Bible Study
Reference Text:
Daniel Chapter 1
Daniel’s Qualities
Daniel was a young good-looking man said to have no blemish. He was gifted in wisdom, possessed knowledge and had quick understanding. He was skilled; he had the ability to serve in the King’s palace, he was a teachable quick learner. He also had understanding of dreams and visions. And God gave Daniel favor and goodwill.
Notice that Daniel was specially gifted by God in wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
I love Daniel’s resume. And as much as we recognize that Daniel was specially gifted with wisdom, guess what? Anyone can have Godly wisdom. I am reminded of James 1:5…
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.“
James 1:5 NKJV
So God gives wisdom liberally to anyone who asks. But there is also an assured way to receiving Godly wisdom; through the Word of God…
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding”
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
You can never go wrong with the right application of the Word of God. This is one reason I have decided to remain a Christian ?
According to Daniel chapter 1 verses 1&2, it was the Lord who brought Daniel into captivity in Babylon by handing over Daniel’s King (King of Judah) to the King of Babylon.
Question: Which ‘Lord’ did this? The Lord God Almighty or the old testament misrepresentation of the devil as ‘Lord’?
The Lord my God is Good, there is no evil or wickedness in Him. Infact, He specializes in turning what the enemy means for evil into Good.
“So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.“
Mark 10:18 NKJV
You have to know your God!
Now, while in captivity, the King of Babylon insisted Daniel and his friends must undergo the 3-year requirement for serving in the palace.
Question: Did the 3-year training add to Daniel’s skillset in any way or could his natural giftings have sufficed?
For sure it wasn’t the training that made Daniel stand out, he was already supernaturally endued with wisdom and understanding!
What to eat: The Chief Eunuch’s Dilemma
What would make the young Hebrew men gain Nebuchadnezzar’s approval to serve in his courts? Vegetables and water or the best of the King’s delicacies? (Verses 12 &5).
Who looks well fed and nourished by feeding on only vegetables and water? Only Daniel and his friends! Make no mistake about it, these young men were supernaturally sustained and refreshed an unseen force…the hand of God.
Point to note: what you eat affects your looks.
The 4 young Hebrew men avoided the King’s delicacies because it would defile them. How? Probably because the King’s food were not sanctified having been offered to Babylonian gods and probably the King’s best wines were some of those forbidden by God’s laws.
So these men knew God’s laws, they respected and reverenced the law. They had the fear of the Lord.
Now I see why they were all wise. Yes Daniel was specially gifted with interpretation of dreams and visions, but all 4 Hebrew young men displayed wisdom. They knew God’s laws and they reverenced it…
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
And God honoured their respect and trust in Him because after 10 days on vegetables and water this boys looked fresher than those who had consumed the best available delicacies and drinks at the time (verses 15&16).
Note: God honors those who honor Him
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Thank you for joining me today. I hope that this blessed you as much as it blessed me. God always turns what the enemy meant for bad into good. And Godly wisdom is available always in the Word of God.
Daniel and his friends exhibited some great faith acts recorded in the old testament. Why don’t you grab your Bible and let’s be reminded again of these feats?
See you next time.
Have a good weekend?
