Daniel 1: Don't Compromise Your Anointing Series

Title: Don't Compromise Your Anointing

Theme: To show that we don’t have to compromise even in the midst of evil.

Text: Daniel 1

Introduction

Overview of The Book of Daniel is not about Daniel. Like Abraham, Moses, and Joshua, Daniel was God's vessel, a tool in his hands to accomplish his eternal purpose on earth. In the Pentateuch and historical books, God's sovereignty appears as the backdrop, an assumption about the God of the universe. In Daniel it becomes the central theme, a message to be shouted to God's people Israel and to the pagan nations surrounding them: There is a God, and he is in charge of his world. We'll explore sovereignty in greater theological depth later in this book, but here let's just define it very simply by saying God knows what he's doing, and he's doing it. – Holman Commentary

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. (Dan 1:1) And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. (Dan 1:2)

Last four kings of Judah ruled under siege.

Johoahaz – son of Josiah

Jehoiakim – brother of Johoahaz

Johotachin – Son of Jehotakim

Zedekiah – uncle of Jehoiachin

The Lord gave, delivered – God’s sovereignty. The theme of Daniel.

Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, (Dan 1:3) young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. (Dan 1:4)

These were the cream of the crop.

They had learned to serve God with their best gift. We see this in their lives throughout this book. No matter what condition they were put in they gave it their best to glorifiy God.

Joseph in Pothiphar’s house and in prision.

Paul’s admonition – slaves honor your master not just with lip service but as unto the Lord.

And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. (Dan 1:5) Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (Dan 1:6) To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. (Dan 1:7)

1:7 Gave them new names. In order for Daniel and his friends to enter the king’s service, they needed to have Babylonian citizenship; this was done by giving them Babylonian names. The young prince, Daniel (meaning “God is my Judge”), was renamed Belteshazzar (meaning “Bel [chief god of Babylon] protect his life”). Hananiah (meaning “The LORD shows grace”) was renamed Shadrach (meaning “Servant of Aku,” the moon-god). And Mishael (meaning “Who is equal to God?”) was renamed Meshach (meaning “The shadow of the prince” or “Who is this?”). Azariah (meaning “The LORD helps”) was renamed Abednego (meaning “Servant of Nego,” the god of wisdom, or the morning star). As citizens of Babylon, they now had official responsibilities. But no matter what they were now called, these young Hebrew men were determined to remain loyal to the one true God (see next note).

Fire Bible.

Standing with Courage

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Dan 1:8)

Defile – this food was probably against the cereminal law of Leveticus 3:17, also more than likely this food had been offered to idols 1 Corinthians 8:10

a. Daniel made a decision not to defile himself with food and wine from the king’s table (vv.8-16). This was not a trivial matter to Daniel. According to God’s Word, the food was unclean (see outlines and notes—Lev. 11:1-47; Deut. 14:1-21 for more discussion). Furthermore, God’s Word warned against partaking of strong drink (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-30; 23:32; Isa. 5:11-12, 22; Nahum 1:10; Hab. 2:16). This is why believing Jews usually added somewhere between three to six parts of water to one part of wine. Finally, the king’s food and wine had most likely been sacrificed to false gods before it was served.