Then the king said for Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal seed and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good in appearance, showing insight in every branch of wisdom, being thoroughly knowledgeable and discerning knowledge, and who had ability to stand in the king's palace; and he said for him to teach them the literature and tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to stand before the king. Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Then the commander of the officials set names for them; and for Daniel he set the name Belteshazzar, for Hananiah Shadrach, for Mishael Meshach, and for Azariah Abed-nego" - Daniel 1: 1-7.
If we are reading and studying the Bible systematically, we have just completed the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel. The focus of the Holy Spirit-inspired prophets that God used to produce these holy words was the rebellion of God's old covenant children Israel. They also highlighted the sins of the nations that surrounded Israel. All of these nations had two major sins in common. They worshiped idols, sometimes even imagining themselves to be equal to or greater than God... "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you think you are as wise as a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor" - Ezekiel 28:6-7. They also turned their backs on Israel, rejoicing in Israel's suffering under the judgment of God... "For thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and were glad with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you, and I will give you for plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will know that I am Yahweh’” - Ezekiel 25:6-7. Living in the shadow of impending judgment must have been terrifying and difficult, but God promises to help those who are living a holy life in an unholy world.
In far too many ways, the words of these prophets reflect the heart of America today. No longer content to be one nation under God, we have elevated ourselves above God in redefining the value of life, the makeup of the family, and gender identification. More recently too many of us are abandoning Israel, rejoicing in her afflictions, and demonstrating approval of the violent attacks against her by radical terrorists. Behold... God has not changed, "For I, Yahweh, do not change" - Malachi 3:6a. Because we do not read His Word and our pulpits fail to rightly proclaim His Word, we are blind to His impending judgment... "And I will put My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed and My hand which I have placed on them" - Ezekiel 39:21.
But the very next book in the Holy Bible reveals hope along with instructions for how we are to live in the light of God's impending judgment. In the midst of His judgment and discipline of His children Israel, God delivered a young man named Daniel into the hands of His enemies, prepared Him to serve as His prophet to foreign kings as well as to the remnant of His children, and used him to encourage us today to be living a holy life in an unholy world.
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