Daniel 1:1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

There are not many verses in Daniel which people can use to try and discredit the Book.  This however is one of them.  You see, in the Book of Jeremiah chapter twenty-five and verse one Jeremiah says that the FOURTH year of Jehoiakim was equal to the first year of Nebuchadnezzar.  However, in Daniel 1:1 we see reference being made to the THIRD year of Jehoiakim being the first year of Nebuchadnezzar.  We may ask ourselves, "Which book is right and which is wrong?" - Neither are wrong. Both are correct.  The simple explanation is that there have been many different ways of measuring time.  Jeremiah, writing from Palestine, would say that from today until the 31st of December is the 1st year of reign and the 2nd year of reign will begin on the 1st of January next year.  Daniel, writing from Babylon would say that from today until the same day next year is the 1st year of reign and the 2nd year will begin after that date. Two different ways to count years of reign.

Daniel, as a captive in Babylon, went by Nebuchadnezzar's calendar and Jeremiah went by the calendar of the Hebrews.

Daniel 1:2-4
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.  Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

God has a perfect plan.  Even when things don't appear to be quite right, don't worry, everything is going wrong just right according to God's plans.

Before going on to verse five let's take a look at verses six and seven.

Daniel 1:6,7
Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

We will now take a look at each of the names given to these boys by their Parents and the meaning of that name.  Also, we will look at the meaning of the names that were given to them by the chief of the eunuchs.

Why would the chief of the eunuchs want to change the names of these boys?  Do you think that maybe their Hebrew names were too hard for him to pronounce?  I don't.  As you can see from the meaning of their names, their old names were linked to their heritage.  A person can have pride and draw strength from a strong heritage, especially when the strength of that heritage is in God.  By attempting to cut off their links with the past Nebuchadnezzar was trying to weaken the boys and cut off their links with the One True God.  Without a heritage he could lead them in any direction he wanted to.  If you don't know where you have come from, then you don't know where you are going.  With a name change and no heritage Nebuchadnezzar would have the chance to lead them around like puppets.  Today this is just what the Babylonian system is attempting to do to us through our Education System and the Media. It has taken away our heritage so that we can be led like puppets into their 'New World Order'.

By doing away with the Monarchy, the Flag, etc. and making our country a Republic we will lose our Christian heritage which has been given to us by our forefathers.  Australia's history is only a young one, some 200 years old.  We need the Godly heritage which has been given to us, at no expense to us, but at great expense to many who came before us.  This heritage is not ours to sell to any nation that comes along bidding the highest price.  Multiculturalism will adulterate our heritage. Don't get me wrong!  I'm not against accepting people of other cultures into our country, but not at the expense of our own culture.

Let's now go back and have a look at verse five.

Daniel 1:5
And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

This verse symbolises the ultimate in the breaking down of God's wall of separation.  This food was not only considered unclean according to the health laws which God had given, but it also would have been dedicated to the idols of Babylon.  God had chosen Israel to be a people separate to the rest of the world.  They were to stand out in the crowd as an example and proof that God is God.

The health laws that God had put in place were a part of this wall of separation.  As long as Israel kept these laws they would live long and healthy lives.  In the book of the Psalms we read about the People of Israel.  After roaming around in the wilderness for 40 years they entered into Canaan and there was not one feeble or sick person among them.  These Divine Food Laws are God's laws.  They are Kingdom Principles.  If we follow them God will bless us.  The Bible says in Matthew 5:19 that obedience to the very least commandment is vital to an over comer.

On top of this new diet Nebuchadnezzar wanted to introduce, he also wanted to put these young men through a three year indoctrination course. If he could win over the hearts and minds of these young men, the cream of Israel, it would be much easier for him to win over the rest of the Israelite captives.

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel said, "NO!" and we must say, "NO!"  I believe there is more to it than just saying, "NO!".  I would like to explore the reasons why Daniel was able to say that word.

He knew the plan and the purpose of God.  Daniel knew that God in His Divine Sovereignty was in complete control, no matter how the circumstances may have appeared.  He had wisdom and wasn't afraid to put God to the test.  He knew the exploits of God.  He had seen God work by His power before.  Daniel knew that God was sovereign and Nebuchadnezzar was only a puppet.  Daniel only had to read from the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 30 to know that this was the case.  We know that he studied the Book of Jeremiah from writings which we will come to later on in this book.  Daniel had faith, not only in God but in himself.  He knew that God was on his side.  This seems to be an area where many Christians fail today.  They lack boldness.  Daniel was bold.  He stood up in the strength of his God.

Daniel not only said, "NO!", but he provided an alternative - God's alternative. What is God's alternative?  A Kingdom Society. Kingdom Law. Kingdom Order.  God's own New World Order.

Daniel 1:9-15
Now God had brought Daniel into the favour and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.  And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king."  So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,  "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."  So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.  And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies.

God vindicated them.  Through their abstinence they were witnessing to the wisdom of God.  This gives a good example of how a person's life can be a witness for God just by the way they live it.

Daniel 1:16,17
Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.  As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Here we see that GOD endowed them with spiritual gifts because they walked in obedience to Him.  Once again we see an example of how obedience to God's commandments brings blessings.  Daniel served under the circumstances he found himself in, but he served his God first and foremost.

Daniel 1:18-21
Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.  Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel lived a long life spent in service to his God.  He was about 17 or 18 when he first went into captivity and in verse 21 it says he lived up to the third year of reign of King Cyrus, king of Medo-Persia.  He would have been about 82 or 83 years old when he died.   A good old age and a life spent in the service of his God.  What more could you ask for?

In Ezekiel 14:14 we see Daniel grouped with some of the most holy men in the Old Testament.  If Daniel had eaten the delicacies of King Nebuchadnezzar I don't believe his name would have appeared in this verse.  His actions of disobedience as regards God's Divine Food Laws could quite easily have created a 'domino effect'.  I would like to show you a view of the Christian life taken by the Apostle Paul.

1 Cor. 9:24-27( LIVING)
In a race everyone runs but only one person gets first prize.  So run your race to win.  To win the contest you must deny yourself many things that would keep you from doing your best.  An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.  So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.  I fight to win.  I'm not just shadow-boxing or playing around.  Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to.  Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.

We are qualifying or disqualifying ourselves right now for our positions in the Kingdom of God, for ruler ship.  Nothing can alter your citizenship.  It has been paid for by the atoning Blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Citizenship to the Kingdom is a free gift that cannot be earnt, but your position will be determined by how you live out your Christian life.  If they had eaten the meat of the king, they would have bowed down to his image.

As we go on with our studies in Daniel we will continually find that Daniel's' life was consistent.  It is the life of a witness and  a testimony to the faithfulness of our God  - a life of no compromise - a life of no surrender - a life of standing for God on His promises.

My message to you today is this - Dare to be a Daniel!  Stand up for God!  Don't bow down before this end-time Babylonish system!

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