“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.”
~ Daniel 1:4
Hi James and Ellen,
What would you do if a guy or gal offered you a cigarette to smoke? What would you do if a guy or gal offered you a beer to drink? What would you do if a guy or gal offered you cocaine to snort or a marijuana joint to smoke? Your grandpaa used to smoke Marlboro cigarettes. Your grandmaa never smoked. Your grandpaa used to enjoy a cold Michelob beer. Your grandmaa does not like beer. Your grandmaa and grandpaa on rare occasions drank a mixed drink. Your grandpaa never snorted cocaine or smoked marijuana. When your grandmaa and grandpaa began attending the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, your grandmaa and grandpaa became convicted about drinking anything that had alcohol in it. Your grandmaa and grandpaa became convicted also about going to movie theaters to see movies and about watching too much TV. Your grandmaa and grandpaa got rid of their television. When your grandmaa and grandpaa about this time became convicted to memorize verses, your grandmaa made up two sets of index cards of one hundred verses to memorize. Your grandpaa though did not become convicted to quit smoking. At the time that Beneficial Finance asked your grandpaa to become the manager of their loan office that is in Aberdeen, your grandpaa smoked most of the time a pipe. When your grandpaa began suffering one day from a scratchy sore throat, your grandpaa – because he did not feel like smoking because of his throat, did not smoke. When your grandpaa’s sore throat went away, your grandpaa did not start up smoking again.
A deportation took place 2605 years ago. A deportation is when a guy or gal is taken against his or her will from one country to another country. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah grew up in the land of Judah. When Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army overran the land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were deported to Babylon. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were young guys. Daniel 1 recounts what happened after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah arrived in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to have some young guys who had once lived in the land of Judah plus some guys who were from royal families or from nobility brought to him. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were some of the young guys who had once lived in the land of Judah who were selected to be brought to Nebuchadnezzar. Guys who had once lived in the land of Judah were God’s specially chosen guys. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah after they were deported from the land of Judah to Babylonia essentially became slaves for Babylonian guys. Nebuchadnezzar wanted young guys selected who had certain qualifications. Verse 4 says, “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.” Ashpenaz – who was the chief of the court officials in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, gave Babylonian names to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Ashpenaz gave Daniel – whose name meant God is my Judge, the name Belteshazzer – which meant protect his life! Ashpenaz gave Hananiah – whose name meant the Lord shows grace, the name Shadrach – which probably meant in the command of Aku. Aku was the Sumerian moon-god. Ashpenaz gave Mishael – whose name meant Who is what God is, the name Meshach – which probably meant who is what Ahu is. Ashpenaz gave Azariah – whose name meant the Lord helps, the name Abednego – which meant servant of Nego or Nebo. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were committed to God. They wanted to always do what was right. When Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were asked to eat the same food that the king would eat and drink the same wine that the king would drink, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah asked if they could eat only vegetables and drink only water. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah did not want to eat any meat or food that had first been offered to an idol nor did they want to drink any wine that had first had some of the wine poured out on a pagan alter. The guard who was appointed by the chief official to keep an eye on Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, agreed to let the four guys eat only vegetables and drink only water for ten days. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah after ten days looked a lot healthier than every other guy who was in Nebuchadnezzar’s enculturation program. God blessed Daniel and the other three young guys with him with ten times more wisdom and understanding than any of the enchanters and magicians who could be found in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. God blessed Daniel and the other three young guys with him because they refused to compromise their trust and faith in God.
It can sometimes get problematic for a guy, gal or kid to hold to his or her beliefs. After your grandmaa and grandpaa decided not to drink anything with alcohol in it, your grandmaa and grandpaa went to a New Year’s Eve party at the house of your dad’s Uncle Craig and Aunt Crystal. Your dad Uncle Craig and Aunt Crystal were living in Aberdeen when your grandpaa was asked by Beneficial Finance to manage their loan office in Aberdeen. Your dad’s Uncle Hal and Aunt Katie were visiting your dad’s Uncle Craig and Aunt Crystal at this time. Your dad’s Uncle Craig and Aunt Crystal gave your dad’s Uncle Hal and Aunt Katie – and your grandmaa and grandpaa, a glass of wine right at midnight so that a toast could be made to the new year. Because your grandmaa and grandpaa had decided not to drink anything with alcohol in it . . . your grandmaa and grandpaa are praying that you will always pull a Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah by always saying no to smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs.
Daniel 1 (329)