“the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar […]. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.” (Daniel 1:7-8)
To set up Sunday’s sermon on Daniel 1, consider the following questions.
First, with respect to Israel’s history:
- 1 Samuel 12:14-15 (LSB):
“If you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God. But if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the command of Yahweh, then the hand of Yahweh will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
In this passage, what is the connection between the righteousness of God’s people, the righteousness of their kings, and the state of their nation? - The Old Testament often judges kings’ righteousness by comparing them to King David. In 1 Kings 11:4-6 and 14:7-9, 1 Kings 15:11-12 and 2 Kings 18:1-4, four different kings are judged: The first two fail comparison to David, but the last two rise to his standard.
In these passages: What sin (which David did not commit) do you see both Solomon and Jeroboam promoting — and Asa and Hezekiah rejecting?
Second, considering Daniel 1:1-2:
- In victory, Nebuchadnezzar spoiled the temple, bringing some of its holy things to his idol’s temple in the land of Shinar. Compare references to Shinar in Genesis 11:1-4, Joshua 7:20-21, and Zechariah 5:5-11. How comfortable could a believer be living there?
- Consider Judah’s shame and Babylon’s pride after these events. According to verse 2, who actually gave Judah into Babylon’s hand? How difficult would it have been for believing exiles to explain that to their rulers, in their palace, in Shinar?
Finally, as you read about Babylon’s attempt to seduce Daniel and his friends into idolatry, consider these questions:
- In verse 7, a Babylonian official changes the God-honoring names of Daniel and his friends to idol-honoring names, establishing new identities for them based on Babylon’s state religion. With pressure from their captors and no earthly accountability from their countrymen, how hard might it have been for them to remain loyal to God? How does Daniel respond in verse 8?
- In verse 10, Daniel’s stand is met with a reasonable and politely stated objection. How easily could he have backed down then? When you try to take a stand against temptation and meet with resistance, how do you respond? What positive steps can we take to build moral strength?
- In verses 11-13, Daniel responds tactfully and meets the objection halfway — without ever compromising on principle. Wisdom often finds a way to move with tact but without compromise. Do you think yourself more likely to err on one side (rudeness) or the other (people-pleasing)?