Daniel 1 - 3

Daniel 1 - 3

The book of Daniel is one of my favorites, probably because it is about a true man of God who displayed great character. There are others in the book of Daniel who live with integrity.

Daniel was one of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families who was chosen by Nebuchadnezzr’s chief of staff Ashpenaz to be brought to Babylon as captives. We learn that Daniel was strong, healthy, good-looking, and young. He was a learned man gifted with knowledge and good judgment and had to be suited to serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal palace. This group of young men were to be trained for three years in the language and literature of Babylon and then enter royal service.

Daniel 1 mentions four men specifically: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were all from the tribe of Judah and were given new names:

Daniel à Belteshazzar

Hananiah à Shadrach

Mishael à Meshach

Azaroaj à Abedmegp

Isn’t it funny that we think of Daniel by his Hebrew name, but the others by the names Ashpenaz gave them. These four distinguished themselves by their wish not to have to eat the foods given them by the king. All they wanted was vegetables and water and asked to be tested on this diet for ten days to see how they looked compared to the others who ate the king’s food. Of course, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better nourished than the others. Needless to say, they were allowed to eat just the vegetables and water.

God blessed these four men with unusual aptitude and God gave Daniel the “special ability” to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. They were so extraordinary that the king would consult them about matters that required wisdom and balanced judgment. Daniel remains in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.

It’s a good thing God gave Daniel his special gift, because Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked the Magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers not only to tell him what the dream he had meant, but also to tell him what he had dreamed. When they could not, he started rounding up all of the wise men of Babylon to be executed, including Daniel and his three friends. When Daniel found out why they were being rounded up, he asked to see Nebuchadnezzar, to ask for more time to interpret the dream and to tell him what the dream was.

Daniel approached this in the same way he approached most of his challenges. He went home and asked his friends to pray the God of heaven to show him the dream and its interpretation. When God gave him an answer that night in a dream, Daniel praised the God of heaven. He tells the king about the dream and what it means, the upshot of which is that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would be followed by others but eventually the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that could never be destroyed or conquered. Nebuchadnezzar rewards Daniel and his friends with positions of authority.

In chapter 3, we see the ego of Nebuchadnezzar leading him to build a ninety-foot high by 9-foot wide statue of himself that everyone was to bow down to whenever the music sounded. Anyone who refused was to be thrown into a blazing furnace. Someone tattles to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not complying with the law. Nebuchadnezzar gives them a final chance, but when they refuse to obey, he has them thrown into the furnace. The king was so angry he had them heat the furnace seven times hotter than ever and threw the young men in fully dressed. The flames from the furnace were so hot they killed the soldiers who threw the young men in. As Nebuchadnezzar says, “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god.” He gets as close to the fire as he can and tells Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to come out of the fire. There was not one hair on their heads singed and their clothing didn’t even smell of smoke. As a result, the king praises the God of the young men and promotes them to even higher positions in Babylon.

All I can saw is, “WOW!”

Until next time…