Summer Reading: Daniel, chapters 1-2

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon


Chapter 1 sets the stage for these stories. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (now Iraq) was one of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world. He invaded Judah (now southern Israel) in 605 bce, destroying Jerusalem and the temple in 587 bce, and forced as many as 10,000 Jews to exile, scattering them across Babylon.[1] Members of the nobility and others with political power, highly educated and strategic, were primary targets for deportation, to prevent any uprising within Jerusalem, or gatherings that might become militia in other parts of Babylon (thus the scattering). Daniel and 3 friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (whom we know better as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, their Aramaic names) were among the young men taken captive to be groomed as servants for the king.
We see throughout this chapter that God is the subject of many verbs. It is God who orchestrates the activity, from the overthrow of Jerusalem to the selection of Daniel and his friends for the king’s service. God gives Daniel what he needs to succeed—in chapter two that includes saving the lives of all the wise men (collectively called “Chaldeans”) in Babylon.
Remember that Judaism was the first major monotheistic religion, which took some time to establish itself. We see evidence in this book of other religious systems, other gods worshiped, including the king and a statue made in his image (chapter 3). Nebuchadnezzar is often impressed with Daniel and friends, their devoted loyalty to their God, and with God, honoring and commanding respect for “Daniel’s God”. This does not mean he is converted, however; only that he is impressed and deems God worthy of honor.
Daniel and friends refuse the king's rations, 1:8

As we saw in Esther, hyperbole is employed for a good story. The king is extreme, ordering the death of ALL the wise men; refusing to tell the content of his dream; later he will be manipulated in much the same way King Ahasuerus was in Esther. This is another series of stories set in the Persian period, and there are similarities with Esther; but these are about 4 people, primarily, and their relationship to God while in exile. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are set before us as examples of extreme faith, trusting that God is present and will act, regardless of what that means for their own well-being in the meantime. Daniel wastes no opportunity in giving the credit to God for the success of Babylon and his own capacity to know what he knows.

Some questions:
·       In what ways does God control/influence/direct your life?
·       Does having a significant, verifiable, powerful figure from history (Nebuchadnezzar) change the way you think about this being a religious story?
·       Have you ever had to live apart from your own religious tradition (maybe not very many churches of your denomination nearby)? How did you practice your faith in a new setting?

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