DANIEL RESOLVED NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF

Passage: Daniel 1:1-21

Key verse: 8

NIV

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim(A) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar(B) king of Babylon(C) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.(D) 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried(E) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.(F)

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility(G)— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome,(H) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,(I) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language(J) and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine(K) from the king’s table.(L) They were to be trained for three years,(M) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.(N)

6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,(O) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(P) 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;(Q) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.(R)

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile(S) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor(T) and compassion(U) to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink.(V) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test(W) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”(X) 14 So he agreed to this and tested(Y) them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.(Z) 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.(AA)

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding(AB) of all kinds of literature and learning.(AC) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.(AD)

18 At the end of the time(AE) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.(AF) 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians(AG) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.(AH)

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.(AI)

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
  2. Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Daniel Taken to Babylon

1 In the third year of (A)the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of (B)the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to (C)the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, (D)and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, (E)his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of (F)the nobility, 4 youths without (G)blemish, of good appearance and (H)skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to (I)teach them the literature and language of the (J)Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of (K)the food that the king ate, and of (L)the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for (M)three years, and at the end of that time they were to (N)stand before the king. 6 Among these were (O)Daniel, (P)Hananiah, (Q)Mishael, and (R)Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And (S)the chief of the eunuchs (T)gave them names: (U)Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel's Faithfulness

8 But Daniel (V)resolved that he would not (W)defile himself with (X)the king's food, or with (Y)the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to (Z)defile himself. 9 (AA)And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for (AB)ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat (AC)the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate (AD)the king's food. 16 (AE)So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them (AF)vegetables.

17 As for these four youths, (AG)God gave them learning and (AH)skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had (AI)understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of (AJ)the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore (AK)they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all (AL)the magicians and (AM)enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel (AN)was there until the first year of (AO)King Cyrus.

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 1:3 Hebrew of the seed of the kingdom
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL (THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD) Daniel 2:2 (Key Verse) '...and said: 'Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.'' Daniel means 'God is the judge.' When he was 16 years old, he was taken to Babylon with king Jehoiakim when Nebuchadnezzar first invaded Jerusalem. He outlived three kingdoms and four kings until he was 85 years old at the time of King Chores of Persia. Daniel revealed that God is the Sovereign ruler of the world and history. God establishes Kingdoms and appoints and deposes kings. He judges the nations. Israel was destroyed because of her own sin and corruption. Yet God keeps his promises and protects his people. When Daniel and his friends kept their faith in God and won the victory through God's help in the furnace, and lion's den, God's name was highly exalted. The suffering people of God could gain strength and new hope in God. Through Daniel's vision God further revealed that history is moving toward the Messiah's coming and his second coming while the kingdoms of this world rise and perish. Daniel became a historical figure from being a war prisoner through his life of prayer and scripture-centered life. God made him like an everlasting shining star in the sky, who could predict the kingdom of God that is eternal. DANIEL RESOLVED NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF 1. Israel under Babylon (1-7) Because of their many sins, the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of the king of Babylon. The king not only carried off treasures from the temple but also brought the best young men to the king's service. He gave them the best education with palace boarding room and delicious food. It looked very fortunate for those young men humanly. But the king changed their names such as Daniel (God is the judge) into Belteshazzar (Bel's prince). It was to assimilate them into Babylonian religion and culture while forgetting Jehovah God of Israel. 2. Daniel's decision of faith (8-21) In such a tragic moment Daniel neither despaired, nor did he seek personal success. He rather believed in God as the Sovereign Lord of the history. He resolved to suffer to remain as God's chosen people rather than to be melted into Babylonian culture and religion. It was a risky decision. But God blessed his decision of faith: to get the favor from the chief of the court, and to be healthier eating just vegetables than all others who ate the royal food. God gave him knowledge and wisdom ten times better than all others. God used Daniel to glorify God's name not only in Babylon but in Medes and to King Cyrus of Persia.

Prayer: Lord, help me and our young men to resolve to keep our identity as God's people in this corrupt post-Christendom era and bless us to glorify God.

One Word: Resolve for God and blessed by God