Grace & Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome back to Bible Study. A new year, a new study. I’m excited because Jesus is going to have to be really involved in this.
I normally read the NIV, so unless I tell you differently, that’s what we’re in. If you don’t have an NIV you can always find it or lots of other versions at Biblegateway.
Let’s start with prayer.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Lord Jesus, draw us close. Confirm again that we are in You and as such we are new creations, all because You are in us. Because You are in me, Lord, I choose to trust and to listen as You lead us through this chapter and this book in the next twelve weeks. And life in general too, Lord, I need Your presence at all times. So please, lead me. In Your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.
Please read Daniel 1:1
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
For a little more explanation, you can find Jehoiakim in 2 Kings 23-24 and 2 Chronicles 36 and several chapters in Jeremiah. It appears that Josiah had a son named Eliakim whom the Pharaoh of Egypt renamed Jehoiakim.
2 Chronicles 36:5
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God.
2 Chronicles 36:8
The other events of Jehoiakim’s reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 25:1
The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
2 Kings 24:1
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled.
Read Daniel 1:2
Babylonia is also called Babylon and Shinar.
These “articles from the temple” should remain a key phrase in your memory. This is not the first time we’ll hear of them.
Read Daniel 1:3-4
There are places where you’ll hear Babylonians being called Chaldeans.
The best of the best. That’s what he wanted. Imagine it, all the highly educated moving out of your town. We’ve seen it happen many times. No, no-one has come to take them, this time it’s more about the brightest and best educated leaving for more opportunities. But we can imagine what it was like because we’ve seen it happen this way.
Read Daniel 1:5
Three years of ‘school’ to enter the king’s service.
Read Daniel 1:6-7
Let’s review:
Daniel – Belteshazzar – means “Marduk- protector of life”
Hannah – Shadrach – means “command of Aku which is Sumerian moon god”
Misheal – Meshach – means “who is what Aku is”
Azariah – Abednego – means “servant of Nego/Nebo ie Nabu)”
Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was to erase the Hebrew-ness of these young men. Changing their names to regard the gods of the Babylonians.
Read Daniel 1:8-17
To Obey is immensely blessed by God. These men never forget the One God they belong to. May we all have faith like Daniel and his friends. Faith that we belong to the One and Only God of God’s and Lord of Lord’s. The One far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every name that is invoked now and forever. (Ephesians 1)
Read Daniel 1:18-21
Wonderful accolades. Notice, their names, they remember their real names, who and whose they really are. Only when they’re talking with the Babylonians do their Babylonian names get used. So let’s look at this. In Hebrew, their names mean:
Daniel – God is my judge
Hananiah – Grace, mercy, gift of the Lord
Mishael – Who is like God?
Azariah – Helped by God.
Psalm 133:5
Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
Psalm 133:1-4
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Praise the Lord!
Lord Jesus, thank You for this chapter. Thank You for these words, thank You for the recognition and the history and the blessings we can see all over this. For there is no-one like You. You hold all of us in Your hand so I will praise you from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets and every night too. Always for Your glory. Amen