Notes:
Notice paragraph 29 and the subtle "we are not prophets" CYA move.
*** dp chap. 3 Tested—But True to Jehovah! ***
INSIGHT AND WISDOM IN PLACE OF DELICACIES AND WINE
27 The ten days were just a test, but the results were most convincing. “So the guardian kept on taking away their delicacies and their drinking wine and giving them vegetables.” (Daniel 1:16) It is not difficult to imagine what the other youths in the training program thought of Daniel and his companions. Turning down a king’s feast for vegetables every day must have seemed very foolish to them. But great tests and trials were looming on the horizon, and these would call for all the alertness and sobriety the young Hebrews could muster. Above all, it was their faith and trust in Jehovah that would see them through their tests of faith.—Compare Joshua 1:7.
28 Evidence that Jehovah was with these young people can be seen in what is next said: “As for these children, the four of them, to them the true God gave knowledge and insight in all writing and wisdom; and Daniel himself had understanding in all sorts of visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17) To deal with the difficult times that were coming, they needed more than physical strength and good health. “When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way.” (Proverbs 2:10-12) That was precisely what Jehovah bestowed upon the four faithful youths to equip them for what lay ahead.
29 It is stated that Daniel “had understanding in all sorts of visions and dreams.” This is not in the sense that he had become a psychic. Interestingly, though Daniel is regarded as one of the great Hebrew prophets, he was never inspired to utter such declarations as “this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said” or “this is what Jehovah of armies has said.” (Isaiah 28:16; Jeremiah 6:9) Yet, it was only under the guidance of God’s holy spirit that Daniel was able to understand and interpret visions and dreams that revealed Jehovah’s purpose.
FINALLY, THE CRUCIAL TEST
30 The three years of reeducation and grooming ended. Next came the crucial test—a personal interview with the king. “At the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, the principal court official also proceeded to bring them in before Nebuchadnezzar.” (Daniel 1:18) It was time for the four youths to render an account of themselves. Would sticking to Jehovah’s laws rather than giving in to Babylonian ways prove beneficial for them?
31 “The king began to speak with them, and out of them all no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; and they continued to stand before the king.” (Daniel 1:19) What a complete vindication of their course of action for the preceding three years! It had been no madness on their part to stick to a regimen dictated by their faith and conscience. By being faithful in what might have seemed to be least, Daniel and his friends were blessed with greater things. The privilege “to stand before the king” was the objective sought by all the young people in the training program. Whether the four Hebrew youths were the only ones selected, the Bible does not say. In any case, their faithful course did indeed bring them “a large reward.”—Psalm 19:11.
32 “Have you beheld a man skillful in his work? Before kings is where he will station himself,” say the Scriptures. (Proverbs 22:29) Thus, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were chosen by Nebuchadnezzar to stand before the king, that is, to be a part of the royal court. In all of this, we can see Jehovah’s hand maneuvering matters so that through these young men—especially through Daniel—important aspects of the divine purpose would be made known. Though being selected to be a part of Nebuchadnezzar’s royal court was an honor, it was a far greater honor to be used in such a marvelous way by the Universal King, Jehovah.
33 Nebuchadnezzar soon found out that the wisdom and insight Jehovah had granted the four Hebrew youths was far superior to that possessed by all the counselors and wise men in his court. “As regards every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired about from them, he even got to find them ten times better than all the magic-practicing priests and the conjurers that were in all his royal realm.” (Daniel 1:20) How could it be otherwise? The “magic-practicing priests” and “conjurers” relied on the mundane and superstitious learning of Babylon, whereas Daniel and his friends put their trust in wisdom from above. There simply could be no comparison—no contest!
34 Things really have not changed much down through the ages. In the first century C.E., when Greek philosophy and Roman law were in vogue, the apostle Paul was inspired to write: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their own cunning.’ And again: ‘Jehovah knows that the reasonings of the wise men are futile.’ Hence let no one be boasting in men.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-21) Today, we need to hold firmly to what Jehovah has taught us and not be easily swayed by the glamour and glitter of the world.—1 John 2:15-17.
FAITHFUL TO THE END
35 The strong faith of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is dramatically illustrated in Daniel chapter 3, in connection with Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image on the plain of Dura and the test of the fiery furnace. These God-fearing Hebrews unquestionably remained faithful to Jehovah till their death. We know this because the apostle Paul undoubtedly alluded to them when he wrote about those “who through faith . . . stayed the force of fire.” (Hebrews 11:33, 34) They are outstanding examples for servants of Jehovah, young and old.
36 As for Daniel, the closing verse of chapter 1 says: “Daniel continued on until the first year of Cyrus the king.” History reveals that Cyrus overthrew Babylon in one night, in 539 B.C.E. Evidently owing to his reputation and stature, Daniel continued to serve in the court of Cyrus. In fact, Daniel 10:1 tells us that “in the third year of Cyrus the king of Persia,” Jehovah revealed a noteworthy matter to Daniel. If he was a teenager when he was brought to Babylon in 617 B.C.E., he would have been nearly 100 years old when he received that final vision. What a long and blessed career of faithful service to Jehovah!
37 The opening chapter of the book of Daniel tells more than a story of four faithful young people successfully meeting tests of faith. It shows us how Jehovah can use whomever he wishes to accomplish his purpose. The account proves that if permitted by Jehovah, what might seem to be a calamity can serve a useful purpose. And it tells us that faithfulness in little things brings a large reward.
WHAT DID YOU DISCERN?
· What can be said about the background of Daniel and his three young friends?
· How was the fine upbringing of the four Hebrew youths put to the test in Babylon?
· How did Jehovah reward the four Hebrews for their courageous stand?
· What lessons can Jehovah’s present-day servants learn from Daniel and his three companions?
[Study Questions]
27, 28. In what ways was the regimen to which Daniel and his three friends submitted themselves a preparation for greater things ahead?
29. Why was Daniel able to ‘understand all sorts of visions and dreams’?
30, 31. How did the course chosen by Daniel and his companions prove beneficial for them?
32. Why can it be said that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah enjoyed a privilege greater than being in the king’s court?
33, 34. (a) Why was the king impressed by the young Hebrews? (b) What lesson can we draw from the experience of the four Hebrews?
35. How much are we told about Daniel’s three companions?
36. What outstanding career did Daniel have?
37. What lessons can we draw from considering Daniel chapter 1?
