Copyright © 2006 by The Voice of Prophecy

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A Tale of Two Cities

Hello friend! Yes, we’ve got something great for you beginning today: God’s amazing revelations to this modern generation about the future, and some epics from the past with taylor-made messages for today.

I’m so honored to be part of the Voice of Prophecy. From its inception with Pastor H. M. S. Richards back in 1937, there’s always been an important focus on prophecy. And that emphasis continues in this new series on Daniel. We’ll open each of the book’s chapters day by day, so by the end of the series you’ll have a good understanding of one of the most important books in the Bible.

You see, Daniel speaks eloquently about the immediate future, right through to the climax of history when Jesus returns. Millions of books have been sold in recent years about prophecy, and the foundation for these prophecies is to be found in Daniel. That’s why we’ve chosen to present this series.

How long is it since you read the story of Daniel in the lion's den, and the three worthies in the fiery furnace? Is this just kid's stuff? No—as you’ll quickly discover in this Daily Broadcast series. And here’s another reason why this book is so important. Each of the stories in the first half of the book, holds the key to understanding a corresponding section in the second half, the prophecy section. If you don't get the meaning of the stories straight, you probably won't get the meaning of the prophecies straight either!

You see, like so much Hebrew writing, Daniel is written in a special structure called a chiasm. Thus, the story in the first chapter is matched in the last chapter of the book. The second story is matched in the prophecy in the second-last part of the book. And so on. The climb up one side of the “mountain of Daniel” (if I can call it that) is on the steps of the wonderful, dramatic stories. The descent down the other side of this “mountain” of intriguing information is on the planks of the prophecies. So each story holds the key to understand one of the prophecies. And on the last day of this series, I’ll review the entire book from this perspective.

And what will we find at the pinnacle of the mountain called Daniel? It’s here in Daniel 7:11-14 (NIV).

In my vision at night, I looked and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power, all people nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

At the last day, Jesus gathers the members of His kingdom from all over the world and that kingdom stands forever. So all those that commit themselves to Jesus are secure for ever. What assurance!

Like other Bible books, the key to understanding is in the lock of the front door. Daniel 1:1 reads: The "King of Babylon came to Jerusalem." The theme could not be clearer, this book is a Tale of Two Cities. Not Paris and London, but Babylon and Jerusalem. And in this tale, we find the titanic struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, between the kings of symbolic Babylon and symbolic Jerusalem. But in the end, the King of the heavenly Jerusalem triumphs. We read:

But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. (Daniel 12:1 NIV)

Daniel is a book about your personal deliverance when you find yourself “walking in the flames” of temptation, or ridicule. It’s a book about your personal deliverance when you've been “thrown to the lions” of misrepresentation, or false accusation. It’s a book about God's deliverance from fear, insecurity, and bad habits. This is a key theme in the book of Daniel, Jesus will deliver you. That’s the promise: Jesus will deliver you.

As the book opens we learn of the terrible price Israel paid because of it neglect in taking the Good News about God’s love to the world. After a long period of patience, God stepped in and used Babylon to bring Israel to its knees. King Nebuchadnezzar had been busy suppressing Assyria. And while he was in the area, he decided to take down Jerusalem. He captured the city, took priceless booty from the Jewish temple, left Jehoiakim as a puppet king, and picked up some of the most promising young scholars from the upper class.

These fellows in their late teens were to be subjected to the cleverest indoctrination campaign the scholars of Babylon could devise. When they were thoroughly brainwashed, Nebuchadnezzar imagined they would become the teachers of the other Jewish prisoners, until all the Jews had been “Babylonianized.” It was a crafty strategy, but the king never dreamed it was already doomed to fail.

Four of the captives stood out from the rest of the captives. I guess their fine physiques, handsome faces, ready smiles, witty conversation had already identified them as potential leaders.

The Head of the Court in Babylon, Ashpenaz by name, had no doubts about his assignment. And he had a plan. Banquets have always been used to set the stage for important events. And I imagine the Babylonian court pulled out all the stops for this occasion—including the dancing girls doing their thing. (If you've been to an authentic Moroccan restaurant, you'll know what I mean.) I can hear the rhythmic beat of the drums, and the frenzy of the music on the stringed instruments, the click of the wooden canisters, and the tinkle of the bells attached to the twirling skirts of the girls.

The next morning the lads learned they had three years of school ahead of them: a crash course in Babylonian history, astronomy, astrology, literature, and language. The Babylonians were an incredibly sophisticated, well-educated people. But things didn't start out with a lecture from a hard-headed hard professor. No, at breakfast that morning, they had another banquet, with food delivered directly from the royal kitchens, the same food the King himself ate for breakfast. And lunch was the same, and supper too.

I read here in chapter 1:8, Daniel’s response:

Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

The following day as the king's servants wheeled in tables of steaming food, Daniel asked to speak to Melzah. After some polite introductions, teenage Daniel spoke to his court-appointed mentor, a man probably three times Daniel's age, gray hair perfectly coiffured, clothes immaculate, slaves fanning him in the early morning rising temperature. Daniel expressed appreciation for the banquets they were receiving. But then he came to the delicate topic of their diet.

"Sir," I hear Daniel comment, "We can't adequately express our appreciation for the honor that is ours at King's Nebuchadnezzar's hand. To eat the royal food is an honor we don’t deserve. But we have a problem. We choose to eat a very simple diet, and the rich foods from the king's table will make us sick, and that's not in your best interests, nor ours."

Melzar probably interrupted, "You wouldn't dare offend his majesty by refusing his food, would you!" "No," Daniel quickly replied, "the last thing we would wish to do is offend the great king that brought us here." He could have added "against our will," but I’m sure he thought better of it.

But God was in all of this, and He impressed the
Court officer to be gentle with the young fellows fresh from Jerusalem. But it was difficult for him. Melzar probably continued, "I'd love to help you, you understand that, but just put yourself in my place. If I give you this unappetizing food, and you get sick, the king will have my head!" "No," Daniel would have replied, "It's the other way round. If you keep feeding us this rich food, we'll get sick. The way for you to keep your head and keep your job is to give us the food we're accustomed to: simple, vegetarian food: nuts, grains, fruit, and vegetables."

Melzar showed his discomfort. "Look," Daniel suggested, "Let's have a test, a no-risk test. You allow us to eat a strict vegetarian diet for 10 days, and we drink nothing but pure water from the Euphrates. In ten days you come and check us out. If we're not healthier, fitter, and brighter, we’ll go back to food service from the King's chef. What do you say?" After a long pause, I can see him in my imagination nodding his head and saying, "O.K. we'll give it a try—but only for 10 days!"

And chapter 1 concludes in these words:

At the end of the time . . . The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Daniel remained in a position of trust in Babylon for the next 67 years. Oh, what good things happen when we live our lives according to God’s instructions found in our Bibles, including how we live, and what we eat.