Further Thought:

 “Daniel and his companions in Babylon were, in their youth, apparently more favored of fortune than was Joseph in the earlier years of his life in Egypt; yet they were subjected to tests of character scarcely less severe. From the comparative simplicity of their Judean home these youth of royal line were transported to the most magnificent of cities, to the court of its greatest monarch, and were singled out to be trained for the king’s special service.

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Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court. The fact that they, the worshipers of Jehovah, were captives to Babylon; that the vessels of God’s house had been placed in the temple of the gods of Babylon; that the king of Israel was himself a prisoner in the hands of the Babylonians, was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews. Under such circumstances, through the very humiliations that Israel’s departure from His commandments had invited, God gave to Babylon evidence of His supremacy, of the holiness of His requirements, and of the sure result of obedience. And this testimony He gave, as alone it could be given, through those who still held fast their loyalty”. — Ellen G. White, Education, p. 54.

Discussion Questions:

<–Thursday

Amen!(0)

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Read Daniel 1:17-21. What is the key to the success of the four men? (See also Job 38:36, Prov. 2:6, James 1:5).

After three years of training in the “Babylonian University”, the four Hebrews are brought before the king for the final examination. They are not only healthier than the other students, they surpass them in knowledge and wisdom. The four are immediately hired to serve the king. We shouldn’t forget that this “knowledge and wisdom” is no doubt comprised of a lot of paganism. Yet they learn it anyway, and obviously they learn it well, too, even if they don’t believe it.

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Nebuchadnezzar may think that such accomplishment would have something to do with the palace diet and the training program the four students have undergone. However, Daniel and his companions know, and the narrative clearly shows, that their superior performance owes nothing to the Babylonian system. Everything comes from God. What a powerful example of what God can do for those who trust Him. We should not fear the overwhelming power of media, governments, and other institutions that may threaten to destroy our identity as God’s children. As we place our confidence in God, we can be sure that He can sustain us in difficult moments and preserve us against all odds. The key is for us to make the right choices when confronted with challenges to our faith.

Looking at Daniel 1, we learn some very important lessons about God: (1) God is in control of history. (2) God gives wisdom so that we can navigate the hostile environment of our culture and society. (3) God honors those who trust in Him through inner conviction and lifestyle.

The chapter concludes by pointing out that “Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus” (Dan. 1:21, NKJV). The mention of Cyrus here is significant: it provides a glimpse of hope amid an experience of exile. Cyrus is the one chosen by God to liberate His people and allow them to go back to Jerusalem. Though the chapter begins with the appearance of defeat and exile, it concludes with a glimpse of hope and a homecoming. This is our God: even amid the most difficult moments of our lives, He always opens a window of hope so that we can see the glory and joy that lie beyond the suffering and pain.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Daniel and his companions are chosen for royal service because they fit within the profile established by Nebuchadnezzar. According to the king, palace officers must have “no blemish” and be “good-looking” (Dan. 1:4, NKJV). Interestingly, sacrifices and people serving in the sanctuary should have no “blemish” (Lev. 22:17-25, Lev. 21:16-24). The Babylonian king seems to compare himself to the God of Israel insofar as he demands similar qualifications for those serving in his palace. On the other hand, such qualifications may inadvertently suggest that Daniel and his compatriots were living sacrifices for God as they faced the challenges of the Babylonian empire.

Read Galatians 2:19-20; Matthew 16:24-26; and 2 Corinthians 4:17. What do these verses tell us about how we can stay faithful amid whatever temptations we face?

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God honors the loyalty of the four Hebrew captives, and at the end of their ten-day testing period they look healthier and better-nourished than the other students who have eaten from the royal table. So, God gives His four servants “knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom”, and to Daniel alone God gives “understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:17, NKJV). This gift will play a significant role in Daniel’s prophetic ministry.

Just as God honors the faith of his servants in the Babylonian court, He gives us wisdom as we face the challenges of the world. From the experience of Daniel and his companions, we learn that it is indeed possible to remain untainted by the corrupting elements of our society. We also learn that we do not need to isolate ourselves from society and its cultural life in order to serve God. Daniel and his companions not only live amid a culture built on lies and errors and myths, but are schooled on those lies and errors and myths. And yet, they remain faithful.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Read Daniel 1:7-20. We see two factors at work here: Daniel’s free will and the intervention of God. What important principle also exists here?

It appears that the four Hebrew captives do not object to their Babylonian names. Most likely there is nothing they can do about it, apart from using their Hebrew names among themselves.

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But in regard to the food and wine from the king’s table, it is certainly in their power to consume it or not. Thus, the free choice of the four men is very important here.

However, if an officer can change their names, he can also change the menu. There are two likely reasons why the four do not want to eat from the king’s table.

First, the meals from the king’s table may contain unclean meats (Leviticus 11). Second, food is first offered as a meal to the god’s image and then sent to the king for his consumption. Thus, when Daniel makes clear, without resorting to subterfuge or deception, that his request has a religious motivation, i.e., the food at the palace will defile him and his friends (Dan. 1:8), he is being very courageous.

As we look into the interaction between Daniel and the Babylonian officer, a few important points stand out. First, Daniel seems to understand well the difficult position of the officer, so he proposed a test. Ten days of consuming the alternative meals should suffice to demonstrate the benefits of the diet and thus to put down the fears of the officer. Second, Daniel’s certainty that the outcome would be so positive within such a short time span stems from absolute confidence in God. Third, the choice of a diet of vegetables and water points back to the food God gave humanity at Creation (see Gen. 1:29), a fact that perhaps influences Daniel’s choice as well. After all, what could be a better diet than the one God originally gave us?

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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1. The four heroes. True or false: The battle to recover Jerusalem was the result of heroic action by Daniel and his fellow Jewish companions. Does God always rely on human beings to carry out His earthly purposes in combating evil? Explain your answer.
2. God’s Sovereignty. How might a reporter introduce the news about what has happened to Judah after its fall to Nebuchadnezzar, starting with: “Tonight we see more evidence of unrest in the conquered kingdom of Judah…” Who really won the battle between Babylon and Jerusalem? Would you say that God had forsaken His people because of their lack of faith? What military, social or religious role did Daniel and the other three men play in this historic time? 
3. God’s rescue plans. Imagine what the young men’s parents thought when they learned the names their sons had been given by their conquerors. What sort of education do you think these four men had experienced at home? What evidence did Daniel have that God was leading them at this time? Give examples of how God even today causes events to happen—or restrains them from happening—as we face hardships and difficult times.  How can we trust God—no matter what?
4. Faith under pressure. I don’t know of any current example of soldiers captured in war and then offered a high position within the conquering nation. Do you? Why do you think the Babylonians decided to take advantage of the presence of these four well-educated and healthy young men? Were Daniel and his companions in a position where they could be useful to their new administrators without compromising their personal beliefs? How did they give their conquerors a lesson in healthful living?
5. Firm resolution. The captured men didn’t seem to mind having foreign names, although Daniel apparently kept his given name. The other three men were assigned Babylonian names. But when it came to food, they wanted a simpler fare, not the unclean meat offered first to idols. How was Daniel able to persuade the officers to give them simpler fare? What gave him the courage to ask for such a favor? Are we able to choose the healthiest food God has given us to eat?
6. Unblemished and wise. The king put the Hebrew men through a daunting test of their strength and health. How did the captive men do on this test? Can four strong men look better and stronger after just ten days of a healthy diet? Lessons learned: It’s true that he greater the challenges we face, the more we need to rely on the wisdom and understanding God has given us and the greater our reward will be for our faithfulness?
7. Final exam. Time to step forward to be evaluated. We have to wonder how long the final examination took, but it was probably at least two or three hours. And no doubt thorough in the material covered, including a huge bloc of information about pagan beliefs. The four men pass with flying colors. What does this episode in the life of the Old Testament church have to teach us in our  modern-day whirl of physical and mental ability?

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