Recap: Judah was invaded in 605 B.C. many were sent off into exile in Babylon. Jeremiah 52:28-30 (ESV) "This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem 832 persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Judeans 745 persons; all the persons were 4,600." 2 Kings 24 tells us that 10,000 men were taken into exile. Only a few Judeans were left in Jerusalem. 50-75 young men were taken and enrolled into "The University of Babylon". It was hoped that these men would learn how to be Babylonians and would teach the other exiles how to be Babylonians.
Daniel 1:8 (ESV) "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself."
I. Conviction
We can learn a lot from Daniels conviction. Daniel was given a clear command, but chose not to eat from the king's table. Why? This food had been offered up to idols first, not "clean" it did not meet God's dietary restrictions for his people. Daniel and his friends would not defile their bodies.
Christians must stand for truth. Some have gotten wishy washy on this.
James 4:4 (ESV) "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Proverbs 25:26 (ESV) "Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked."
Do not apologize for God! We don't have authority to change God's word, nor should we want to. We should honor God. Daniel didn't sugarcoat it. He says the food/wine would defile his body. He stood for truth.
A. Conviction can make life hard
Daniel 1:9-10 (ESV) "And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 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.'"
The eunuch thinks he will be harmed if Daniel and his friends don't eat from the king's table. Daniel's plan is that they only eat veggies and water for 10 days. He wasn't planning on this diet forever. Daniel did uncommon things with great results...Faithfulness
Eric Liddel- the pride of Scotland- in 1924 refused to race on Sundays. People did not understand his conviction.
Jaelene Hinkle a US female soccer player. Was chosen to play for the US National team. She decided that she could not wear a "Pride" jersey with the rest of the team in 2017. She believed it went against her beliefs. Jaelene was removed from the US National team and never played for the US.
We may not always see it, but God honors obedience.
John 14:23 (ESV) "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Do we make compromises?
II. Courage
Daniel had an uncommon courage. He brought a request before an evil king. Only one boy was willing to act upon his belief.
A. Courage comes from a clean conscience
Proverbs 28:1 (ESV) "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Our problem is that we don't have a clear conscience. How do we get a clean conscience?
1 John 1:9 (ESV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
Repentance leads to life- Acts 11:18 (ESV) "When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.'"
Disobedience leads to deceit and kills relationship with God and people. Luke 13:3&5 (ESV) "No , I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
B. Courage comes from time with the King
Who kneels before God can stand before any man. Daniel a man of prayer we will see late at the lion's den, but we see the effects of it here. Do we really spend time with God? Do we really know him? Is his Spirit really working in us?
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Courage comes from confidence that God will deliver.
III. Confidence
Daniel 1: 11-13 (ESV) "Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 'Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."
Daniel was saying that they were going to honor God and then they could test them and see if they were better off. God was working through Ashpenaz (the eunuch). He had guts. He could have been killed if Daniel wasn't stronger than the others. God is working even when it doesn't seem like it. Daniel knew that God was going to come through. We do that when we tithe. We trust God to provide. We do that when we share the Gospel with someone. In Daniel 3 we see that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up to the king and say that they would not bow down to him, but they would honor God even if he didn't rescue them.
Daniel 1:14-16 (ESV) "So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 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 the king's food. so the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables."
George Muller 1800's Germany/England built 5 orphanages in England. He helped thousands of orphans, gave away 250,000 bibles. He paid tuition for hundreds of children to go to school. During his lifetime in answer to prayer he raised the equivalent of $129,000,000 which he gave away, and when he died he had only a little money left. The trust he set up continues to support missionaries around the world. It also holds the record for the most of nearly 18,000 children cared for during the 150 year life of the orphanage. One morning, Muller awoke to the news that the orphanage, which housed 300 children, had no food. Muller instructed the housemother to seat all the children in the dining room. He thanked God for the food, and they waited for God to provide, as He always did. With in minutes, a baker knocked at the door, "Mr. Muller", he confessed, "last night, I could not sleep. Somehow, I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in." The next knock revealed a milkman whose cart was broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the cart was fixed, the milkman explained, so would the children like some free milk? Mr. Muller helped 10,024 orphans during his life time. When children became old enough to be independent, Muller prayed with each individually, placing a Bible in their right hand and money in their left. He explained to the children that if they held onto what was in their right hand, God would always make sure something was in their left.
Daniel 1:17-21 (ESV) "As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus."
The Revelation of God is ALWAYS better than the wisdom of men.
The Babylonians were skilled, but they could not understand the dreams of the king. God gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams.
Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
1 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV) "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV) "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
We are not smarter than God. Seek to honor God and trust him with the result. Confess...repent...spend time with God....trust him...stand firm....be courageous.
Closing Scripture
Psalms 147: 7-11 (ESV) "Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love."
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