Daniel Pt 1

"(Dame? 04/01/09 New Birth Ministries -Rev. Esther R. Scott -revessie@yahoo.com I. Siege: Jehoiakim, King of Judah had reigned 3 years and led Jerusalem into captivity. A. Every time the Israelites sinned, they were captured by another country. You can see this all throughout the bible. (God is punishing Israel for their lack of diligence toward Him.) 1. Notice Chapter 1 verse 2 says that the Lord gave King Jehoiakim into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord can lead us into learning experiences. Just as the Lord's Prayer says: "...and lead us not into temptation." a. The bible tells us that if someone keeps sinning, we should turn them over to the enemy. 1 Cor 5:5 1. 1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. This is what the Lord has done here. II. Desire: Verse 3 The King asks for the best. A. King Nebby asks for certain of the children of Israel and the children of the King. (Hebrew 582 Strong's 'enowsh' pronounced "enoshe."' "Those in the flower of their age." The young, wise, young at heart. Notice enoshe sounds like 'inertia'-energyand action or motion-youth. He didn't want dusty old folks! 6. Dan 1:4 Children in whom no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 1. The king supplied them with his meat and wine every day. He was showing them favor. a. They didn't want it because it wasn't Kosher. (Fit for use/eat.) III. The major people in this story. Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach,) Mishael (Mishach) and Azariah (Abednego.) A. Names change during captivity much like what happens in slavery still today. 1. Ex: The movie "Roots" where Kunta Kinte was supposed to go by Toby. B. Daniels whole calling was to display the might and power of the Hebrew God, demonstrating that this was no local diety but the one true God of the Universe. 1. Daniel was a prophet of dreams as one can see upon reading the book. See verse 17 : Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. a. Daniel had human favor with the prince of the eunuchs. C. The children refused to eat the kings meat and the eunuchs were growing weary.1. Daniel said to him, (Melzar), "Give us ten days of eating only pulse and drinking water and see what happens!" a. Pulse is usually beans and lentils, vegetables. 2. At the end of 10 days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the King's meat. a. Therefore, Melzar took away their portion of the meat and wine & let them eat pulse. (God was proven here to the enemy.) D. Their reward for being obedient to the laws of God: 1. Verse 19 says: Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians astrologers that were in all his realm. IV Daniel introduces God to the enemy. A. Chapter 2 verse 28 shows us just how Daniel introduced God to the enemy. 1. Daniel tells the king that there is a God in heaven who knows all and reveals secrets. That's bold. Most people would get killed talking to a King like that. Daniel converts the King somewhat. a. The king admits this to be true in verse 47 and made Daniel a great man and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. 2. Pray for our friends just as in the book of Job. a. In verse 49 we see that Daniel asked for favor for his friends. B. The Golden Image: 1. In Chapter 3 the King makes a golden image that everyone was to worship whenever they heard the music play. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't and was thrown in the fiery furnace. (Vs 17 they depended on God to deliver them, even in this situation.) 2. The King made the fire seven times hotter than normal, so hot that it burned up the men that made the fire for him. (vs. 22.) The three were thrown in the furnace in vs23 but were found to be alive and well but only there were 4 men inside instead. Vs 25...(the fourth is like the Son of God.) Jesus honored their faith and went in with them. 3. He does the same with us today. He jumps into our firey furnaces and helps us through if only we'd believe. Just like the walking on the water with Peter. He helped Peter float! He covers us through fire, water, air and earth. And that's not astrology! ***end