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Daniel Chapter One:
Setting the Stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bryan Gibson -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tim Nichols I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety (Job 5:8-11). Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number (Job 9:10).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n But some pessimist might want to argue that his or her list of problems is equally long. When he compiles his list of problems he is always able to think of one more item to add. You would have a difficult time convincing him that his blessings outnumber his difficulties and it would be a lengthy debate. For every blessing he could find a problem. Both lists would, like the energizer bunny, keep going and going. Simply counting the number of items on the two lists may not be enough to bring relief to some who are dedicated to the proposition that problems are things to nurture while blessings are things to minimize. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Moses weighed the affliction that he suffered with the people of God and compared it with the reward that awaited him in heaven. He saw that the value of the eternal reward far outweighed the temporary affliction. He looked \u201cat others with their lands and gold\u201d and thought that Christ had promised him \u201cHis wealth untold.\u201d He realized that \u201cmoney cannot buy\u201d his \u201creward in heaven\u201d nor his \u201chome on high.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Would you trade your worst problems for your greatest blessings? Would you give up the promise of eternal life for the eradication of your temporary grief or pain? Would you exchange your life itself for the luxury of not having a flat tire?\u00a0 Would you give up the love of your family in exchange for a day without disrespect or unkindness from others? For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n — Via The Auburn Beacon,<\/em> Volume 1, Issue 6, December 6, 2009 -3-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yodh 1) Hear\u00a0<\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
That\u2019s what Daniel chapter 1 does\u2014it sets the stage for the rest of the book, and we can see that from looking at several verses in this first chapter.
\u201cAnd the Lord gave<\/strong> Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand\u2026\u201d (1:2). The various kings mentioned throughout this book\u2014whatever these kings had was given to them by God, and were therefore accountable to Him. That point will be emphasized throughout the book (for one example, see 2:37-38).
According to 1:2, King Nebuchadnezzar carried vessels from the house of God into the house of his god<\/strong>. This sets up the account in chapter 5, when King Belshazzar drank wine from these vessels while praising other gods. See Daniel 5:23 for the strong rebuke given to him by Daniel.
\u201cDaniel had understanding in all visions and dreams<\/strong>\u201d (1:17), a gift clearly given to him by God. Daniel will later interpret dreams for Nebuchadnezzar in chapters 2 and 4, and the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar in chapter 5. In the latter half of the book, Daniel will receive four visions, one in chapter 7, another in chapter 8, yet another in chapter 9, and then one final long vision in chapters 10-12.
\u201cTherefore they (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) served before the king<\/strong>\u201d (1:19). Not just before the king, but in very influential roles before the king. Others were interviewed for this role, but \u201camong them all none was found\u201d like these four men (1:19); in fact, the king \u201cfound them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm\u201d (1:20). Clearly God was blessing them (1:17), which helps explain how all four later receive promotions from the king (2:48-49; 3:30). You wouldn\u2019t expect people who defy certain orders from the king (chapters 1, 3) to be promoted, but that\u2019s exactly what happened. And the passage cited above (2:48) won\u2019t be the last time Daniel is promoted (5:29-6:3). Greater opportunities were given them before the king because they were faithful to THE KING.
\u201cThus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus<\/strong>\u201d (1:21). Daniel actually continued beyond Cyrus\u2019 first year, because Daniel received a vision \u201cin the third year<\/strong> of Cyrus the king of Persia\u201d (10:1). But there is something very significant about the first year of Cyrus\u2019 reign\u2014this is when He issued the decree for the captives to return and rebuild the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). Daniel lived to see the deliverance of His people from captivity! That is likely the reason the first year is emphasized in 1:21. Daniel served under Nebuchadnezzar (chs. 1-4), then Belshazzar (ch. 5), and when the Babylonian kingdom was \u201cgiven to the Medes and Persians\u201d (5:28), he served under Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian (ch. 6). This transition from one kingdom to another\u2014that\u2019s exactly what Daniel prophesied in chapter 2, and he lived it to see it.
Another prominent theme introduced in chapter 1 is God\u2019s care for His people<\/strong>, as seen in His care for Daniel and his companions (the gifts\/abilities He gave them\u20141:17; the favor and goodwill He gave them before others\u20141:9; the way He blessed them through the ten days of testing\u20141:14-16). Other examples will be revealed in the rest of the book, the most notable being when He delivered Daniel\u2019s three companions from the fiery furnace (ch. 3), and Daniel from the lions\u2019 den (ch. 6).
Need a good preview or introduction to the Book of Daniel? Read the first chapter. It doesn\u2019t tell us everything to come, but it\u2019s a good start.
— Via the Weekly Bulletin<\/em> of the Prattmont church of Christ, August 2, 2026
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCount Your Many Blessings — Then Weigh Them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The old suggestion that you count your blessings in the midst of difficult times is a good one. Any realistic person who will sit down and begin to number his or her blessings will soon discover that they are many. In fact, one might discover that they are so numerous that it is virtually impossible to literally \u201cname them one by one.\u201d Even after the list is very long and we think we’ve made the last entry we realize that we’ve left something out. Job encountered this \u201cproblem\u201d when he attempted to make the count while he was in the midst of great distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
It would be a helpful thing if we could discipline ourselves to compare our problems with our blessings and to assign some relative weight to each when compared with the other. If we would make a short list of our greatest blessings and compare them with our short list of worst problems we would soon find that our blessings far outweigh our problems. Paul was reckoning correctly and by inspiration when he measured the relative weight of the two:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Would you trade (fill in the blank with any of your greatest blessings) ____________________________________ for the removal of (fill in the blank with any of your worst problems) ____________________________?\u00a0 No, you would not. Your blessings always outweigh your problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nPsalm 119:73-80<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
73<\/sup>Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
74<\/sup>May those who fear You see me and rejoice, for I have hoped in Your word.
75<\/sup>I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76<\/sup>May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, according to Your promise to Your servant.
77<\/sup>May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
78<\/sup>May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts.
79<\/sup>May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
80<\/sup>May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
— Berean Study Bible
______________<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2) Believe\u00a0<\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent\u00a0<\/strong>of sins.\u00a0 For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).\u00a0 For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith\u00a0<\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized\u00a0<\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).\u00a0 This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).\u00a0 For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday:<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n