Part 1: Hope In A Hostile World

DANIEL – PART 1

Daniel 1:1-17

“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And 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.”

Daniel 1:1-2 (ESV)

“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths 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.”

Daniel 1:3-4 (ESV)

“The 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. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And 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.”

Daniel 1:5-7 (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 1:8 (ESV)

“At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.  So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.”

Daniel 1:15-16 (NLT)

“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.”

Daniel 1:17 (ESV)

“After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!’”

Revelation 18:1-2a (ESV)

WHAT HELPS YOU THRIVE FOR GOD:

1.   HOPE

• Even now, God is in control.

• Panic and despair are not from God. 

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

2.   HUMILITY

“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV)

• Humility=Responding how God would want us to.  

3.   WISDOM

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom…”

Proverbs 3:5-7a (NLT)

• Shine God’s light for all to see.

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS TO:

• Realize panic, fear and despair are not from God.

• Trust that even now, God is in control.

• Ask God for wisdom and humility so I can shine God’s light in my life and with my family.

• Take a #HopeRises action this week.

Bible App Instructions:

• Use the YouVersion® Bible App to read or listen to Chapter 1 of Daniel this week.