Lesson 11 for the 13th of September, 2008

For God established a For God established a testimony in Jacob, and testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in appointed a law in Israel, which He Israel, which He commanded our commanded our fathers, that they fathers, that they should make them should make them known to their children; known to their children; that the generation to that the generation to come might know them, come might know them, even the children which even the children which should be born; who should be born; who should arise and should arise and declare them to their declare them to their children: That they children: That they might set their hope in might set their hope in God, and not forget the God, and not forget the works of God, but keep works of God, but keep his commandmentshis commandments

Psalms, 78: 5-7

How do the names of these young men show How do the names of these young men show the faith that their parents hadthe faith that their parents had??

Alone and far from their parent’s influence, in Babylon, these young men decided to live according to the faith they had received

1. Obedience to the Torah (not to defile himself)[Daniel 1]

2. Leave their problems in God’s hands [Daniel 2]

3. Obedience to the Ten Commandments [Daniel 3]

4. Habit of praying continually [Daniel 6]

What principles held sway in the lifes of these four young men?

“But he resolved NOT TO DEFILE HIMSELF”(Daniel, 1: 8)

Not to corrupt themselfs with Babylonian literature

To reject the idolatry that it contained

To accept and to learn the right knowledge

Not to defile themself with the king’s food

To accept the change of their names Ø

Their principle of obedience to the Torah led them to make these decisions:

As missionaries in a pagan land, which message did they transmit with their example to Melzar, to Nebuchadnezzar and

to everyone who mixed with them?

Melzar learnt the goodness of the diet ordered by God

Nebuchadnezzar found them ten times better than the rest of their workmates

“There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries”Daniel, 2: 28

Their principle of leaving their problems in God’s hands led them to entrust Him the solution of the king’s mystery in order to save their lives

As missionaries in a pagan

land, how did God open a

way to these young men so

they could have more

opportunities to testify?

When Daniel interpreted miraculously the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was led to postrate himself before the real God, “who reveals mysteries” and to promote Daniel and his fellows to higher positions, where they could testify God more widely

“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his… I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee; for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter”

Daniel, 2: 20-23

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” Exodus, 20: 4-5

Their pinciple of obedience to the Ten Commandments led them to make the decision of not to bow down to the image of gold

As missionaries in a pagan land, which message did they transmit

with their example to Nebuchadnezzar and to the princes,

the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the

counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces?

Nebuchadnezzar blessed the God who protected the faithful Nebuchadnezzar blessed the God who protected the faithful young men and made a decree against everyone who would young men and made a decree against everyone who would

blaspheme the name of the God of the Hebrewsblaspheme the name of the God of the Hebrews

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort”

Daniel, 3: 28-29

The rest of the presents brang to their homes this story of faith, so

the name of God was proclaimed throughout the

Babylonian empire

“He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime”Daniel, 6: 10

His principle of praying

continually led him to

make the strong decision

of continue with it

despite the king’s decree

As missionary in a pagan land, which message Did Daniel transmit to the

king with his habit of praying, that was widespread throughout the Medo-

persian empire?

The king, who learnt of God through Daniel, reaffirmed his faith and enacted an

edict praising the real God

“That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions”

Daniel, 6: 26-27

1. Obedience to the Torah (not to defile himself)[Daniel 1]

2. Leave your problems in God’s hands [Daniel 2]

3. Obedience to the Ten Commandments [Daniel 3]

4. Habit of praying continually [Daniel 6]

What principles held sway in your life?