Gtcotr/ss112209
According to historical records, it was the year 606/605BC, during the first year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that he defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at the battle of Carchemish, (kar ke mish), a city situated on the banks of the Euphrates River about 250 miles north of Damascus on what is now the border between Turkey and Syria.
This battle of Carchemish signaled the end of the once formidable Egyptian and Assyrian Empires and established Babylon as the uncontested power of the Middle East, with young King Nebuchadnezzar as its ruler.
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied concerning this event in Jeremiah 25:1-14. He said:
Jeremiah 25 NKJV
4 And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 8 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not heard My words,
9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them …
11 And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Well – after the battle of Carchemish, King Nebuchadnezzar turned his attentions, as prophesied on Jerusalem. We pick up on this story in:
Daniel 1 NKJV
1 ¶ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Listen carefully to the next verse, verse 8, it begins:
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself …
I love this … Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with what the world had to offer, what riches could buy, what fame could afford, or with what position could profit him … this young man purposed to keep his heart right, his motives pure, his conscious clear.
Never underestimate a person committed to a purpose.
Daniel is one of our greatest examples of a person committed to God’s purpose for their life. Depending on which scholar you accept, Daniel was between 12 and 17 years old in 606BC, when he made this commitment, after he was taken captive to Babylon. We know from his own accounts that he served the Kings of Babylon all the way through King Cyrus, who issued a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem 70 years later - 536BC.
This simple chronology shows Daniel to be between 84 and 89 years old when he had his last recorded vision in the third year of the reign of Cyrus, 534BC, as evidenced from Daniel 10-12. Let’s read:
Daniel 10 NKJV
1 ¶ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Now here is an 85 year old man who has dedicated himself to fasting and prayer, and he has been doing this now for 21 days.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Why did only Daniel see the vision? Perhaps it was because only Daniel had committed himself to seek the Lord with fasting and prayer.
8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
Daniel 10
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”
From all of the accounts of Daniel’s life: his captivity, his visions, the interpretation of dreams, his night in the lion’s den and his place in the “faith hall of fame” recorded in Hebrews the 11th chapter, we learn two great lessons – One truth about God and one truth about man.
1. God hears the first time you pray.
Although it may sometimes seem like God did not hear you or is not responding to your prayers, nothing could be farther from the truth. The enemies of God’s will may try to discourage you or attempt to stop the hand of God, but keep on praying … help is on the way!
2. Nothing can stop a person whose heart is filled with the purpose of God.
Don’t waste your life climbing a ladder only to reach the top and realize late in life that it was leaning against the wrong building. Money, power, or position cannot buy what your heart longs for. Set your heart on obtaining and maintaining a living relationship with God through His Son, Jesus the Messiah.
How long has it been since you have awakened early in the morning hours or tarried all night long in the presence of the Lord? Jeremiah 33:3 says that if we will call upon Him, He will answer us and show us great and mighty things you did not know.
Do you know Him today?
Do you know His purpose for your life?
Have you set your heart to not be defiled by what this world has to offer?
He is waiting right now to hear from you … to accept your commitment.
Won’t you stand and humble yourself before the Lord while we pray.
