HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1142
D A N IEL 1
page 772
uncertainty and despair, but God’s faithful—those who remain true to him—will be
rewarded for their faithfulness.
The need for faithfulness to God is reflected throughout the pages of this book. Whatever the circumstances, we must remain true to him, in simple challenges away from
home or in the massive conflicts that may appear in the last days.
Key verses in Daniel
2:30 “And it is not because I
am wiser than anyone else that
I know the secret of your dream,
but because God wants you to
understand what was in your
heart.”
Your Majesty, that we will never
serve your gods or worship the
gold statue you have set up.”
7:13-14 As my vision continued
that night, I saw someone like a
son of man coming with the clouds
of heaven. . . . His rule is eternal—
4:17 “The Most High rules over
the kingdoms of the world. He gives it will never end. His kingdom will
never be destroyed.
them to anyone he chooses.”
3:17-18 “If we are thrown into
the blazing furnace, the God whom
we serve is able to save us. He will
rescue us from your power, Your
Majesty. But even if he doesn’t,
we want to make it clear to you,
6:22-23 “My God sent his angel to
shut the lions’ mouths so that they
would not hurt me, for I have been
found innocent in his sight.” . . .
Not a scratch was found on him,
for he had trusted in his God.
Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s Court
During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s
reign in Judah,* King Nebuchadnezzar of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some
of the sacred objects from the Temple of God.
So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land
of Babylonia* and placed them in the treasurehouse of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief
of staff, to bring to the palace some of the
1
• Temptation
D ANIE L 1 :8
Daniel, his friends, and many other young
Hebrews had been carted off into captivity
far from their culture, their Temple, and
their faith traditions. Suddenly exposed to
the decadence of the king’s table, most
of them abandoned their commitment to
purity and consumed the forbidden fare.
But Daniel and his friends had already
made a commitment to remain pure, and
they had each other for accountability. We
are more successful at resisting temptation
when we have prepared for it. Determine
ahead of time how you will respond in
certain situations. And bolster your own
resolve by sharing your commitment with
another person.
9:17-18 “O our God, hear your
servant’s prayer! . . . O my God,
lean down and listen to me. . . .
We make this plea, not because
we deserve help, but because of
your mercy.”
young men of Judah’s royal family and other
noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy,
and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make
sure they are well versed in every branch of
learning, are gifted with knowledge and good
judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal
palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.*” 5 The king
assigned them a daily ration of food and wine
from his own kitchens. They were to be trained
for three years, and then they would enter the
royal service.
6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
were four of the young men chosen, all from the
tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them
with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
8 But Daniel was determined not to defile
himself by eating the food and wine given to
them by the king. He asked the chief of staff
for permission not to eat these unacceptable
foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff
both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he
responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king,
who has ordered that you eat this food and
wine. If you become pale and thin compared to
1:1 This event occurred in 605 b.c., during the third year of
Jehoiakim’s reign (according to the calendar system in which
the new year begins in the spring). 1:2 Hebrew the land of
Shinar. 1:4 Or of the Chaldeans.