DANIEL PURPOSED                                IN HIS HEART
A TIME OF TESTING AND PREPARATION

DATE: 10/31/10 pm

TEXT: Daniel 1:1-21 (Key v.8) 

INTRODUCTION

In the personal history of Daniel we find 3 different times of testing or difficulties  

First, is found in Chapter 1, right after the four young Hebrew men arrived in Babylon 

Next, is in Chapter 3 and the fiery furnace for just three of the Hebrew men 

Lastly, in the time of the Lion’s Den for only Daniel in Chapter 6 

In each one of these experiences the four Hebrew Men were victorious 

How they prepared themselves in chapter 1 is the foundation of what took place in the other chapters 

It is when we “purpose in our hearts” to serve God 

And not serve ourselves and this wicked world … 

And do so with faith and confidence in God …

Then we will see victory as God proves Himself 

~~~PRAYER~~~

I. A “SERIOUS TRIAL” – vs.1-7

Turn to Jeremiah 2:1-11; 5:5-6

Jeremiah was a contemporary of Daniel  

Jeremiah had preached to Israel about their sins and what was to become of them and their nation  

But these messages brought no repentance, it fell on deaf ears  

And therefore God had no choice but to pass Judgment 

Because of their refusal to repent, God sent the Babylonian army in (606 - 586 BC) 

They conquered the land and carried away the people into captivity 

They destroyed the City of Jerusalem and the Temple, 

Even carrying back with them the vessels of the Temple 

Daniel and the three Hebrew Men were subjected to the judgment brought about because of their father’s sins

We don’t always realize it, but what we do personally affects others! 

Imagine these four Hebrew young Men (teenagers at the time of captivity) being led off to a place where they would never see again there: 

→ Homes 

→ Families  

→ Holy city 

We are told they were members of the royal family, princes –v.3  

They were probably not accustomed to this kind of treatment 

It was because of their standing that they were carried off in the first deportation 

Placed in training for three years in Babylon in order to serve the King there

A. They had a New ‘Home’ – v. 3

“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 princes;”

New ways, new customs, new religion, new people  

Everything would be different and they would have to adjust to their new surroundings 

For Christian it could be the same, the temptation to just fit in with the unsaved 

B. They had a New ‘School’ – v. 4

“Children in whom … they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans”

They had to learn the system of a new culture

It was a re-programming, to erase their old beliefs and customs 

And train them in the ways of the Chaldeans

(An ancient Semitic people who lived in Chaldea in southern Babylonia, where they were the dominant ethnic group during the 8th and 7th centuries BC)

There is a ‘New School of Thought’ out there

Forsake not the ‘Old Paths’ – Jeremiah 6:16 

Psalm 119:89 – “For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven”

Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but The Word of our God shall stand for ever”

C. They had a New ‘Diet’ – v.5

“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”

They were to eat the king’s meat and drink the king’s wine 

Being Jewish, their diet was different than the Chaldeans

God had established a set of dietary law for Israel 

Leviticus 11  

That is, they were forbidden to eat of certain meat and anything that had been offered unto idols  

And since the meat and wine had to do with the Chaldean’s religion 

Then they had to refrain from eating of the king’s provision 

Acts 15:28, 29

We need to learn from these Men how Satan works 

And learn that in the midst of all things …

We must remain true to God’s Word and Work

As Christians, we will be faced with choices that run contrary to the best that God has purposed for us 

There are decisions about our choice of entertainment, the music we listen to, choices in our personal relationships 

We are confronted daily by choices to either do or not do certain things that can cause us to be defiled 

Now, I am saved, and nothing will ever change that! 

But, the choices I make in life can either build me up, or tear me down as a servant of God 

I can never be lost again, but I can become defiled and put on the shelf by God

I Corinthians 9:27 – “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”

Instead of Buffeting we Buffet 

Therefore, it is extremely important that we constantly guard ourselves in this matter of what we take into our lives  

David had a good plan – 

Psalm 101:3 –“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me”

D. They had New ‘Names’ – vs.6, 7

When these young men arrived in Babylon, they came with wonderful names 

Each name carried with it a testimony of God

→ Daniel - God is my judge

→ Hananiah - God is gracious

→ Mishael - God is without equal

→Azariah - The Lord is my helper

When they arrived in Babylon, they were given new names 

→ Daniel became Belteshazzar - Which means, “Bel will protect” Bel was the chief god of the Babylonians 

→ Hananiah became Shadrach - Which means, “Inspiration of the Sun” or the sun god 

→ Mishael became Meshach - Which means, “Belonging to Aku” or the earth god 

→Azariah became Abednego - Which means “Servant of Nego” or the fire god 

They were re-named in order to break them from their relationship with their homeland  

As well, as to identify them with the Chaldean’s religion or gods

Note that their names were changed from that which honored God …

To that which honored the idols of Babylon

Thus, instead of Jehovah, His servants were rededicated by the heathens to their four leading gods 

It was to the last god that the three Hebrew Men were cast into the furnace because they would not worship the gods of Babylon 

Just reading the Book of Daniel without knowing about their gods doesn’t give any sense about the furnace

But knowing what they believed helps to understand that they were sacrificing unto their god, The Fire god 

In this miracle God declared Himself God in the midst of their gods, the same as He did in Egypt with Moses 

Nebuchadnezzar's goal was to change their identity and hopefully their way of thinking 

However, it is plain to see as one reads the book of Daniel, that even though their names were changed their character remained intact 

The world and the devil will try every tactic to force us to fit into their mold 

However, no matter what they say to us, call us, do to us or throw at us in life, they should never be able to change what we are 

I John 3:1, 2 – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not” 
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” 

We must never forget that we are the twice born children of the living God!

A “SERIOUS TRIAL”

II. A “SOBERING TEST” – vs. 8 -16

In v.8 Daniel has “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” with the king’s meat nor the king’s wine 

The Babylonians could change their homes, their education, their diets, and their names, but they could never change their hearts! 

These young men had decided that they were going to serve the Lord, whatever the cost! 

It would have been easy to say – 

“Well, it's all right, everyone else is doing it!” 

“We had better do what the king says” 

“We'll obey the king outwardly, but we'll just keep our faith to ourselves” 

These options weren't good enough for these men! 

They were willing to commit themselves to God's will despite the consequences 

Christians need this same level of determined commitment! 

Many of us seem to find it too easy to give in to compromise 

We need to dedicate ourselves to God and His plan for our lives, even if it costs us our lives! 

Our duty is to faithfully serve the Lord with all we have and are, the details are His problem 

Romans 12:1, 2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” 
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” 

I Corinthians 15:58 - “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” 

A. Daniel ‘Purposed’ in his Heart – v.8

Daniel responded to the situation around him by the Word of God that had been hid in his heart 

Psalm 119:11 – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”

The Word of God needs to be the control of our lives 

Even when we are away from home, country, or our church

And because he ‘Purposed’ …

B. Daniel was ‘Favored’ by God’s Grace –v.9

“Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs”

Daniel purposed in his heart not to sin against God 

God honored him for his faith and gave him favor in the eyes of the keepers 

Proverbs 16:7 – “When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” 

Proverbs 21:1 – “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” 

C. Daniel was ‘Considerate’ of the Prince of the eunuchs – vs. 10-16

Knowing that he was to be in school for three years (v.5) before being brought before the king 

Then a 10 day testing time would not be noticed nor cause the prince of the eunuchs any problem 

He asked only for pulse and water 

“Pulse” - The Hebrew expresses any vegetable grown from seeds, that is, vegetable food in general 

This helps us to know and understand the words of Moses:

Deuteronomy 8:3 -  “that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

He permitted himself to be tried and then from the results be judged 

Remember when God is in what we do and what we are, then He brings to pass that which is right 

Most of our problems are with the fact that we try to live outside of God’s will and purpose for our lives, but yet want God’s blessings 

The whole point of this section of the text is that these young men made up their minds that they were going to live for the Lord

They allowed nothing to change them or to turn them from their purpose!

Would you be willing to die before compromising with the enemy?

Probably not! 

We compromise in so many ways 

In our speech, in our dress, in our lifestyles, in our music in our relationships with others etc.  

They had decided in their hearts that they would die before they would compromise with the world, the flesh or the devil 

We need to strive for that same standard in our own lives 

There are a lot of God's children who need to recommit themselves to the Lord (Maybe tonight!) 

There are many who have let down their guard and have compromised in one or more areas 

Others are flirting dangerously close to doing the same thing 

It is time for God's children to resolve in their hearts that ‘come what may’, they will not disgrace the name of  Jesus, 

And they will not compromise in any area of their life!

The dedication of these men can be summed up in 2 words, Faith and Obedience 

They were willing to trust God to do what He had promised, 

And they were willing to follow Him, regardless of the personal cost 

What about you?

A “SERIOUS TRIAL”
A “SOBERING TEST”

III. A “SWEET TRUTH” - vs.17-21

Daniels experiment worked! 

God honored His Word and these men were healthier than the others

Daniel purposed in his heart to do right before God 

In front of his brethren 

As well as the people of Babylon 

And we clearly see that God didn’t forsake him

These 4 men knew something that many folks never get, and that is: 

If we will do as God says, He will never fail us, even in the slightest way 

He will be absolutely faithful to honor His Word and His servants who trust His Word and do as He says

Lamentations 3:22, 23  “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” 
“They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” 
 
‘Come what may’, you can count on the Lord!

A. God gave them ‘Wisdom’ - v.17

Gave opened up their understanding and gave unto
them wisdom that was far greater than the wisdom that could have been gotten from man 

1. He gave them “knowledge” - that is an understanding of things 

2. He gave them “skills” - that is the ability to use their knowledge

3. He gave them “wisdom” - that is the ability to perform with their skills and knowledge correctly and make their life a benefit  

B. Man recognized their ‘Ability’ – vs.18 - 20

The king saw and understood that these Hebrew Men
were greater than his trained men in every area that they were to perform in

We should learn from this that as believers we are to seek the face of God until we are -  

The best at our Ministries  

The best in our Christianity  

That He might get the glory

C. Daniel remained ‘Faithful’ – v.21 

Daniel continued in what he had begun  

Not partaking in the king’s meals all the days of his life 

He served with the same spirit under four different kings 

Cyrus being the last 

There can be no greater testimony given than the testimony of being faithful 

CONCLUSION 

We are not told how long Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah served there in Babylon 

But we are told that Daniel endured, in a place of power and prominence, for over 70 years 

In fact, he was nearing 90 when he faced the lions 

This just encourages my heart because it reminds me that no matter how long I live, or where I go in life 

If I will always seek to honor the Lord, He will consistently bless me and use me for His glory 

God is always looking for vessels which He can fill up and pour out for His glory 

However, to be usable, we have to be clean, and to be clean, we must learn to never be guilty of compromise 

II Timothy 2:20, 21 - “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to ishonor” 

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work” 

God's house is filled with all kinds of vessels 

Some are honorable and are being used for His glory 

Others are defiled through compromise in one or more areas of life and cannot be used 

Which best describes your life?