DANIEL CHPT 1 STUDY GUIDE

​Daniel 1 Commentary
 
      In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his God, and He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his God. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the prince;
 
      The reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah coinsides and is consistent with the prophesies of the holy prophet Jeremiah. Although his father Josiah restored the Word of God and renewed his covenant with God. King Jehoiakim did not follow in the footsteps of his father, bud did evil in the sight of God. The Prophet Jeremiah warned the children of Israel and Judah to amend their ways and return to the Lord. Jeremiah warned them of the captivity and proclaimed seventy years of destruction and astonishment.
 
      It came to pass that the words of the Prophet Jeremiah had been fulfilled and the Lord raised up and enemy, Nebuchadnezzar against the children of God and in the third year of King Jehoiakim, King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim of Judah and several of the vessels of the Lord were taken into captivity. Figuratively speaking, we are those vessels of the Lord that were taken and considered treasures that they had taken into the house of their god. For this reason, the Lord revealed himself through the Apostle Peter and stated to him that the adversary desired to have him and to sift him as wheat. However, the Lord has prayed that our faith doesn't fail. As the Lord's treasures, he has warned of these days and that we should surrender to his will completely, so that we can remain within his hedge of protection. While having obtained the vessels of God the king also gave instruction to Ashpenaz to certain princes of the king's seed within the children of Israel.  
 
     Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful 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.  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto who the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, of Shadrach, and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
 
     So, these four of all of the captives of the children of Israel were chosen to stand in the palace of the king and to learn the language of their enemies for three years while waiting in preparation to go before the king. While training in preparation to be presented to the king, initially two things took place. The children were immediately given a new name and given a new diet. These instructions were given to them of the prince of the eunuchs.
 
   But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defiled himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the with wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my Lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
 
      Let's take note of the fact that while taken captive our enemies always want to make changes. Yet, numerous times the Lord has spoken by his holy prophets that our leaders and reformers would desire to change times and laws along with other aspects of our life that would attempt to interfere with our walk of righteousness and the very foundational pillars we have been established upon. We have seen name changes in other instances in the Word with Joseph whose name was changed to Zaphnathpaaneah. They attempt to take what is God-given and spiritual and replace with a natural and a thing ordained of man. Nevertheless, the Lord has given his children a Word that will stand and that they can depend on.
 
A Name To Live By
 
Revelation 3:10-13
 
                               Because thou hast kept the Word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I came quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
     The Lord desired to take fallen man and restore him to his spiritual place. He was originally ordained to be. Through that principal we see Abram's name changed to Abraham. We see Jacob's name changed to Israel. He promised that the restoration of the spiritual name would come with patience and to those who overcome. Though Daniel, and the three Hebrew boys were taken captive and the vessels were taken into the temple of their gods. The Lord confirms through the Apostle John that he will make the overcomers a pillar in the temple of the Most High. He will give them more than a new name, but a new city, the city of the true and living God, New Jerusalem. We must consider that the Lord hast prophesied these words through the angel of the church of Philadelphia to strengthen them for the time that they are in so that they keep the faith and do not deny his name.
 
     The children of Israel stayed faithful to the Lord and his custom that he had established. Daniel, who had found favor with the captain of the eunuchs, pleaded that he allow the servants to maintain the diet that they had been accustomed and that he had confidence that their countenances would be worthy and fitting for the king.
 
    And at the end of the ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter and flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
 
    They proved that though they were in captivity they maintained their integrity and did not allow their circumstance or their situation to dictate their obedience to do the will and purpose of the Lord.
 
    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. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 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. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers, that were in all his realm.
 
   One thing to be certain of is that not one jot or one title of the Word shall fail. The Word spoken of through his holy prophets will go forth and perform His will. The appointed time had come for the children to go before the king. Surely the king confirmed that there was none like them that had been given the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding such as they have been given from the Lord.
 
   The children of Israel continued through a five-step process through history. Idolatry/iniquity, bondage/captivity, cry/repentance, judgment of enemies/deliverance, and rest. Though the Lord had proclaimed judgment through captivity of His children, the Lord still stated that there will remain a remnant. The remnant was for an example to the people, but also to carry forth the light of God and His righteousness.
 
Ezekiel 15:22-23
 
                           Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: Behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: And ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings: And ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.
 
    While the Lord raised up enemies upon His children to discipline, chasten, and for judgment to bring them to repentance; He also prophesied that he would bring judgment upon their enemies including King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. The prophesied these things to come to pass during the seventy years of judgment to bring the children to their expected end. The Lord's vengeance upon Babylon was prophesied in Jeremiah 51:33-37.
 
    For those saith the Lord of host, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out. The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say: Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragon, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.