Daniel 1: Have You Got What It Takes?
HOW DID YOU feel when you first moved away from home and were launched out on your own? Daniel and his friends were torn from their land and taken to Babylon as young men. They were probably only twelve to fourteen years old. In Babylon they were placed in a three-year training program to prepare them to oversee Jewish affairs in the Babylonian Empire. A crisis of conscience erupted when the first meal was served.
Warming Up to God
In what way are you currently feeling pressured by culture? Talk openly with God about your struggles.
Read Daniel 1. »
Discovering the Word
- What specific tactics were used to give these young Jews a new Babylonian orientation (vv. 3-7)?
- Why were the food regulations of the Old Testament Law so important to Daniel (vv. 8-10)?
- Do you think he was making a big issue out of a minor problem? Explain.
- What steps did Daniel take to provide a creative alternative to the king's plan (vv. 11-14)?
- What factors combined to produce the exceptional ability of Daniel and his friends?
Applying the Word
- What criteria can Christians use today to determine which activities we will engage in and which we won't?
- What can we learn from Daniel's attitude and actions when our biblical convictions are challenged?
Responding in Prayer
Pray for refreshment and insight regarding the struggles you face.
For Further Study
Daniel by Joyce G. Baldwin