DANIEL THE PROPHET (PART 1) – GOD’S SERVANT RESPONDS TO HIS CALLING

Dear Members in Christ,

Daniel the Prophet (Part 1) – God’s servant responds to His calling

When God calls a person to serve Him, the calling of God may come under a variety of circumstances. Gideon the judge was called while he was threshing wheat, hiding from the Midianites. Elisha was ploughing the field when God’s call came to him. Of all these different circumstances, the calling of Prophet Daniel stands out as the Bible describes how he was amongst the captives brought to Babylon, when God exalted him as a testimony of one who obeyed the Lord God of Israel.

“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” Daniel 1:3,4

This event of the captivity of Daniel happened in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim the king of Judah, and the king had to pay the Babylonians a large sum in gold and other treasures. Bible historians place this event to be around 605BC, roughly 2 decades before the fall of Jerusalem. In addition, the King of Babylon also took hostages, of princes and the very best of the skilled artisans from Judah. This is also recorded in the book of Jeremiah 24:1, and God’s Word explains that it was God’s will that this event occurred, for it is recorded, “so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.” (Jeremiah 24:5)

God had a purpose for this first batch of captives. Daniel was a young man brought into captivity. It must have been a terrifying experience. The warnings of God’s judgement that Jeremiah the prophet had preached is unfolding before his very eyes.

A. Obedience despite all adversity

The prophet Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were amongst these hostages who were taken captive. The Babylonians had a purpose for them for they were specially selected “skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace”. The purpose of the Babylonians was to pick those “whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” So we see a political motive for taking these princes and men of skill. The idea is that they may learn and to be “cultured” and “groomed” the ways of the Babylonians. God was gracious and merciful to these captives. Their rations and nourishment were adequately provided for. The Bible records that,

“And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” Daniel 1:5,6

Beloved, we see God’s gracious hand in the course of the Prophet Daniel’s life. Despite the adverse circumstances of being taken hostage, they were fairly treated. For God had a greater purpose in the life of Daniel.

B. Daniel is obedient to God and was determined not to defile himself

The Babylonians lost no time in trying to settle in these VIP captives. The first change was their names. Their Hebrew names were meant to evoke praises to Jehovah. In their Hebrew language, Daniel means the judge of God, Hananiah means favored (by God), Mishael means one (who is like) God, Azariah means God has helped. But now that they are captives, the Babylonians gave them new names.   

“Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.” Daniel 1:7

These Babylonian names, like names in ancient cultures, were all related to their culture and religion. Commentators remark that very likely, these foreign names carry with it religious connotations, as it invokes the names of the Babylonian gods. There was amongst these four young men, Daniel, who purposed not to be defiled, but to follow and obey the Lord God only!

“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.” Daniel 1:8

Dearly beloved, we may not be captives like Daniel but remember that according to the Bible we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Let us be resolved like Daniel not to be defiled by the things of this world. Let us shun worldly habits and pleasures, and seek only to obey our Lord God. May God help us. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor