Can you think of something the students said that you agreed with and one thing you were not sure about. For example, do you think it is possible to live an undivided life for Jesus on campus, at home and wherever you are?
Daniel and his friends were taken from their land and brought to Babylon as young men. They were probably only about twelve to fourteen years old. In Babylon they were put in a 3-year training programme (almost like university) to prepare them to oversee Jewish affairs in the Babylonian Empire. From the situation, it seems like it would be hard to remain a true witness in a foreign land.
Daniel and his friends were taken from their land and brought to Babylon as young men. They were probably only about twelve to fourteen years old. In Babylon they were put in a 3-year training programme (almost like university) to prepare them to oversee Jewish affairs in the Babylonian Empire. From the situation, it seems like it would be hard to remain a true witness in a foreign land.
Read
Daniel 1: 1-21
1.
Where were Daniel and his friends
from?
Where
were they taken? Why do you think they were taken?
If applicable: Where are
you from? Why did
you come to Hamilton?
Is campus life challenging you out of your comfort zone? Why or why not?
As a Tertiary Student, do you see yourself like the "treasure" of a kingdom? Why or why not?
Is campus life challenging you out of your comfort zone? Why or why not?
As a Tertiary Student, do you see yourself like the "treasure" of a kingdom? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think the king of Babylon picked Daniel. What were some of Daniel’s
attributes? (vv. 3-5) What attributes do you think helped you get into university? Name three or four.
3.
Daniel and his friends were given
new names (vv.6-7). Why do you think they consented to the name change?
i. The name Daniel (meaning God is my judge) was changed to Belteshazzar (meaning Bel’s prince).
ii. The name Hannaniah (meaning Beloved by the LORD) was changed to Shadrach (meaning Illumined by Sun-god).
iii. The name Mishael (meaning Who is as God) was changed to Meshach (meaning Who is like Venus).
iv. The name Azariah (meaning The LORD is my help) was changed to Abed-Nego (meaning Servant of Nego).
What are
some of the differences you have noticed between studying at home or in high school and in university? Why do you think Daniel and his friends did not object to studying Babylonian literature or having their names change?
4.
Why did Daniel choose not to eat
the royal food and wine? (vv. 8-9)
(Do you
think he is setting a precedent to be vegetarian and to not drink wine?)
What was
the outcome of this decision? (vv. 11-21)
* Daniel and his comrades seems to say that being a counterculture consisted of surprisingly small decisions—small acts of reorientation to remind them daily that in spite of their privileged status in the capital city of the world's most powerful empire, they belonged to another King and another kingdom.
5. Daniel
went through this Babylonian journey with his friends. They were to become a
support to each other through challenging times (2: 16-17).
You might
have come to Hamilton alone. But there will be challenging times ahead, and you’ll
need your own support group. How will you go about forming your own support
network (if you haven’t done so already)?
You might be from Hamilton, how could you continue to journey with Christian friends while you are on campus?
You might be from Hamilton, how could you continue to journey with Christian friends while you are on campus?
Closing:
Daniel 1
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Footnotes:
- Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
- Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.
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