Morality Matters

Daniel 1

June 19, 2005

Background:

A. Historical setting: the sixth century B.C., the Acropolis in Athens is being built; the Mayans flourished in Mexico; Aesop wrote his fables; Confucius and Buddha live; the Phoenicians make the first known sea journey around Africa; the olive tree is introduced to Italy by Greeks

      1. Jehoiakim was the king; appointed by Pharaoh-Neco

2. Pharaoh-Neco attacked Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians and came after Israel for supporting Egypt.

B. Biblical setting: Daniel begins the 12 books called the Minor Prophets. He prophesies during the Babylonian and Medo-Persian Empires
C. The nature of the book: 1/2 narrative & 1/2 prophetic
D. Daniel in the Critic's Den

      a. The author: Matt. 24:15; Ezekiel 14:14

      b. The time: Dead Sea Scrolls

      c. The problem is the accuracy of Daniel esp. w/175-164 B.C.
E. The two beloved men of the Bible: Daniel and John

I. The Turbulent Times

A. Spiritual decline

1. Moral climate - deprived
2. First captivity (605 BC)

B. Political decline

1. Sovereignty lost: in two battles

2. National identity destroyed in the third battle

3. The book begins with a prophecy fulfilled, “And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”  Isaiah 39:7

      C. Daniel’s challenges

1. Taken in the first captivity: loss of life of friends and relatives

2. Young teenager: unmarried prince in the kingdom

3. Nebuchadnezzar's nature: Brutal; Emotional/Angry proud/brash

4. Imagine the effect of going from Israel to the city of Babylon; the zigaret; the hanging gardens: Herodotus claimed the outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high

5. Daniel’s losses

1. All the was familiar
2. Family ties; and the death many
3. Safety... royal standing
4. Eunuch = Reason for anger  
5. Temple destroyed = reason for rejection
6. His name: his whole identity – it seemed
7. Rationale for serving self and indulging in sin - times were tough

      a. Where is God now or disillusionment for the distress he was suffering

II. The Test of Obedience: “Stand in spite of pain”

A. Israel’s failure to obey: (vrs. 1-2)

1. 490 years they did not celebrate the years of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:1-7 and 26:2-35)

a. Greed, lack of faith, over sight...
b. No one assumed that God was going to really do anything about it
c. Jeremiah came and then Ezekiel to declare they were wrong and judgment was coming

d. They were to be a “forgiving people”

2. At the beginning of this book of prophecy, it begins with the recording of the fulfillment of the prophecy about judgment for Israel's moral failure

B. Contrast in Obedience: Daniel and Friends

1. Babylonian attempt to change their world-view (3-4)

      a. Qualifications:  "the nobility-- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." (vrs. 3-4)

      b. Training in "the language and literature of the Babylonians"
2. Babylonian training for governmental service (5-6)

3. Babylonian attempt to change their identity and religion

a. Daniel: God is my judge to Belteshazzar: Bel's prince; Hannaniah: Beloved by the Lord to Shadrach: Illumined by Sun-god; Mishael: Who is as God to Meshach: Who is like Venus; Azariah: The Lord is my help to Abed-nego: Servant of Nego

4. i.e. Daniel had had everything going his way when his world was destroyed

C. The Test of Obedient

1. Every excuse is given to Daniel and no one would have blamed him for making any compromise in the situation he was in

(v.8) "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

3. The Purpose of the Heart will be revealed in times of distress.

4. The request to Melzar and the 10 day test

5. (v.17) To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

III. General Observations

A. Morality Counts

Ps. 25: 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. e.g. Joseph: character then revelation; Daniel a man with a good spirit…

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

B. Morality Costs

1. Daniel and his friends faced the possibility of the loss of everything
2. Faith had to be exercised: it was better to die than to live in compromise

C. Morality is in the small things, too

1. Some complain that Daniel's request was splitting hairs religiously

1 Tim. 1: 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Faithfulness in small things important…

2. Song of Songs 2: 15 "the little foxes, that spoil the vines:"

D. Morality is part of our worship

1. Again Rom. 12:1-2 – that dedication IS our worship. Without it, it simply is a pollution on the altars of heaven
2. 1 Sam. 2:30 "Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained."