His name means “God is my Judge”, and Daniel lived at the same time as Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Indeed, Ezekiel refers to Daniel (cf. Ezek 14:14, 20; 28:3). Incidentally, Jesus also referred to him (Mt. 24:15).

He and his three compatriots, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were forced into exile in 605 b.c. when Nebuchadnezzar descended for the first time upon Jehoiakim’s kingdom of Judah (Dan. 1:1).

Apparently, he was of royal seed, when we take into consideration the privileges he enjoyed in Babylon.

His writings bear testimony to his biography, the history of the nation at that time, and prophecy relating to their future.

Let’s spend time in looking into this for it doesn’t just start during the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah.

Yes, it was during his reign in 605 BC that Daniel was carried off, and Jerusalem had been threatened repeatedly by the Assyrians,

	In 597 b.c., King Jehoiachin, the royal family, and the young priest Ezekiel, together with the treasures of the temple, were deported.
	Then, 586 b.c. was an important year in the life the nation of Israel because that was when the temple was destroyed and the nation ceased to have a land of their own.

But, really, the background to the Book of Daniel started long before that.

Is. 10:5 gives us a clue to that background, O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

Just a few verses later, v.25, and you find the word again that God uses to describe this period, For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

What is ‘indignation’? … righteous anger. When God’s Word uses this term it means something very specific and very important.

What it means is this: the exile was a period during which the wrath of God, - God’s righteous anger, - was brought to bear upon His people.

When the nation of Israel had been founded it had been established as a theocracy (where God was the Ruler and the only Authority).

Moses had been given God’s law, - not a law set out by a parliament of leaders, but God’s law, - and he clearly warned the people as to the consequences of disobedience to that law, i.e. sin and apostasy (spiritually falling away), Dt. 31: 17 Then my anger (i.e. righteous anger, indignation) shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

This warning was given over and over again and enlarged upon and repeated by the prophets.

These prophets were men called of God and who spoke basing their messages upon His Law, His Word, - they were faithful to the Word.

The proof of a man’s authenticity as a prophet was that he spoke in on the basis of the law, Is. 8:20 if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Moses and these prophets warned the people as to the consequences of their sin.

What was the outcome? The people constantly fell into rebellion against the Lord.

Despite the goodness of God time and time again, they forsook Him and chased after other gods.

	They dethroned God in order to be like the rest of the nations and have their own earthly king.
	They put into place men as priests who had no knowledge of God.
	Their activities ended up dividing their nation until they called out, I Kgs. 12:16b What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
	Under the leadership of Jeroboam the ten tribes renounced the Lord and left Rehoboam and Mount Zion to worship on Mount Gerizim, - they went their own way and set up their own form of religion, contrary to the way God had instructed them.

It was also the case that the two tribes that remained faithful to Judah often fell into idolatry and sin.

Things were so bad that the God Who said to Malachi, 2:16 the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away was the same God that spoke to Jeremiah, 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

You see how bad it had become! This is part of the background to the Book of Daniel. Look what Israel forfeited …

They were the chosen nation of God, Dt. 7: 6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8  But because the LORD loved you, … 9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

God had delivered them out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, settled them in the land of Canaan, made kings to reign over them, brought them victory in battle … and how did they repay Him …?!

They had set aside the covenant that God had made with them … the covenant that was binding, and that demanded their obedience. They were a people blessed more than any other people on the face of the earth.

Their nation was a nation under God! … God had brought them aside as His own. He loved them like He loved no other. Dt. 32:10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. He cared for them. He watched over them with tenderness and mercy, and when they committed spiritual adultery after other gods … it broke His heart,

	Can’t you hear Him, Hos. 14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
	I Sam. 7:3 Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only.
	Is. 55: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

When Israel was carried off into exile it brought to an end their independent existence as a nation under the rule of God; God handed them over because of His terrible – but righteous – indignation.

They had disobeyed the Word of God as set out before Moses and the prophets, and God says, Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

You see, this is the background to the background of the Book of Daniel.

This was why God, in His Sovereign will and purpose, allowed Nebuchadnezzar to come in to Jerusalem, to carry off its inhabitants, and to raze the city to the ground.

This was why Daniel, a faithful young man of God, was brought a prisoner before the King of Babylon.

It was because the judgement of God had fallen upon the apostate people of Israel who had been so blessed by God.

Had they remained true and faithful to God’s Word they would not have been in the captivity in Babylon.

This was the time of God’s Indignation, when He handed His people over in judgement to a pagan king.

So that is the reason Daniel and his friends were in Babylon.

The author of the book, the background to the book …

In our study of God’s Word we want to learn and make it practical; Paul told Timothy, II Tim. 2: 15  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth for it 3:16 is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

That is the purpose of our study of this book. Daniel has much to teach us.

The background to his book is so important when we look round us today.

Many who put up to belong to God are like the old Israelites …

	They have no problem worshipping along with exponents of the other gods, - we saw it in St. Giles yesterday, in St. Paul’s, in New York.
	They have gone away from God and His Word and substituted it with the words and politics of men.
	The horror of the 9/11 massacre hasn’t caused the world to repent, - it has drawn it further into its own apostate religion!
	The nation has turned its back upon God and only uses Him when it suits them.

How the heart of God must once again be breaking!

He is the all-knowing and all-seeing God, and He hasn’t changed and neither have His ways.

	He is still pure and perfect and prepared to accept nothing less than holiness and separateness from His people.
	He makes no excuses for sin, even in the life of His people.

As we look at this book, it’s important we are able to understand its background and why the children of Israel were in captivity.

It is nothing but the grace of God that keeps us in these days from Him unleashing His righteous indignation because look at how we in the modern church have failed Him, we have ignored His Word, we have cheated on His commandments, we have turned from His ways.

“Och, how can you say that? You’re drawing too dark a picture!” No, I’m not.

	Christianity today, in many places, bears no resemblance to the Christianity of the Bible,
	The “Jesus” that many preach and talk about today is not the precious Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible,
	The evangelism presented in many places today doesn’t call out for repentance and turning in tears to the Saviour,
	He is held up not as the only Means of salvation, but simply one of many,
	The church nowadays is not a people separate from the world but a pathetic body of people who are courting the world’s agenda in every way they possibly can,
	Christian doctrine has been transformed into forms of belief that are non-obtrusive and non-threatening to whatever standards the modern Christian wishes to choose,
	Christian ‘worship’ is little more than entertainment and all geared towards the ‘worshipper’ and not to the God they ought to be worshipping,
	The Bible, His most precious Word that He has gifted to us and so great a price of the lives of many men and women, has been declared as being so full of errors that it needs to be constantly revised … because the old Book is completely untrustworthy.

Do you see the similarities to the background of the book of Daniel?

And do you see how God was not prepared to sit back and see His Name mocked and scoffed and treated with derision?

We soon shall be coming to prayer, what is God saying to us through His Word? The prophets cried out to the people to return to the Lord … isn’t that what we ought to be praying for!

Ought we not to be praying for the church, …

	Those in our church membership who show no signs or evidences of God’s saving grace in their lives,
	Don’t we need to pray for ourselves, that God would keep His hedge of protection round us so we would not stray,
	We need to pray for the Baptist Union that we would return again to the ways of God instead of currying favour with idol-worshippers and the enemies of God,
	Don’t we need to pray that God would bring His people back again unto Himself; He has promised If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Here is where the dual purpose of our meeting tonight comes together: we are studying God’s Word, and God’s Word is clearly showing God’s people their need to become before the Throne in prayer … and they need to stay beside the Throne and not wander away.

This book has many lessons to teach us, … I trust we are willing to be taught.

One day, Nebuchadnezzar had a brilliant idea,

“I’m going to use the fantastic river of resources around me.”

He decided to invite a special type of Israelite person (vv.4,5):

	young men in whom was no blemish,
	young men who were well favoured (i.e. from good stock)
	young men who were skilful in all wisdom,
	young men who were cunning in knowledge,
	young men who could understand the science of the day,
	young men in whom the king would be proud to have stand around him in his palace
	young men who would be taught and who would appreciate the literature and the language of the Babylonians.

In return these young people were permitted certain privileges,

	they could eat the same food that the king was eating,
	they were also allowed to drink the same wine that he drank.

We also discover that Daniel was given a name-change,

Daniel [‘God is judge’] to Belteshazzar, [‘protect the king's life’]

Now, it is important to notice something here; it is important to notice the words of Isaiah 39:7

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

In other words, God had it all planned out!

The reason for Daniel’s name-change, etc. was very simple,

He was being given all the privileges to make him forget all about his country, his countrymen, and his country’s God.

But even though he managed to change his name, Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t change Daniel’s nature,

Daniel would not give up anything he believed to be right,

… he would not compromise the uncompromiseable.

He “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank”

Oh, … that we had more Daniels!

	he was not prepared to sell his soul to fraternising with the enemy, - who had carried him off into captivity,
	he was not prepared to compromise himself when his people went hungry while he could live life to the full.

So many Christians today will sit down and “eat meat” with the enemies of Christ, - even those dressed up in religious garb!

These same Christians drink “the wine” and “get drunk” and you know what happens when you get drunk,

	You don’t pay appropriate attention,
	You’re not as careful as you would be normally,
	You try to be ‘one of the lads’.

Many Christians today like to put their foot down on turfy, easy, soft ground instead of the proven solid redemption ground.

They are many ‘man-pleasers’ … but never does a ‘man-pleaser’  make a good Christian!

C.H. Spurgeon prayed for his great congregation,

“May God give us back the old grit that used to be in old-fashioned Christians, to whom custom was nothing, but God’s Word was everything; to whom it mattered not whether it brought loss or gain, but they did the right, and followed the right, cost what it may!”

Never aim low; aim high!

As a young person, or a young Christian, or starting out in a new venture make sure to have a good beginning,

The decisions that we make over these next weeks and months may effect the lives of many in years to come, and – please God! – we pray that they may effect the lives of many for eternity.

If God begins with you and you begin with God, you will be used and mightily blessed by God.

When you stand up for God, you soon discover that the enemy throws all types of missiles at you.

“Here, Daniel, drink the wine from the king’s table; eat the meat from his plate.”

Daniel could not have dreamed/hoped for any better! …?

He was being treated like a prince, but, the Bible tells us

Daniel “requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (v.8)       …  what does that mean?

There were certain foods used by the Babylonians, such as the flesh of swine, hare, and certain fish that were unclean,

… and if Daniel would have eaten this food he would have disobeyed God’s Law, as recorded in the book of Leviticus.

Remember the Israelite food had to be prepared in a certain way that would not have been observed by any other nation.

As well as that, before Nebuchadnezzar would eat the food it would be offered up to the idols.

There was no way Daniel would defile himself eating at the king’s table! … but it must have been a great temptation!!

You can imagine someone saying to young Daniel,

“Loosen up! You’ll never get on if you keep letting your God stand in your way!”

Praise God Daniel had placed his future in the hand of God and not in the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

You can hear someone else saying,

“It’s what you are expected to do.”

We dare not compromise the law of God no matter who it pleases or who it doesn’t please.

If he had done all that he was expected to do in the court of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel would have been living no differently to the Babylonians.

There are so many ‘Christians’ today who ‘go with the flow’; do you know why?

They melt when they are faced with opposition or disfavour.

Praise God I’m different for He has made me different!

	Once I was dead, … but I’m living now,
	Once I was blind, … but I can see now,
	Once I had hope and no future, … now I have glory in Heaven to look forward to.

It is so easy to give in to the demands of the world,

	… but friends, that is why our churches are so weak,
	… that is why they have nothing to say to the world.

When was the Church the strongest?

… when the gospel of Sovereign grace was unflinchingly preached by men who were convinced of its power.

Why does it not have the same influence today?

	… because instead of using the directives that have been so plainly laid down in Scripture the Church has chosen to use the plans and programmes of the world,
	… and God doesn’t bless what isn’t His!

There needs to be more Daniels,

Purpose in your heart that you will not defile yourself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine that he drinks: make sure that you don’t defile yourself.

Be mindful of God’s Word, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

There is no substitute for the old, old Gospel, - it has been tried and proved and tested and God has blessed it as the Holy Spirit has opened up the hearts of men and women, boys and girls.

Don’t exchange the gospel for the world’s frills and amusements.

You and I, - I trust, - are eating from the King’s table and we are satisfied, - fully satisfied!

I’m not interested in the menu that the world has to offer,

	Eat from the table of adultery and you’ll have the taste of cheating on your lips,
	Eat from the table of compromise and you’ll be thin/weak,
	Eat from the table of the King and you’ll be wholly satisfied.

Daniel looked the matter up and down and …,

And he “purposed in his heart”.

Before he asked Shadrach, Meschech and Abednego what they were doing he had already decided, - he had made up his mind and settled it in his heart.

He wasn’t obstinate, nor a bigot, nor intolerant, - it is no wonder that the person of Daniel has become so revered,

He stood firm in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, through the reign of Belshazzar, … and of Darius and of Cyrus,

… and it was because he stood firm that that he was referred to as “a man greatly beloved”, (10:11).

You will always find that the person who is a faithful lover of God is also a conscientious lover of his brother/sister in Christ.

Let’s set aside the flimsy stuff and stand confidently believing in our God, and in His Word, and trusting in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.