Today’s Sermon: Daniel 1:3-21 “How Daniel Was Holy”

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Daniel was committed to holiness while still serving those of a hostile culture.

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Daniel was committed to holiness while still serving those of a hostile culture. 1. He was holy while serving the king. Daniel 1:20: “20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.”

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Daniel was committed to holiness while still serving those of a hostile culture. 1. He was holy while serving the king. 2. He was holy while serving the king’s staff.

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Daniel 1:8: “8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” Daniel 1:10-11a: “10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.’ 11 Then Daniel said to the steward….”

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Daniel 1:12-13: “12 Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

How Daniel was holy: the shape of his holiness Holiness and serving a hostile culture go hand in hand. Matthew 5:43-44: “43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:48: “48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness A quick reading of Daniel would lead us to believe we need to be like Daniel (that he was the source of his own holiness).

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness A quick reading of Daniel would lead us to believe we need to be like Daniel. Daniel 1 highlights Daniel’s skills, gifts, and attributes. Daniel 1 highlights Daniel’s commendable and successful deeds.

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness A careful reading of Daniel finds God as the source of Daniel’s holiness. Daniel 1 really highlights God’s sovereignty.

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness God’s giving (emphasized three times) Daniel 1:2a: “2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.” Daniel 1:9: “9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs….” Daniel 1:17: “17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness God’s giving (emphasized three times) God’s name Daniel 1:2a: “2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness Daniel prophesied in 11:32b: “…but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness Daniel knew his God to be sovereign, but he also knew his God to be gracious.

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness Psalm 103:7-10: “7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness Romans 12:1: “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God [in view of God’s mercies], to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

How Daniel was holy: the source of his holiness “Though the story [of Daniel 1] focuses on the surface level on the actions of the human characters, the chapter primarily intends to teach us about God,” Tremper Longman Old Testament Scholar