Tuesday: Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon
In July 2007, a scholar from the University of Vienna was working on a project in the British Museum when he found a tablet from the time of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. On the tablet, he found the name “Nebusarsekim”, the name of a Babylonian official mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3. Nebusarsekim is one of many individuals, both kings and officials, who (thanks to archaeology) have been rediscovered from the time of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar.
Read Dan. 1:1-21 and Dan. 5:1-31. How do the early decisions of Daniel correspond to the acts of God in using him as His servant and prophet to impact millions of people through history?
Image © Justinen Creative Collection at Goodsalt.com
Daniel “purposed in his heart” (Dan. 1:8) to remain faithful to God in regard to what he both ate and prayed. These good habits, formed early in his experience, became the pattern that would give him strength for his long life. The result was clear thinking, wisdom, and understanding that came from on high. This was recognized by Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, so that he was elevated to the highest positions in the kingdom. But, perhaps more important, it resulted in the conversion of King Nebuchadnezzar himself (Dan. 4:34-37).
Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nabopolassar. Together they built up a glorious city, unsurpassed in the ancient world (Dan. 4:30). The city of Babylon was enormous, with over 300 temples, an exquisite palace, and surrounded by huge double walls 12 and 22 feet thick. The walls were punctuated by eight major gates, all named after the major Babylonian deities. The most famous is the Ishtar gate, excavated by the Germans and reconstructed in the Pergamom Museum in Berlin.
In Daniel 7:4, Babylon is described as a lion with eagle wings. The processional way leading up to the Ishtar gate is lined with images of 120 lions. An image of a huge lion pouncing on a man also was found during excavations and still stands today outside the city. These all testify to the lion as an appropriate symbol for Babylon the Great. Biblical history and its prophetic message are confirmed.
| Daniel 1:8 said that Daniel “purposed in his heart”. What does that mean? What are some things that you need to “purpose in your heart” about doing or not doing? |
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Daniel "purposed in his heart" I believe it means that he was fully convinced that the LORD's way was the best way, that his relationship with the LORD and His promise of eternal life was more important than any earthly pleasures or recognition or even physical security.
Who was Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar? Where was Babylon?
So many questions, so few answers. From Adam to every last person who will live, everyone have their own calling at different times in their generation. The calling of the men/women before the flood is different from the calling of people after the floor and before Jesus came. After Jesus to present day we all have our own calling. The bible says we all have talents but different proportion. Some people were given more spiritual gifts and talents than others. Daniel, like others had a special calling. He was given several gifts and talents for the specific work he had to do. I do not know which came first, but are we given gifts and talents first, then the infilling of the Holy Spirit, or are we filled with the Holy Spirit then our gifts and talents followed. Daniel, like Esther and many others were called to the kingdom at such a time like that. Despite what, he made up his mind not to defile himself in Babylon. Defiled not only with food, but in totality. Daniel could not have done what he did without the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The king said, the spirit of the gods was upon Daniel. Despite his circumstances, he maintained faithful to God. Daniel was a rich man but never got corrupted with the heathen. He kept the books accurately. He was a man of prayer.
But some others represented God with that same fervent, but God never save their lives like how he saved Daniel life. Eg John the Baptist or Stephen. Yes, looking back we knew the answer, but in the moment they never knew why.
Let us remain faithful to God despite what we knew or not.
“ he purposed in his heart “- he made up his mind he was not going to defile himself.
With all the madness that this forced stop may have brought to the world, it could also be of use to bring conciousness! This unimaginable condition can certainly lead us into reflection and analysis! The world is going down through the choices of mankind! Could't this be a time to get a purpose of heart?
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."2 Timothy 1:7
Daniel exercised the power of his will. He decided. When we make up our mind about something, determination kicks in and leads us in a certain direction. Our decisions have rewards and consequences, when we decide to exercise our will in accordance with God's will, all the powers of hell cannot stand against us.
So what does it mean to purpose in your heart? Obviously we are not speaking of the actual heart. It is common to use heart as a symbol or metaphor for the mind. That part of the mind where decisions are made so what is meant here is that Daniel made a firm and decisive decision.
We all have absolutes, things we have determined we will never do, lines we have determined never to cross. Of course we violate our absolutes at times but it’s still important to have them. Have you heard the saying that those who do not stand for something will fall for anything? We’re talking about having a firm foundation. Daniel’s firm foundation was in God and His commands and instructions. Do not think that Daniel suddenly decided this. He was obedient long before this. The reason Daniel “purposed in his heart” at this time was because he had already purposed in his heart previously. When the stress is on we tend to behave as we are conditioned to behave and Daniel was conditioned to behave in obedience.
I found it interesting that appetite was the first thing recorded, that Daniel faced. It was the first recorded thing that Adam & Eve faced and failed. They weren’t hungry by any means, but it was a simple test they failed. The first recorded temptation of Jesus was appetite. He was hungry, and yet he pushed his hunger aside, rather give in to Satans questioning his being the Son of God.
All this is to say that if we don’t give in on the seemingly simple things, we will have the strength for the bigger things, as the story of Daniel, throughout his life, showed.
In order to be able to stand in the day of testing, the "time of trouble such as never was", we must purpose in our hearts every day, moment by moment just like Daniel, to stand against evil in every form that it is presented by the sly old serpent. This can only be accomplished by mirroring our Lord's example - frequent, fervent prayer and study of the Word. This is total commitment and submission of our will to His. Thus, we are enabled to respond "get behind me Satan", "it is written". Spiritual blinders on we swerve not to the left not to the right. May the God of Daniel keep us faithful.
When our purpose is not to serve self, but to obey the Lord, purpose = surrender of the will.
Dared to be a Daniel- Dare to stand alone.
Daniel was not just an anybody, not just an ordinary young man. Daniel had many advantages that others did not possessed. How many people can we count that possessed those qualification of Daniel. The bible says, he that is given more, more is required of him.
How many people do we know that:
1. had no form of blemish.
2. well favored.
3. skillful in all wisdom.
4. cunning in knowledge.
5. understanding in science.
6. was from the royal linage.
It was those characteristics that allowed Daniel to stand in the King's palace.
In addition to his trust in God. Me trusting in God alone cannot allow me to do certain things in this world. Other factors God also works through, and works with.
Was reading and saw this-
Among those who maintained their allegiance to God were Daniel and his three companions—illustrious examples of what men may become who unite with the God of wisdom and power. From the comparative simplicity of their Jewish home, these youth of royal line were taken to the most magnificent of cities and into the court of the world's greatest monarch. Nebuchadnezzar “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 favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace....PK 480.1
God used Daniel and others who possessed the same characteristics to do a specific work.
Daniel took the position as King Neb was applying his assimilation program upon the captives of that nations he was conquering. To not defile himself meant Daniel was not going to repudiate his being not only a Jew, but a Jew dedicated to the true God. His meal of vegetables and water was that of "poverty." Daniel continued to identify with the Jewish people, even in their poverty, and with the true God. In this God was honored and He honored Daniel in the process.