STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL

November 12, 2020

DANIEL AND HIS COMPANION. Dan. 1:1-21

They have changed their names, they cannot change their nature. Their environment has been changed, but they remained Jewish by nature. “Whatever they pleased to call them, they retained the spirit of an Israelite indeed.” M. Henry. God’s providence brought them to the palace of the king of Babylon to witness to the unity of God in the midst of universal idolatry Deut. 6:4, Is. 43:10-14 and to revel the only true God and His son Jesus Christ Jn. 17:3, to this Gentile world power as he did the with the exodus from Egypt.

  1. Dan. 1:8. “Daniel determined in his heart that he will not defiled himself by eating the king’s rich and dainty food or by drinking the wine which he drank….”
  2. The power of determination and choice. Gen. 11:6, Heb. 11:24-25, Ruth. 1:16-18, Act. 11:23, 1Cor. 7:37, 2Cor. 9:7. Other examples. Act. 4:19-20; 20:24, Neh. 2:19-20; 4:1-9; 6:1-11.
  3. ‘Will not defile himself’ Lev. 7:17-27, act. 10:10-16. “Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars.” Treasury of knowledge 
  4. Abstinence. Pro. 23: 1-2, 31; 31:4, Jer. 35:3-7. We are called to a life of:
  5.  Self-denial, 1Cor. 9:18-27, Matt. 16:24, Lk. 14;26-33, Matt. 10:28, Lk. 5:27-28
  6. Self-sacrifice. 2Cor. 12:13-18, Act. 21:10-13, Phil. 3:7-8, 2Tim.2:3-7, 10, 1Cor. 10:24, Matt. 19:20-22.
  7. To mortify our flesh. Rom. 6:6-7, Col. 3:5, 1Pet. 2:11; 4:1-4, Rom. 13:11-14.
  8. To put the body under. 2Cor. 11:27; 6:3, 5. This is through fasting often.
  9. To be temperate. Pro. 23:1-5, 6-8; 25:16, Dan. 10:1-3, Matt. 11:7-11, Rom. 12:16.
  10. We are running a race. 1Cor. 9:24, Heb. 12:1-3, 5-12, 2Tim. 2:1-7, Gal. 5:7-9, 2Tim 4:7-8. In running the race, lay aside all hindrances, focus on Jesus, despise not correction, follow peace and holiness, love not the world and learn from Esau among others.
  11. We should live a gospel life. Act. 20:18-20, 21-24, Tit. 2:11-14, Phil. 1:27, 1Thess. 2:1-20, 2Tim. 2:2-13, 20-21.