looking for daniel

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:3,4


- So Daniel is an Israelite, he is young, without any defect, of good appearance, well-educated. He must be able to learn the language of the Chaldeans.

- He doesn’t belong to ordinary people!

- He is a special one!

- We can say a chosen one!

- But he is not alone!

- He will also be chosen by God!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:5

- As he is going to be part of the Babylonian administration, he belongs to a privileged group with privileges (food and beverages).

- We can imagine that he is going to receive the best training!

- We can see the same today!

- So there is no big difference!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1: 6,7

- Imagine the situation: you are young and you go to live in a foreign country with different traditions and a different religion!

- Well, the four young men can count on each other but they must live among Babylonians so it is quite easy to be influenced!

- A strong will is necessary if you don’t want to be influenced and keep your own traditions!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:8

- Here we are only told about Daniel!

- Is he the one with the stronger mind and will?

- But he knows what he wants!

- It means he has received a good education!

- But it also means this education positively influences his heart and his mind!

- It is a good example for parents to think about!

- School is not going to educate your child!

- Television or the internet are not going to educate your child!

- The street is not going to educate your child!

- As parents you are the only one who can educate your child properly and if you don’t do it he will receive mainly negative influence!

- So be careful of other influences!

- When it’s too late it’s too late and you can only put the blame on you!

- Of course, if you do your best but it doesn’t work it is another story!

- What is important is to do what we have to do!

- And tell them about the Bible and God has a positive influence!

- But you must also be good examples!

- Don’t do like the Pharisees or the religious leaders!

- It doesn’t work!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:9

- Here we are: Yah.weh is with Daniel!

- Daniel is walking with Yah.weh and Yah.weh is taking care of Daniel!

- Quite different from the Israelites!

- Remember that with Yah.weh it is always a story between Yah.weh and a faithful man!

- It means you need to get closer to Yah.weh if you want him to get closer to you!

- It is all day long and all the time: it is a state of mind!

- Not once in a while or not when you need it: it doesn’t work!

- It is like drinking and eating and sleeping and breathing!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Dan 1:10

- If God plays his part, it also means we have to play ours!

- And we need to develop practical knowledge to be able to adapt to different situations!

- The Bible tells us about so many situations faithful servants of God had to cope with!

- Once again it shows that we need to study the Bible regularly and not from time to time!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1: 11-13

- Yes, practical knowledge!

- Think again: Daniel was young but he had practical knowledge!

- Thus it can be obtained while young when it is absolutely essential to lead a good life taking into account God’s principles!

- Then it can keep growing and growing and then transmitted to the next generations!

- And grandparents can also help a lot!

- Sadly we live in a world which doesn’t care about old people!

- What a waste!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:14-16


- So Daniel is right!

- They look better!

- Practical knowledge is efficient!

- Don’t forget it!

- It is not because the majority does it that it is the best!

- On the contrary!

- It is never good to follow trends or fashion!

- You may become a modern slave!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:17

- Thus the four youths are favored by God!

- But Daniel is more favored!

- It means he has something additional!

- Is it his faithfulness?

- His relationship with God?

- We have seen that he was the one who took the lead to preserve their traditions and faith!

- It is not by luck!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:18,19

- The time arrives when the youths are presented to the king and he finds the four youngsters to be the best!

- There we see the importance of giving a good education to our children!

- It also requires time to spend with them!

- And being able to communicate with them from their birth!

- You can’t let others do all the work!

- It doesn’t work!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1:20,21

- But they are not only better!

- They are ten times better!

- So it goes far beyond the normal system!

- Youngsters can learn a lot during this period of their lives!

- And teaching them about Yah.weh is essential!

- But a God with whom they can develop a personal relationship!

- It is quite different from what modern society does in general!

- It is also a reason why we are where we are!

- Once again, can you imagine the difference!

- Ten times better!

- It is unbelievable!

- No comparison is possible!

- Once again, it shows the importance of teaching our children about Yah.weh!

- When I say teaching about Yah.weh, it means really teaching!

- In such a way that they can think by themselves!

- In such a way that they can defend their faith!

- In such a way they can communicate with Yah.weh!

- In such a way they can develop a personal relationship to Yah.weh!

- Of course, it means hard work!

- But parents must show the way!

- Otherwise, it doesn’t work!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 1

- In this chapter we are told about 4 youngsters who are brought to a foreign country with a different culture and religion and everything!

- They are alone!

- Apparently, they don’t have their own family!

- And they show themselves exceptional!

- And they will keep going in the same direction!

- Thus once again it definitely shows the importance of a good education where the parents must be 100% active!

- And Yah.weh must be the cement!

- It is so different from today!

- It is so different from our modern society!

- The question is what is really the modern society!

- I can only see a regression!

- And the word regression is far from what reality is!

- When scientists speak about evolution, I would say the same but in the other direction!

- Modern society means superficiality!

- And learning about Yah.weh has nothing to do with that!

- On the contrary!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel


Daniel 2: 13,14

- “discreetly and cautiously”: Daniel is young but he is careful!

- He knows how to behave!

- And he is not afraid: he knows who he serves, that is Yah.weh who protects him!

- As usual he takes the lead of his companions!

- Once again, education is essential and the younger the better!

- When I say education, I am not speaking about school!

- I am speaking about home!

- I am speaking about parents!

- I am speaking about personal relationship with Yah.weh!

- It must be the basis on which to build the rest!

- I am speaking about solid foundations!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:15,16

- When Daniel learns about what is going on, he goes straight to the king!

- Once again he is not afraid!

- Once again he takes the lead!

- He does everything!

- We remember that the king could see by himself that Daniel and his companions are far better than the rest!

- Thus when Daniel goes to speak to the king, he pays attention to him and he gives him time!

- Once again, Yah.weh shows us the way!

- Once again, Yah.weh shows us the importance of education related to him!

- If Yah.weh doesn’t have a share in the education of our children, we can forget it!

- We can only have what we get today!

- Nothing!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel


Daniel 2

Daniel then goes to his house and informs his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter.

- It seems that Daniel is more reactive than his companions!

- Because he asks the officer of the king!

- Then he goes to the king and asks him to grant him time!

- And he finally informs his companions of the situation!

- He is a man of order and well organized!

- Thus we can imagine he is really efficient at his job!

- It is quite different from today’s way of doing things!

- Every verse tells us about Daniel’s specificity!

- He is unique!

- There is no one else like him!

- As a consequence, he is the example to follow!

- And as a young man, as an adult and as an old man!

- But is it possible to speak about Daniel as an old man!

- In the same way, can we speak about the faithful ones as old men?

- They all show the same mind regarding their God Yah.weh!

- They always keep straight in their boots!

- Yah.weh is their life buoy!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:18

Daniel asks his companions to pray to Yah.weh so Daniel can get the interpretation of the dream so Daniel and his companions and all the wise men of Babylon may be saved!

- That’s definitely interesting!

- Daniel is an able man!

- He is probably the best!

- He knows he has a good relationship with Yah.weh!

- But he doesn’t stop from asking the help of his companions by praying to Yah.weh!

- It is definitely exceptional!

- We can understand why he is called “precious man”!

- He is always reactive!

- He is a team player!

- He is always efficient!

- And all this comes from the beginning!

- It is completely different from today!

- Our modern society looks like an old man who is completely lost!

- And this old man is not reactive, he is not a team player, he is not efficient!

- What a regression!

- And they call it progress!

- Only old men who live in the past!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:19

- Daniel is also a “precious man” because he is humble!

- As soon as Yah.weh sends him a vision, he prays to thank him!

- He knows who he is and who Yah.weh is!

- May we remember this passage!

- HUMILITY!

- Mankind will never understand the value of this word!

- But it is as valuable as gold!

- But this dying world has no more value!

- Soon Yah.weh will bring back values in the new promised land!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel


Daniel 2:20-23

- As soon as Daniel is told about the king’s vision and its interpretation he prays to Yah.weh to thank him!

- He knows everything he has, it is because of Yah.weh!

- He speaks about Yah.weh’s wisdom and mightiness!

- He also mentions his companions!

- He never forgets anybody!

- He is precise!

- Every detail has its importance!

- He leaves nothing to chance!

- Once again, Daniel is an incredible example to follow!

- He has incredible faithfulness!

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:24

- Daniel goes to Arioch who is in charge of killing the wise men of Babylon!

- And he tells him not to kill the wise men!

- And he tells him to take him in before the king!

- And he will tell him the interpretation!

- Daniel knows he must act fast!

- It is a question of life or death!

- But he first took the time to thank Yah.weh!

- It is the most important thing to do for him!

- Then he goes directly to Arioch!

- Thus he shows he cares about all human lives!

- He doesn’t want anyone to be killed!

- Daniel gives the first place to Yah.weh!

- What about us?

 

[JLGJLG]

Looking for Daniel

Daniel 2:25-28

- Daniel first starts by saying that nobody was able to answer the king!

- Then he tells him there is only one who can do it!

- And it is Yah.weh!

- As we can see, as usual, Daniel explains carefully and with details that it is Yah.weh who can do it!

- He always highlights Yah.weh!

- He never speaks about himself!

- Where is Yah.weh today in our so-called modern society?