Daniel 1-2
Today we are introduced to Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known, perhaps, by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who are exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon as young men, probably barely in their teens. From the outset, these young men cling to the God of heaven and refuse to be tainted by Babylonian practices, demonstrating a faith that is in stark contrast to the corruption of Judah.
King Nebuchadnezzar likewise stands in contrast to the leadership of Judah. Whereas those in Judah readily believe the false prophets, but refuse to believe Jeremiah (or any other true prophets), Nebuchadnezzar shows a healthy skepticism of all his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans and puts them to the test, demanding that they not only interpret his dream but tell him the dream, too. None rises to the challenge but Daniel, whom God empowers with an extraordinary revelation, giving both the dream and its interpretation. But the real punchline is how the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar responds. Back in Jerusalem, the priests of the LORD and all the people of Judah actively abuse Jeremiah and stifle his voice. Here in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar honors Daniel and promotes him and his friends to positions of leadership and power.
Is it not shocking that this pagan king displays more godliness here than all the priests in Jerusalem? What a rebuke this scene is to them! Of course, Nebuchadnezzar is only just beginning to encounter God. He is not yet to the point of conversion (as will be amply demonstrated tomorrow), but he still produces a better response than those who should know God quite well.
May we likewise be quick to recognize Truth and respond rightly to God!
One more thing…
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah…
Daniel 1:1
If you are paying attention and can do basic arithmetic, you should recognize that this verse places the beginning of Daniel’s exile in Babylon eight years prior to yesterday’s reading (that is, in 605 B.C.), which goes to say that our chronology here is mixed up. We should have read this passage days ago, before Jehoiakim’s burning of Jeremiah’s scroll. The editors of The Chronological Study Bible rationalize their choice of placing today’s reading here, but I think we’d all do better to believe the Scriptures (including Daniel 1:1; 2:1) as written, rather than the very fallible interpretations of some modern scholars.
The editors’ choices are not without serious implications. If we disregard Daniel 1:1 (as the editors do in their not-so-chronological placement of today’s reading), then we are given the impression that Jeremiah has virtually no concrete evidence of the Babylonian threat before 597 B.C. But if we believe Daniel 1:1, we have a very different picture. Jeremiah does indeed have very clear evidence: the exile of Daniel and many others and the carrying off of some of the Temple treasure in 605 B.C. Among other things, that makes Judah’s choice to continue to believe the false prophets all that more egregious.