“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
“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of 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
“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
Daniel – God is my judge Belteshazzar – Bel will protect Hananiah – Yahweh has been gracious Shadrach – Inspired by Aku Mishael – Who is like God Meshach – Belonging to Aku Azariah – Yahweh has helped Abednego – Servant of Nego
Pressed into the mold of our modern Babylon
The mold of Babylon is a selfish rebellion against God
The mold of Babylon is a selfish rebellion against God Daniel 1:2 – “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 .” Genesis 11:1-2 – “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.”
The mold of Babylon is a selfish rebellion against God Genesis 11:4 – “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.’” Genesis 11:9 – “Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of the earth.”
The mold of Babylon is a selfish rebellion against God Daniel 4:30 – “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
It is Possible to Break the Mold Daniel 1:8 – “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.”
Where did Daniel and his friends get the resolve to resist the temptations of Babylon and stand with God?
Introducing Josiah He came from a wicked family • Grandpa – Manasseh • Dad - Amon
Josiah was made king at age 8 Josiah began to follow God with his whole heart at age 16 Josiah committed to rid his kingdom of all idolatry at age 20 Josiah committed to repair the damaged temple at 26 (622 BC)
The Book of the Law is found (622 BC) “Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Josiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 34:29-30
The Book of the Law is found (622 BC) “And the kind stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimony and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.” 2 Chronicles 34:31
The Book of the Law is found (622 BC) “Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all of the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.” 2 Chronicles 34:32-33
Josiah committed the nation to the word of God (622 BC) Daniel and his friends were born in the royal house (622 BC – 620 BC)
Where do young people get the resolve to resist the temptations of modern Babylon and stand with God? Family and Church committed to knowing and living God’s word Romans 12:2 –“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Where do young people get the resolve to resist the temptations of modern Babylon and stand with God? Our young people need exampled dedicated to God and His Word • At Home • At Church
Where do young people get the resolve to resist the temptations of modern Babylon and stand with God? Our young people need instructions in living the Word of God • At Home • At Church
Where do young people get the resolve to resist the temptations of modern Babylon and stand with God? Family and Church committed to knowing and living God’s word Romans 12:2 –“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
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