Read Jeremiah 29:1-14
What does Jeremiah instruct his readers to do when they find themselves in the pains of exile? What does Yahweh promise to do for His people in the midst of their exile?
Read 2 Kings 24.
What were the internal forces which caused Judah (the name for the tribes in southern Israel) to decline? What were the external forces which threatened Judah? What is the tone of this chapter?
Read Daniel 1:1-7.
Why do you think the King of Babylon ordered the chosen Israelites to eat the best of his food? What do you think his motives are? How would you feel to have your name changed by an invading army? What would that do to you psychologically?
Read Daniel 1:8-16.
What irony do you see in this passage? Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refuse the best of their occupiers food in order to remain faithful to God. What is the tone of this passage of Scripture?
Read Daniel 1:17-21.
Daniel and his friends stand out among the captives and the citizens of the nation. Why? What do you think Daniel and his friends were feeling? What would you feel?
Daniel 1 Outro
This story of four young Hebrew men politely refusing the king’s food might seem like a relatively trivial matter, but there’s a clue in the text that there is more to the story. The chapter begins and ends with some key dates: Daniel’s exile to Babylon (605 BC) and the end of his government service (538 BC). His 67-year career in Babylon began with the seemingly small decision not to compromise his beliefs about diet. Take some time to reflect on your own choices. Are there places where you are making minor compromises that could have big effects later? As we will see, Daniel’s devotion to the Lord will serve him well in Chapter 2.