Daniel 1:1–7 (ESV) - In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Jeremiah 36:1–3 (ESV) - In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Jeremiah 36:9–10 (ESV) - In the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the Lord. 10Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll…

Jeremiah 36:16–19 (ESV) - When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” 17Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, please, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?” 18Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote them with ink on the scroll.” 19Then the officials said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are.”

Jeremiah 36:23–24 (ESV) - As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.

I want you to hear and know that the God of the Bible is patient with us – longsuffering – merciful – He loves to grant forgiveness in response to repentance…he doesn’t withhold it. Don’t ever think that coming to God in repentance – seeking His forgiveness – is a burden to him!

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Daniel 1:8 (ESV) - But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Daniel resolved to follow God’s will.

Daniel honored the king and his officials.

Daniel 1:9 (ESV) - And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

Daniel 1:10 (ESV) - and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”

Daniel 1:12–16 (ESV) - “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

Daniel 1:17–21 (ESV) - As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

These four youths understood that living in a different culture- and even embracing the culture - was not the problem. The issue was the times that the values of that culture pushed against their allegiance to God.

These four sought the good/success of Babylon while not violating their allegiance to God.

Daniel 2:14 (ESV) - Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:16 (ESV) - And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

Daniel 2:24 (ESV) - Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:36–38 (ESV) “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold.

Proverbs 16:7 (ESV) - When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Discussion Questions

1. Describe a time you had to make a choice to stand up for something you believed in, even when others around you had a different point of view. If you are willing, you can also share about a time you should have and didn’t.

2. In Daniel 1:5, what was King Nebuchadnezzar wanting to accomplish with the three year program that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were part of?

3. Describe the temptation you think Daniel (and his friends) would have faced in this situation and what does his decision in Daniel 1:8 teach us about his relationship with God?

4. Note in 1:9 and 1:17 what “God gave.” Does this surprise you since the four youths were in a foreign land? Why or why not? What does this teach us about God?

5. In what ways do we see Daniel pursuing the good of Babylon while not compromising his relationship with God? How can this look in your life today?

6. What truth from this message can you apply to your life as you think, participate and respond in a diverse and divisive political climate?