Our greatest challenge is to live in this world and not be influenced under the tremendous pressure to be changed–to conform to it. Satan doesn't want us to succeed so he uses people to pressure us just because we want to live for the Lord. It was this way in Daniel's time and is for us now. He wants Christians to be shaken and pressure us to be like everybody else.
Daniel 1:1-8 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it….
And the king 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 favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the
king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three
years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he
drank…
Israel as a nation had backslid against God and the chastening of God allowed their captivity by Babylon (Persia). The king besieged the city of Jerusalem–a stand off so the people inside got discouraged. He separated Israel from their homeland and all that was familiar to them. Do you feel as if things work against you to hinder your coming to church and being a Christian. The world is right smack around you and wants to separate you from God. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to separate them from who they were.
At that time Persia ruled the civilized world. The king was smart and did nothing recklessly. He studied Israel carefully noticing their different character, the different religion and allegiance to Jehovah God. Yet they were a formidable people. He wanted to take Israel out of the heart of every Jew.
America is fast leaving the heart of Americans today. Many have separated themselves from church, the Bible, and away from their brothers and sisters in the Lord; they have put God out of their mind, heart and standards. This type of isolation was what the king wanted–to get them away from the heart of their country but not as slaves.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted no rebels, no prisoners. The Jews hung their harps on the willows and felt alone. The king instead made them an offer–he had a plan. He purposed in his heart to make Babylonians out of the people of Israel. Verse 3 shows a deliberate targeting of the Jews which continues into Verse 4. Take the children and wean them of their spiritual ways; just like he had removed them from Israel he wanted to change their religion to his and make them servants of Baal. Satan makes you feel like you can't pray; he makes fun of you; he puts you down.
The king wanted them to feel weak. He wanted to convert their "citizenship" to Babylon by making them feel he was offering them the chance of a lifetime–to be in the king's court, his palace, and serve under him. Remember Satan did this to Jesus. He took him to the pinnacle and offered him the world if he would worship him. To Satan we are inferior and should be ashamed to be a Christian. Nebuchadnezzar thought his first step into changing the Jews was to go through the children and indoctrinate them and make his knowledge their knowledge.
Do you find that people don't believe in Christianity and think it out of sync with the times? The world's priorities are pushed on us by the the anti-God, anti-Christian society. As long as Satan has our heart he doesn't mind us calling ourselves Christians; he wants to take the reality of serving God out of us. He knows our talents and abilities and as long as we use them for him we can still "be Christian."
The king used the children as a bridge to change and conform the nation of Israel. He chose them and they were to spend three years in training. He wanted them to feel he was giving them a better diet, and different drink–a better life. The devil holds out his stick of candy and makes it appealing saying change just a little bit; lay aside the old way. Make yourself more contemporary, in other words, more like the world. Contemporary so you can't tell it's a church. Contemporary by getting people to believe and say there is no hell, sin, or even a devil.
The king changed their location. He wanted to fill their minds and make them forget who they were. He wanted to change their philosophy into the philosophy of Babylon. He was saying you can have a different standard. The standards of the world are what Satan wants us to use. However in return Daniel and the three Hebrew children purposed in their hearts that the king would not get his way.
Study the extent Nebuchadnezzar went to make Babylonians of them and how they responded. How were they able to exist and maintain their lifestyle? Look up their names. Make a comparison. What did they do to outsmart the king of the world?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 