Daniel 1
The book of the prophet Daniel is closely linked in time and otherwise with the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah was at Jerusalem, testifying for God until the end of the kingdom of Judah, while Ezekiel was being given the equally important communications of God which occupy the book we have just examined, and while Daniel, taken to Babylon? years before Ezekiel, was being used as a witness for God in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, the youngest, evidently long outlived the others.
The subjects of the prophecies differ; it may suffice here to remark that while Ezekiel passes over the many centuries of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:2121Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (Luke 21:21)) to tell of the day of Israel’s coming revival, Daniel is largely concerned with those times, and looks no further than the dawn of that day of Israel’s glory.
Light on the scope of the four “major” prophets (so called because of the length of their prophecies) is reflected in the meaning of their names: Isaiah, “Salvation of Jah” one of the names of God); Jeremiah, “Jah is exalted” (or so it is believed, is the meaning of his name); Ezekiel, “Strength of God”; Daniel, “God is judge.”
The book of Daniel begins at the year 606 B.C. which included parts of the third and fourth years of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, when Jeremiah prophesied concerning the seventy years of captivity which lasted until 536 B. C. (See Jeremiah 25:1212And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. (Jeremiah 25:12); Daniel 9:22In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:2)).
It was then, among the first spoils of Nebuchadnezzar, idol-worshiping head of the first Gentile empire God permitted to rise when Israel had fulfilled a course to His dishonor, that Daniel and other youths were carried off to Babylon.
Daniel does not speak of his father’s house, but it is evident front verses 3 and 4 that if not of the royal family, he was a son of one of the princes or nobles of Judah. We may with profit compare the experiences of three youths of Scripture in foreign lands, faithful to their God in difficult circumstances: Joseph (Genesis chapters 39-41); Moses (Exodus 2, Hebrews 11:24-2724By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24‑27)), and Daniel, as we find him in this book.
Daniel (verse 8) purposed in his heart that he would not touch the food of the idolatrous king; he would live in true separation of heart to God, notwithstanding the orders of the king, and the changing of his name to Belteshazzar (“according to the name of my god” as Nebuchadnezzar said of it, chapter 4:8;—Bel is “the keeper of secrets” is believed to be the meaning, Bel being one of the Babylonian gods).
Among the youths taken away by the conqueror were three others of like mind with Daniel; of the rest we learn nothing in chapter one or thereafter.
God honored the faith of Daniel, and the other three (verses 9, 17, 19, 20) and gave them not only favor in the sight of the king and his servants, but knowledge and skill in all learning-and wisdom.
ML 05/17/1936