Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 Four Hebrew youths were removed from

their homes against their wills Their loyalty to God & the Law of Moses

was challenged They didn’t have family to rely on All they had was themselves & each other

Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion

The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 Their courage together prepared them for

their respective “tests” later on The story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, &

Azariah in Dan 1 illustrates great faith It is the reason they each could do what

they did in Dan 3 and Dan 6


The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 Important Relevant Dates…

612 B.C. Ninevah falls to Babylon 606/605 B.C. Babylon defeats Egypt at

Carchemish


- Nebuchadnezzar chases Pharaoh Neco thru Judah


606/605 B.C. Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish


- While at Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar learns of the death of his father (Nabopolassar)




- Nebuchadnezzar races back to Babylon to claim the throne




- He takes some captives with him, including these 4 Hebrew youths 2 Kings 24

When the events of Dan 1 take place

The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 At Nebuchadnezzar’s Table Dan 1

Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem v. 1 He orders some Hebrews deported vv. 3-4

Good looking youths having no “defects” Showing intelligence (potential) for serving

in the king’s court



The goal make them Chaldean vv. 4-7 Teach them Chaldean language & literature Feed them Chaldean food off king’s table Give them Chaldean names At the end of 3 years, they would be ready



The goal make them Chaldean vv. 4-7 How would most “enterprising” young

people have responded? “What an opportunity!!” “To get ahead…you often must go along.”



The goal make them Chaldean vv. 4-7 How would most “enterprising” young

people have responded? In the absence of moral convictions, this

would have been an “easy decision”



Their convictions wouldn’t allow this v. 8a Even though only Daniel’s name is listed,

we know all 4 are involved vv. 10-20 The heart was “purposed”…the mind was

“made up”



Their convictions wouldn’t allow this v. 8a The concern was being “defiled” from

eating at Nebuchadnezzar’s table At risk had to have been the Law’s teaching

re: clean & unclean foods Lev 11 Deut 14



Daniel’s first response v. 8b Notice first he did not openly rebel He simply requested they be excused from

eating the Chaldean food No specifics given how this was to work



The commander’s reaction vv. 9-10 He was convinced if these 4 Hebrews did

not eat, they would show “ill effects” when compared to everyone else

Nebuchadnezzar would not be pleased



The commander’s reaction vv. 9-10 He wasn’t willing to “lose his head” just

because these Hebrews have convictions Besides, they’re captives with no rights They need to do what they are told



Daniel’s second response vv. 11-13 He did not quit…this is important

(a “made-up mind” won’t give up) Notice he is trying to find a way to satisfy

his duties while still being faithful to God



Daniel’s second response vv. 11-13 He speaks to someone else He proposed an “alternative” & a “test” “Test with water & vegetables for 10 days” “We place ourselves in your hands”



The overseer agreed v. 14 At the end of 10 days, they did better than

those eating from the king’s table v. 15 They continued to eat this way for the

duration of their training v. 16



God gave them knowledge & wisdom while all the rest were filled with Chaldean wisdom vv. 17, 4b

Lesson God blesses us when we seek His way FIRST Mt

6:33



At the end of the days ordered by the king, all the youths were presented v. 18

These 4 stood out as the best among all who entered the “training” v. 19

They received honor v. 20



Application Babylon tried to change these 4 Hebrews

by changing their names, diet, & education The one thing they couldn’t change was

their “heart” (mind)



Application Our culture is similar…it is always trying to

“change us” Rom 12:1-2 What can be accomplished when a child of

God “makes up his mind?”


The Story Of 4 Brave Men Dan 1, 3, 6 Before The Golden Image Dan 3

How much time since Dan 1? No way to know for certain We assume events in Dan 1 took place in

Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st year Events in Dan 2 were in his 2nd year v. 1



Septuagint states events in Dan 3 took place in Nebuchadnezzar’s 18th year v. 1

That cannot be positively proven We can say Dan 3 does in fact follow Dan 2…

3:12 makes reference to 2:49



It is also entirely likely Nebuchadnezzar’s officials in 3:8-12 complain about Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-nego out of envy re: their “promotion” in 2:49



Nebuchadnezzar gave a royal decree re: a statue he had built vv. 1-6 He made a statue 90 feet tall All his officials were told at the appointed

time to bow down and worship this image Failure to do so would mean instant death



The 3 Hebrews are “exposed” vv. 8-12 Chaldean officials came to the king and

reminded him of his edict re: the image They also told him Shadrach, Meshach, &

Abed-nego were not obeying the new law


Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

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