Name the specific instances in the book of
Daniel where the issues of worship and obedience illustrate the great
controversy theme.
Daniel 1:8 Daniel would not defile
himself with royal Daniel 3:10 The Daniel 4:18, 19, 24, 25, 34 insanity Daniel 5:2, 22, 23 Belshazzar's Daniel 6:11-16 Daniel thrown in the
NOTE: Throughout the historical portions of the
book of Daniel we shall see how Daniel's obedience to God and worship
of God is continually threatened. The issue is clear in the book of
Daniel. Governments may try to impose legislation that inhibits or
prohibits the worship of God, or demands false worship. Only those
people who remain true and faithful to God will be delivered.
The prophecies of Daniel point to the last
days, when these issues will arise again. People in the end time will
attempt to inhibit or prohibit true worship and impose false worship.
The book of Daniel tells us clearly that God will have a victorious
people who will overcome all these attempts to cause them to disobey or
to pervert the worship of God. How important it is that each of us
remains faithful to God.
How do the prophecies of Daniel foretell the
issues of worship and obedience? Daniel 7:25
He will speak Try to change the set
NOTE: The issue of worship is illustrated by
the little horn power of Daniel 7 as he speaks against the Most High.
The issue of obedience is illustrated by the little horn as he tries to
change the set times and the laws. All of the book of Daniel is
concerned with these vital issues.
DANIEL'S
CAPTIVITY The controversy begins with the captivity of
Daniel and his friends by Nebuchadnezzar. In this first chapter we will
study the story of how a young man and his friends faced important
tests imposed by the despotic ruler. We will also note the implications
that these tests have for the rest of the book of Daniel. The tests
described in Chapter 1 seem very mild in comparison to the much greater
tests to come later in the book. But the lesson of Chapter 1 is that
only those who pass minor tests will ever pass the major tests. How
important, then, that we be faithful to God at all times.
What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Jerusalem, the
city of God? Daniel 1:1
He
NOTE: In ancient times when kings besieged
cities, they completely surrounded the city, cut off its water and food
supply, and waited until the inhabitants gave up. This was a terrible
ordeal for the people in Jerusalem.
Who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to capture
Jerusalem? Daniel 1:2
The
Why did God allow Judah to be taken captive? Jeremiah 2:11-13
Has a nation ever its gods? (yet they are not
gods at all.) ... They have
NOTE: Through the prophet Jeremiah and other
Bible prophets God had predicted the warfare of the Babylonians against
Judah because they had forsaken the Lord, had ceased to worship Him,
and were disobedient to the Word of God. False worship and disobedience
led to Israel's captivity.
Who seems to be winning the conflict as the
book of Daniel opens? Daniel 1:2
The gods in
NOTE: The book of Daniel begins with an
apparent defeat for the true God, but let us not forget that it ends
with a glorious triumph for Daniel's God. Evil may appear to prosper
now, but someday God's truth will magnificently triumph.
What kind of people did Nebuchadnezzar choose
from among the captives of Judea to be educated in the schools of
Babylon? Daniel 1:3-4
From the Young men without any physical Handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of
Quick to
NOTE: Clearly, Nebuchadnezzar chose the best
young people in Judea for reeducation in the ways of the Babylonians.
How long was the educational process to last?
Daniel 1:5
Three
Out of all the children of Judah who entered
into the schooling, who are the only four youths named in the Biblical
record? Daniel 1:6
What Babylonian names were given to these
four youth? Daniel 1:7
NOTE: In an attempt to totally Babylonianize
these youth, they were given new names to signify their loyalty to
Babylon and to the gods of Babylon.
The name Daniel means "God is my judge." His
Babylonian name, Beltshazzar, means "Bel protects the king's life." Bel
was one of the popular gods of Babylon.
The name Hananiah means "Jehovah is gracious,"
while the Babylonian name Shadrach refers to an allegiance to the god
Marduk.
The Mishael, means "who belongs to God," became
Meshach, a reference to another Babylonian god.
The name Azariah, meaning "Jehovah helps," was
changed to Abednego, "servant of the god Nabu."
DANIEL AND
HIS FRIENDS ARE TESTED What was to be the diet for those who were
selected for this special education? Daniel 1:5
A daily amount of
What had God told the Israelites about
drinking wine? Proverbs 20:1; 23:31
Wine is a
Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
What foods had God forbidden the Israelites
to eat that might well have been on King Nebuchadnezzar's table? Leviticus 11:2-8
The
NOTE: What a dilemma for these Hebrew youth!
Although they were captives, they were being treated like royalty. They
could even eat the king's special food and sit at his table, but to do
so meant to be disobedient to the God of heaven. To fail to eat at the
king's table meant to be disobedient to the king of Babylon, who was
treating them so favorably. Yet Daniel and his friends did not hesitate
in making the tough decision.
What decision did Daniel and his friends
make? Daniel 1:8
But Daniel
NOTE: There was no question in Daniel's mind.
Loyalty to God was more important than loyalty to the king.
Here we see the beginning of the issue that
will be illustrated again and again in the book of Daniel. God's
faithful people are being brought into conflict, and the issue is
obedience to God or obedience to man. Like Daniel, God's people in the
time of the end will not hesitate to choose obedience to God over
obedience to man. Daniel 1:8 is a key verse in the book. It vividly
portrays why God could trust Daniel so implicitly in his experiences in
ancient Babylon.
What did Daniel ask of the prince of the
eunuches? Daniel 1:8
For permission not to
NOTE: Daniel asked for an exemption -- a bold
request for a captive!
How did the prince of the eunuches view
Daniel? Daniel 1:9
With
How did the prince of the eunuches respond to
Daniel's request? Daniel 1:10
I am
NOTE: The prince of the eunuches was afraid
that the health of Daniel and his friends would not be as good if they
did not eat at the king's table. It that should happen, he would be
held responsible and most probably would be killed. No wonder he was
afraid.
What test did Daniel suggest? Daniel 1:11-13
A ten
What did Daniel and his friends request to
eat during the ten day test? Daniel 1:12
Give us nothing but
NOTE: Daniel and his friends requested a very
simple Judean diet. Daniel knew that while in Babylon he would be
subjected to the fiercest tests imaginable. If he was to remain loyal
to God, he must live and eat simply. He know that if he drank the
king's wine and ate the king's junk food, he would be in a drunken
stupor a good share of the time. He would be in no condition to resist
temptation and could not maintain his loyalty to God. Therefore, it was
of utmost necessity that he eat simply if he was going to be loyal to
God when the really big tests came in Babylon.
DANIEL WINS THE
TEST At the end of ten days, who appeared in
better health? Daniel 1:15
and
his friends.
Because of Daniel's faithfulness, what did
God give him? Daniel 1:17
God gave
NOTE: The knowledge and skill that Daniel and
his friends possessed was not only due to their diet, although that
played a role, but it was also given to them by God because of their
faithful obedience to His principles. God always honors His children's
obedience.
When they took their final examinations, how
much better did Daniel and his friends do than everyone else? Daniel 1:18-20
Ten
NOTE: Daniel and his friends were the best
scholars in the university. They did ten times better than anyone else
in the realm. Don't miss the point! The reason they did ten times
better was not that they were superior individuals, but because of
their faithful obedience to God's will.
There are many implications in this chapter for
the rest of the book of Daniel. These four were not the only Hebrew
youth confronted with the problem in Babylon. They were, however, the
only four Hebrew youth selected for the university who remained
faithful to God. They were also the four Hebrew youth who passed every
other test in the book of Daniel. When we study Daniel 3 and the fiery
furnace, Daniel 6 and the story of the lion's den, we see again and
again that these four Hebrew youth are always faithful. Those who
compromised on this first test, which seems to us to have been so very
easy, evidently compromised on all the other tests that came. If we
cannot remain loyal to God when the test is easy, we will not be loyal
when the test is difficult. Today we live in a time of prosperity, when
it is relatively easy to serve God. If we cannot be obedient in this
time, can we be obedient when real trouble comes?
What is it you want to be in tough times?
Loyal to God?
