Christian Life Baptist Church
Pastor Derek Joshua E’Lon, Sr., Teacher
Obeying God
(Daniel Chapter 1)
(Circumstances that Can Derail our Faith (1:1-7)
A New Home (vs. 1).
We meet two kings in the first verse of Daniel: King Nebuchadnezzar and King Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim was the son of King Josiah, and was appointed to be king by Necho, King of Egypt. A few years
later Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians, and then turned his sights on Jehoiakim (Jer.
36: 2-3, 23-24, 27-31)
Why were the people taken captive?
1.) One reason was their failure to trust in God. Judah had made alliances with Babylon, Assyria,
and Egypt and in doing so had involved themselves in their power struggles – an involvement that
eventually led to their destruction.
2.) A second reason was their idolatry. God had tried everything to get them to give up their idols,
but they refused. When he sent them to Babylon he sent them to the world capital of idolatry! We
should be careful what we attach ourselves to. Interestingly, idolatry was never quite the problem
for Israel after their captivity in Babylon as it was before. God’s plan worked.
(vs. 2). God is in control: A.) God gave Judah to Nebuchadnezzar. B.) “Shinar.” It was the site of
the Tower of Babel and was a very early term for Babylon. It points toward an early date for the
book. This new home will be a training place for the people of Israel for 70 years. C.) Was
Jehoiakim taken back to Babylon?
The “them” in verse 2 may just refer to the vessels from the temple, which we know went back
to Babylon.
What about 2 Chronicles 36:6? “Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and
bound him in fetters to take him to Babylon.”
Other passages imply that Jehoiakim died in Judah.
Jeremiah 22:18-19 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, saying, `Ah my brother!' or `Ah sister!'
They shall not lament for him, saying, `Ah lord!' or `Ah his majesty!' 19 With the burial of
an ass he shall be buried, dragged and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” D.) (Note
that singular ‘god’ is probably more accurately translated ‘gods.’ The Babylonians had many
different
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A New Culture (3-4)
In order to change their culture The King knew he had to change their mind. What about us today. Have
we conformed to the world through our thinking (Rom 12:1-2)? The captives were of royal and noble birth.
A.) Why were they taken?
This weakened the subjugated nation. They were also hostages that would keep the Jews in line while
Nebuchadnezzar went back to assume the throne.
This also strengthened the conquering nation. It was considered a good policy to make leaders from the
conquered people. Alexander the Great did this, and Cyrus did this (as we will see later in this book).
B.) How many captives were taken? Some historians believe there were between 50 and 75. (We
remember only four!) Nebuchadnezzar needed enough so that he could train them to later administer his
rule among the Jews.
C.) How old were they? The Hebrew word for “youth” used here most probably places their ages between
14 and 17. Since we know that Daniel was still serving as a leader 70 years later, it seems clear that Daniel
and his companions were very young when he was taken hostage. It is thus possible and perhaps probable
that Daniel was as young as 13 or 14 when he was taken captive.
D.)These young men were without blemish. The ancients (much like we moderns) believed that ones
outward appearance reflected an inner condition. Indeed, God did not allow men with certain physical
deformities to be priests.
E.) They learned the ‘letters and language of the Chaldeans.’
We have already discussed the two meanings of the term ‘Chaldeans.’
The Chaldeans (led by Nabopolassar) overthrew the Assyrians and conquered Babylon in 612. The term
‘Chaldean’ can be used in an ethnic sense to describe anyone from the Chaldean tribe.
Like ‘Jew’ however, the term ‘Chaldean’ had both a nationalistic and a religious meaning. In the latter
sense, ‘Chaldean’ can refer to a group of wise mean that arose from within that tribe.
The use here appears to be the former ethnic sense. These captives were going to get a crash course in
Babylonian and Chaldean culture.
F.) This included a study of the old languages of Babylonia including two dialects of Sumerian.
It also included mathematics and science, areas in which Babylon was very advanced.
It also included Babylonian mythology, including their creation and flood legends. (Clay tablets at the British
museum show the types of math problems and legends that they studied.)
They enrolled in the University of Babylon – and were subjected to the same brainwashing that some of our
universities employ (or at least are accused of employing.) Brainwashing has little effect on a discerning
mind!
Renew your mind only with the Word of God
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A New diet ( vs.5): Remember, the king’s goal was to BRAINWASH these children. He wanted them to
forget their own land and culture and become Chaldeans. His theme song may have been ‘How are you
going to keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris?’
Did it work? Of the 50 to 75 captives, only 4 that we know of remained true to God.
Our Message: The devil constantly works to change our appetites. He wants us to crave the things of this
world. We need to resist the way that Daniel did.(Rom. 12:1-2; I John 2:15-16; 2 Cor. 6:17)
A New Name (6-7): Their Hebrew names were all changed to Chaldean names so that they would forget
their land and culture.
This is not the only time this occurred in the Bible. A.) Joseph became Zaphenath-paneah (Genesis 41:45)
B.) Hadassah became Esther (Esther 2:7)
C.) Daniel (My judge is El [God]) became Belteshazzar (Nebo protect my life). This is hinted at in Daniel
4:8 where Nebuchadnezzar says that Daniel was named after his God, which was presumably Nebo.
Another commentary said that Belteshazzar may refer to Belet, the wife of Marduk.
D.) Hananiah (Yahweh has shown grace) became Shadrach (the command of Aku) which honors the
Sumerian moon god, Aku.
E.) Mishael (who is what God is?) became Meshach (who is what Aku is?)
F.) Azariah (Yahweh has helped) became Abednego (the servant of Nego [probably Nebo]).
As for Daniel’s three friends, he sometimes uses their old names and sometimes uses their new names.
Their new names seem to have stuck, though, because those are the ones that are used during the fiery
furnace account. (Again, the pronunciation theory may apply here as well.)
Note also that after the exile, some Jews still used Babylonian names. Zerubbabel means the seed of
Babylon and Shenazzar refers to a Babylonian moon-god. (Some of our days of the week refer to false
gods.)
(Convictions that Can Demonstrate our Faith) (1:8-16)
A.)Conviction (vs.8)
Nebuchadnezzar’s brainwashing plan had three components:
 Teach them Chaldean culture and language.
 Give them Chaldean names.
 Feed them Chaldean food.
The first two could be done without compromising the word of God, But not the third. . A.) The Babylonians
ate pork and horse. This violated the dietary laws in the Torah (Lev 11, Lev 17, and Deut 14). B.) The
Babylonian food would have been offered to pagan gods and would have been served at pagan feasts. To
eat under those conditions would have been to wholeheartedly accept the false Babylonian gods.
C.) For Daniel, it would have meant an obligation of loyalty to the king, and Daniel rejected that symbol of
dependence.
D.) This also explains why the eunuch was so reluctant to agree with Daniel’s request later in verse 10. It
was treasonous! (‘You would endanger my head with the king.’)
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E.) (But what if they just ate it and didn’t believe. Would that have been all right? No. God does not need
secret agents.) This may come as a surprise to some (particularly in the denominational world), but the
church is not a democracy. We do not determine the truth; we don’t vote on the truth. The truth is the truth
regardless of what we think about it. Daniel and his friends did not get together to vote on what to do; they
knew what to do.
(Lets read verses 9-16) God promises to be with you when you are going through a test (Ps. 106:46; Isa
43:2-5; I Cor. 10:13)
(Commitment that Can Decora te our Faith (1:17-21)
(vs. 17) As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel
had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Again note the phrase “God gave.” God is in charge here. Their learning and wisdom were gifts from God.
(Not due to their diet as vegetarians like to claim!)
(vs. 18-21) These 4 boys passed the test.
Verse 21 means that Daniel was around from 605 until AT LEAST 539 B.C.
 PROBLEM: How can this verse be true since in Daniel 10:1 we find that Daniel receives a vision in
the third year of Cyrus? Again let’s read the verse and see what it actually says. Does it say that
Daniel died during the first year of King Cyrus? No. Not at all. It simply tells us that Daniel survived
into the next empire. Daniel lasted longer than the Babylonians did! He had predicted the fall and
he was there to see it.
 Who was Cyrus? He was the first Persian emperor that took over after the Chaldeans were
defeated. He released the Jews from captivity and allowed them to return to their land. Read Ezra.
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