE: An all-consuming purpose to live for the glory of God will enable us to meet spiritual tests of life. (Daniel 1:8 - Bible Exposition Commentary)

Gleason Archer...

Rather than break faith with God, Daniel was willing to risk expulsion from the Royal Academy with the disgrace and danger that entailed. His priorities were firm. (Ibid)

Chapter 1 could well be entitled "Daniel Uncompromising Man in a Pagan Land"

So he sought permission - This could have cost him his life for we see in Daniel 3 the king did in fact cast Daniel's 3 friends into the fire for refusing to bow to his image.

CRISES:
GOOD TESTS OF OUR
CHARACTER

Remember that this is a time of crisis in Judah, and the "opportunity" to rise to the top in Babylonian government and society would have been a great temptation (we have no record of any of the other "youths" taking an uncompromising stand like Daniel). Times of crisis help to hone and develop one's character, but such times also test the mettle of our character. In other words, how we respond when difficulties arise says a lot about our character and our trust in God's sovereignty. You've probably not been ripped from your native country, the comforts of  your home, your family and taken to a foreign land, but you have doubtless experienced many "smaller" crises (but not small to you!). How have your responded? Your answer says much about your belief in God and your character. Remember, reputation is what others think of you, but character is what God knows is true of you (cp 1Sa 16:7)

Daniel faced the same challenge every believer of ever age faces...to obey the command of God not to be ...

conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2-note)

Or as Phillips paraphrases Romans 12:2

Don't let the world ("Babylon") around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice ("make up your mind", "purpose in your heart") that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

WHAT WERE THE
PRESSURES TO CONFORM?

(1) Spiritual pressure -  Daniel was in the birthplace of idolatry and false religion (Rev 17:6)

(2) Intellectual Pressure - Three years in the "University of Babylon" which must surely have included courses in "astrology" and other pagan practices.

(3) Peer Pressure - While we have to be careful when the Scripture is silent, Daniel has no record that other Jewish youths refused to bow to the pressures of the wealth and power of Babylon. After all when you're in Babylon, you do as the Babylonians do. No. Not everyone did. Specifically not Daniel and his friends. They had their priorities straight! The question that comes to mind is "Who do you want to please?". Do you want to please your peers, mere men or do you want to please the Almighty God? (cp 2Co 5:9-note)

That he might not defile himself - Daniel did not downplay this issue and choose a strong word, emphasizing the point that he was bold and courageous, not fearing the king. The idea of "defile" is that of polluting or staining something (cp Jas 1:27) How do you feel when you are watching TV or a movie and they take the Name of "Jesus" in vain, even using it as a curse word? Even more convicting, how to you respond? Do you "come apart from them" (cp 2Co 6:17 - The major part of this quotation (after the Lxx with several changes) is from Isa 52:11. The reference in Isaiah is to the captive nation leaving Babylon and returning to their own land, but the spiritual application is to the separation of the people of God today. God commands His people to “come out,” which implies a definite act on their part. Get out, escape for with your life like Joseph when he fled from Potiphar's wife Ge 39:12! Flee! 2Ti 2:20, 21, 22, 1Co 6:18 Isa 52:11; Jer 51:6 Rev 18:4 Nu 16:21,26,45 Ezra 6:21, 10:11, Pr 9:6 Note command come out of "Babylon" Isa 52:11, Jer 51:45; Rev 18:4.Nu 33:51-56 cp Ex 23:24,33; 34:13; Dt 7:2,5; 12:3; Jos 11:12; Jdg 2:2)

Paul gave a similar charge to his half Jewish young disciple, Timothy...

Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things (false teachers, false teaching), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified (set apart), useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee (present imperative = Command to do this continually.) from youthful lusts, and pursue (present imperative = Command to do this continually) righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (Do you observe anything that reminds you of Daniel 1? Was he by himself?). (2Ti 2:21-note, 2Ti 2:22-note)

Gleason Archer...

By their early refusal to disobey God, they prepared themselves for future greatness as true witnesses for the one true God in the midst of a degenerate pagan culture. It is significant that precisely in the matter of forbidden food, in which Satan successfully tripped up Adam and Eve (Ge 2:16, 17, 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), these four Hebrew youths passed their first test with flying colors. (Ibid)

DANIEL'S UNCOMPROMISING LIFE
LED TO
AN UNASHAMED BOLDNESS

John MacArthur emphasizes that Daniel 1:8 and the succeeding passages emphasize that Daniel had an unashamed boldness, and that this God pleasing trait is mentioned directly or indirectly a number of times in Scripture, for example see Ps 71:15, Da 3:13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 1Pe 4:16, Ps 119:46, Php 1:27, 28, 29.

Dare To Be a Daniel
by Philip Bliss

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Refrain
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.
Refrain

Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.
Refrain

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.
Refrain

Compare Nehemiah's prayer (Neh 1:11) and the answer (Neh 2:4).

Now God - What a glorious phrase in the midst of national defeat and personal affliction (bondage)!

Surely this verse in concert with Da 1:8 is evidence that Daniel and his 3 friends experienced the truth Jehovah's great promise that...

the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.... (2Chr 16:9)

God granted - Don't miss this! A gift of God to the committed man of God, so that he might keep his commitment to be holy as He is holy. God honors those who choose to honor him (1Sa 2:30), regardless of the overwhelming "odds" against that person.

Granted favor - Solomon records a parallel thought, which while not a promise is nevertheless generally true (and which I have personally experienced)

When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Pr 16:7)

Compare the godly life of Joseph...

Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

Favor (hesed) speaks of the Lord's loyal love, His covenant love, His steadfast , unfailing love and tenderness. Hesed  indicates faithfulness to a relationship. To show kindness or hesed is to act in a loyal, loving way to a person. Hesed is the devoted love promised within a covenant. Hesed is love that is willing to commit itself to another by making its promise a matter of solemn record.

"Hesed encompasses deeds of mercy performed by a more powerful party for the benefit of the weaker one." (Huey)

Hesed is central to God's character and is closely tied to His covenant with His Chosen people; in fact the covenant may be thought of as the relationship from which the hesed flows.

God's hesed is "the Divine Love condescending to His creatures, more especially to sinners, in unmerited kindness" (Delitzsch).

Compassion (racham) is from a root word which speaks of a deep love (usually "superior" for "inferior") based on some "natural" bond (eg,  Joseph's deep yearning feeling toward Benjamin. Ge 43:30)

Solomon prayed for compassion

1 Kings 8:50 forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them

Daniel 1:9 is a beautiful example of the truth about God in Psalm 106:46 (note)...

He also made them objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors.

Spurgeon's Comment:  In our very worst condition our God has ways and means for allaying the severity of our sorrows: he can find us helpers among those who have been our oppressors, and he will do so if we be indeed his people.

A. R. Fausset's Comment:  He made them also to be pitied of all them that carried them captives. This improved feeling towards the Jews through God's influence appears in Da 1:9; as Joseph similarly had his captivity improved by God's favour (Ge 39:21). So Evil Merodach, King of Babylon, treated kindly Jehoiachin, king of Judah (2Ki 25:27)

Related Resources: How to Handle Fear Part 1; Part 2; Part 3;  Part 4

FEAR
OF MAN

I am afraid - In Proverbs we read that the antidote for fear (Ashpenaz) is faith (Daniel)...

The fear of man brings a snare ( = The bait or lure in a fowler's net. Snare allures, then entraps  and results in ruin), but he who trusts (Confident Trust in God's sovereignty and loving watchcare and sure Word of promise allows frail man to overcome the fear of man) in the LORD (Not "in" other people, not in psychological ploys, not in medications, not in programs, etc, but "in Jehovah [see study]") will be exalted (See Hebrew verb "sagab" also used in Pr 18:10 = "safe" - scroll down page to "Insights into Meaning of Sagab from the Psalms). (Pr 29:25)

Charles Bridges comments: (The fear of man is a) weighty hindrance to Christian integrity. Indeed--as Mr. Scott most truly observes--'it is'--often at least--'the last victory the Christian gains. He will master, by that grace which is given of God, his own lusts and passions, and all manner of inward and outward temptations. He will be dead to the pleasures of the world, long before he has mastered this fear of man. "This kind of spirit goeth not out" but by a very spiritual and devout course of life.'The hindrance meets us at every turn, like a chain upon our wheels; so that, like the Egyptian chariots, they "drive heavily." (Ex 14:25.) Oh! for a free deliverance from this principle of bondage; scarcely however to be expected, till we have been made to feel its power! Thank God--there is a way of deliverance. Faith unbinds the soul from fear. If fear makes the giant tremble before the worm, trust in the LORD makes the worm stronger than the giant. Neither the fury of the King (2Ki 6:31, 32) or of the people (Nu 14:6-10) neither the fire (Da 3:17), or the den of lions (Da 6:10) daunts and hurts him that "believeth in his God." 'He that fears to flinch, shall never flinch from fear.' Faith gives power to prayer. The strength from prayer makes us cheerful in obedience, and resolute in trial. Here is safety, strength, courage, peace. Nothing but faith gives the victory; but the victory of faith is complete.(1Jn 5:4,5, cp He 11:27) He only, who puts his trust in the Lord, is prepared, when God and man are at contraries, to "obey God rather than man." (Ac 4:19) A secret union with God is implanted in the soul by this faith; an union as right, as it is secret; a sacred spring of life--the energy of God Himself (Ga 2:20); triumphant therefore in the mightiest conflict with the flesh. The man, dependent on the world for happiness, is in bondage. The servant of God is in liberty. It matters not to him, whether the world smile or frown. He is safe, beyond its reach--set on high.1 Faith brings him to his strong tower. (Chap. 18:10.) There he is "kept by the power of God unto salvation." (1 Pet. 1:5.) Fear brings us into the snare. Faith brings liberty, safety, exaltation. Oh! thou God of power and grace, may my soul praise thee for this mighty deliverance, this joyous freedom! May I never be ashamed of my Master! May I be bound to his people, and glory in his cross! (Gal. 6:14.)  (Example = 'I cannot wield the sword of the Spirit'--said the weak and timid Haller to his friends, when going to the disputation at Berne against the Romanists. 'If You do not stretch Your hands to me, all is over.' He then threw himself trembling at the feet of the Lord, and soon rose enlightened, and exclaiming ‘Faith in the Saviour gives me courage, and scatters all my fears.'-D'AUBIGNE'S Hist. Refor.  (Bridges, Charles: A Commentary on Proverbs)

When we fear men's criticism, rejection, etc,  one result is we fall into the trap of seeking to be men pleasers (Ga 1:10), constantly trying to do whatever it takes to make others like us. And if we fear men we will find ourselves falling into the trap of one compromising situation after another.

We cannot simultaneously be a bondservant of the Most High God (like Daniel) and a slave of men (like Ashpenaz) (cp Mt 6:24-note). If you want to walk without the fear of man, then you must choose the fear of God which will enable you to walk as a "God-pleaser". There is simply no middle ground when it comes to our spiritual allegiance (cp Elijah's challenge to the "sons of Israel" in 1Ki 18:21, 22ff, 2Ki 17:41) Even as Daniel was faced with the challenge of theological compromise, believers today encounter continual (and increasing) pressure and temptation to accommodate to pagan beliefs or practices (e.g., New Age practices, Theophostic "Prayer Ministry" [click for critique], listen to Bob DeWaay's Running Against the Wind series in 2007, etc)  in the worship and service of the true God, a ploy that Satan, the great deceiver has unfortunately used in every age.

John MacArthur runs a series of Biblical examples of compromise that drive home the point that the uncompromising life is the exceptional life...

And so go the compromises.

Adam compromised God's law, followed his wife's sin and lost paradise.

Abraham comprised the truth, lied about Sarah, and nearly lost his wife.

Sarah compromised God's Word, sent Abraham to Hagar who bore Ishmael and lost peace in the Middle East.

Esau compromised for a meal with Jacob and lost his birthright.

Saul compromised the divine word, kept the animals and lost the royal seed.

Aaron compromised his convictions about idolatry and he and the people lost the privilege of the Promised Land.

Samson compromised righteous devotion as a Nazarite with Delilah and lost his strength, his eyes and his life.

Israel compromised the commands of the Lord, lived in sin and when fighting the Philistines, lost the ark of God.

David compromised the moral and divine standard of God, adulterated Bathsheba, murdered Uriah and lost his child.

Solomon compromised convictions, married foreign wives and lost the United Kingdom.

Ahab compromised, married Jezebel and lost his throne.

Israel compromised the law of God with sin and idolatry and lost their homeland.

Peter compromised his conviction about Christ, denied Him and lost his joy. Later on, he compromised the truth of the one church for acceptance with the Judaizers and he lost his liberty.

Ananias and Sapphira compromised their word about giving, lied to the Holy Spirit and lost their lives.

Judas compromised his supposed love for Christ for 30 pieces of silver and lost his eternal soul.

Compromise...sad word. But, there are some people who don't compromise. (The Consequences of an Uncompromising Life, Part 2) (Ed: Did you note the common "refrain" of the tune of compromise? Lost...lost...lost! What irony, for the compromiser thinks he gains something and may seem to for a while but in God's accounting method, that gain is always loss! It seems axiomatic that spiritual compromise always leads to spiritual loss. Dare to be a Daniel the next time you are tempted to compromise your convictions, your values, your integrity. God's "investment plan" has a guaranteed "high rate of return" not only in this life but the life to come (cp 1Ti 4:7,8-note)

A few quotes on compromise from The Complete Gathered Gold (highly recommended)...

The middle of the road is where most accidents happen. - Anon.

Those who follow the crowd are quickly lost in it. - Anon.

It is impossible to compromise with sin and conquer it at the same time. - John Blanchard

Compromise makes a good umbrella but a poor roof; it is a temporary expedient. - James Russell Lowell

We must eternally bid defiance to that peace with men which is inconsistent with peace with God. -John Owen

GOD HONORS THOSE
WHO HONOR HIM

One of the better stories of "no compromise" is the inspiring story of Scottish track star Eric Liddell he who had trained for the 100 meter race in the 1924 Olympics only to find out that it was to be run on Sunday. Although he was favored to win, his conviction to honor the Lord's day led him to withdraw a decision which resulted in considerable criticism from those who had formerly praised him. As providence would have it (cp 1Sa 2:30), a runner dropped out of the 400 meter race (a race he had not trained for) and Eric offered to fill the slot of this longer race which was scheduled for a weekday. And to everyone's surprise, Eric Liddell ran and won the gold medal in 1924. God honored his non-compromising spirit. Eric eventually died in a war camp in 1945 in China where he had gone to serve as missionary, a man who like Daniel remained uncompromising to the end. The stirring account of Eric Liddell's story was made into a movie (if you've not seen it, it is recommended), Chariots of Fire (click for DVD version), which won the Academy Award for best picture in 1981.

Resources Related to Fear of Men:

To the overseer - Not Ashpenaz, but someone under his command.

Please test your servants (not just "us" but "your servants" - a submissive spirit) - Daniel presents a good model for respectfully presenting godly "objections" to superiors - he was tactful and polite, not brash and demanding. And because he had taken a stand for the Most High God, God stood with him and lifted him up granting him favor in the eyes of his superior. How thoughtful and careful are we in what we say in similar situations that might compromise the integrity of our walk with God?

Derrick Strickland - A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH

INTRO: Sometimes our faith can become an inconvenience. It will place us in inconvenient situation.

I. A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH MEANS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NON-NEGOTIABLES IN OUR LIVES.

II. A NON-NEGOTIABLE FAITH NEED NOT BE CONFRONTATIONAL.

Such a reversal of the laws of nutrition would require supernatural intervention, again a reflection of the fact that God "granted Daniel favor and compassion" in Da 1:9.

Archer comments that...

God gave - For the third time in this chapter we see the hand of God intervening in the life of men (Da 1:2, 9, 17), in this case granting them enhanced intellectual ability because of their faith and commitment to His Word. Although God never speaks directly in the book of Daniel, His sovereign presence saturates the story from beginning to end!

Dreams and visions - Daniel was granted skill in the "art of oneiromancy" (interpretation of dreams) even as Joseph had been granted during his "sojourn" to Egypt, in both cases this skill serving a to propel them into positions of power and influence in their respective governments.

Matthew Henry...

Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honour those who honour him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.

Henry Morris...

Entered the king's personal service - Daniel and his friends are a wonderful example of the the proverb...

Ten times better - This phrase is most likely qualitative, signifying a fullness in their wisdom and understanding compared to their pagan peers. And so too can all believers be "ten times better". How? Knowing God's Word! As the psalmist affirms

Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. (Ps 119:98)

Magicians and conjurers - The question arises "What about their involvement in these occult practices?" Although it is difficult to give a definitive answer, the fact remains that Daniel interpreted dreams in Daniel 2 and Daniel 4 as well as handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5 without any mention of having to resort to occult practices. Instead he simply went to his God in prayer and God revealed the interpretations directly to him. In sum, there is no evidence of inappropriate contact or conduct by Daniel in regard to the occult. To be in the same "realm" as the occultists does not mean he was an occultist. He was simply better at interpreting dreams and visions than the occultists because God granted him favor and ability and his God given superiority is shown repeatedly in the succeeding chapters.

DANIEL'S FAITHFULNESS
HONORED WITH
LONGEVITY AND HONOR

Until the first year of Cyrus the king - Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 539BC and Daniel continued as an official under the Persians. The word until does not signify that Daniel died, for Daniel 10:1 takes place in the "third year of Cyrus king of Persia" or approximately 536BC. And so we can deduce that Daniel lived to see the completion of the 70 years of exile in Babylon and the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy that the Jews would be allowed to return to Jerusalem (see Jer 25:11, 12; 29:10, Ezra 1:1, 2, 2Chr 36:22, 23).

The venerable pastor Ray Stedman offers this wise counsel regarding our study of the book of Daniel...