God's Faithfulness
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
It was early in the morning and the fog covered the land of Judah. While everyone slept the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar and his army prepared to invade king Jehoiakim king of Judah. All the Babylonian army was waiting for the word of the king to say charge as they would invade all the territory of Judah. The army stood still and all of a sudden king Nebuchadnezzar yelled charge. All the Babylonian army ran into the streets of Judah and took possession of all the men of the city and even went into the house of the Lord and took possession of the articles of the house of the Lord. The men where taken into captivity and taken to the palace of king Nebuchadnezzar for inventory.
Prayer
The book of Daniel is probably one of the prophet mostly recognized interdenominational. From Muslims, Talmud, Midrash, Jews, to Christians all mentions and realize that Daniel has importance in history, culture, and prophecy. This month we will be focusing on the book of Daniel.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
Daniel 1:
Deportation
722 B.C. The Assyrians had invaded the northern kingdom of Israel (). The kingdom of Judah therefore represents the last surviving portion of the ancient Davidic kingdom. In 605 B.C. the Babylonian took in captivity the kingdom of Judah leaving the Judeans with nothing. Their past, their hope, their identities, their values, all where compromised. The whole purpose of exile is to subjugate the deported.
Verse 2 says that the Lord gave (ntn).
Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Verse two says that the Lord gave (נתן)
Daniel 1:3-7
Cultural Alienation
Verse 5 says that the king assigned (wayeman). This verb is not used anywhere else in the Bible used by a subject but God Himself and appears otherwise only in a creation context (; )
In a sense when Nebuchadnezzar uses this verb it is suggesting that the king is assigning the menu takes place of the Creator.
In a closer look the meal reveals the king’s intentions.
Meat-Wine is association characterizes both in the Bible and in ancient Middle Eastern culture the ritual meal taken in the context of a worship service.
To participate in such a meal implied submission to the Babylonian cult and recognition of Nebuchadnezzar as god.
Gave names (sam)
Daniel in Hebrew “God is my judge,” they converted to Beltheshazzar, signify “may Bel {another name for Marduck, the principal Babylonian divinity} preserve his life”
Hananiah, meaning “grace of God,” became Shadrach, “order of Aku” (the Sumerian god of the moon)
Mishael, “who is like God,” the officials changed to Meshach, “who is like Aku”
Azariah, whose name signified “YHWH has helped,” acquired the name Abednego, “servant of Nego” (a form of “Nabu,” god of wisdom)
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”
So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Daniel 1:8-16
Resistance
Daniel replies to the giving of names by using the same word (sam) purposed in his heart. Daniel was directly responding to the king’s attempt to force him into his Babylonian culture. To preserve his identity, the exile chooses to eat and drink differently. Daniel asks for vegetable and water.
The same Hebrew words appears with the same association: “vegetables,” “given,” “to be eaten” ()
Daniel teaches us that faith involves both soul and the life of the body.
Verse 12 demonstrated that the test was for ten days.
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelations 2:10
Revelation 2:10
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Daniel 1:17-21
Liberation
Only the second time in this chapter that mentions God.
First time God gave (ntn) the articles to the Babylonian.
Second time God gave (ntn) Daniel and his friends knowledge and skills in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
This gift was not given because of not absorbing the food as “wonder drug” nor use the ideal diet as a means to spiritual perfection, but as a sign of his faith in his God.