Introduction: The book of Daniel contains a wonderful set of prophecies that have thrilled and challenged Bible students for hundreds of years. But the book also tells some great stories. In this series of outlines, we will look at the first six chapters of the book where we will find a couple of the easier prophecies and several interesting stories.

This chapter deals with Daniel as a young man who is taken captive by the Babylonians but refuses to surrender his convictions or belief in the God of Israel. This is a challenge to all young people to hold to the Bible and its teachings even when opposed by the forces of this world.

1. SPECIAL OUTLINE: THE CAPTIVITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Daniel 1:1-3)
1. The Babylonian Conquest of Judah
1. Its prophecy (2 Kings 20:12-19)
2. The three stages of conquest
1. The servitude (2 Chronicles 36:5-6; Daniel 1:1); in 605BC
2. The captivity (2 Kings 24:8-16); in 598BC
3. The desolations (2 Chronicles 36:10-20; 2 Kings 25); in 587BC
3. Its duration (Jeremiah 25:1-2, 11-12); the 70-year captivity began in 606BC when Nebuchadnezzar conquered the Egyptian army and entered Palestine with his army.
2. The Three Steps of Conquest
1. Destroy the leaders
1. The wrong people gain authority
1. Servants (Proverbs 19:10; Ecclesiastes 10:7)
2. Children (Ecclesiastes 10:16; Isaiah 3:4)
3. Women (Isaiah 3:12)
2. Capable men shun authority (Isaiah 3:6-8)
3. Rulers misuse their office for evil (Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:30)
2. Remove the holy vessels – a type of the righteous
1. The vessels of the tabernacle
1. Sanctified for holy service (Exodus 30:26-29)
2. Carried into captivity (2 Chronicles 36:7, 18)
3. Misused by Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1-4, 22-24)
4. Returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:6-7, 11)
2. The typology of the holy vessels (Acts 9:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:20-21)
3. The godly cease to be found (Psalm 12:1; Jeremiah 5:1; Micah 7:1-4)
4. The fabric of society is torn (Isaiah 3:1-3; Isaiah 1:21-22)
3. Enclave the children
1. The oppression of the children (Lamentations 1:5, 16; Lamentations 2:11, 19-20; Lamentations 4:4; Lamentations 5:13)
2. The corruption of the children (Genesis 8:21; Proverbs 29:15; Isaiah 1:4)
3. The Work of the Saints in Wicked Times
1. Pray for godly leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. Seek the holiness of God (1 Chronicles 16:11; 1 Peter 1:16)
3. Train our children to serve God (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4)
2. THE PLAN OF THE KING (Daniel 1:1-7); Compare these steps of this section with the practice of modern colleges and universities as they work to destroy the faith of the young students placed into their hands.
1. To Isolate (Daniel 1:1-3; 1 Kings 19:9-10, 18)
1. The siege of Jerusalem (Daniel 1:1)
2. The taking of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:2)
3. The taking of the holy vessels (Daniel 1:2)
1. From the house of the Lord
2. Into the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:1-2)
3. Into the house of his god
2. To Indoctrinate (Daniel 1:4; Leviticus 18:3; Jeremiah 10:2); This verse gives an outline of the areas of secular training offered by this world. They are not evil in and of themselves and this is a good outline for all who teach school. The skills named here are valuable for service and occupation in life. Remember, there is not merit in ignorance or ineptitude. God wants us to reach high for Him.
1. Physical skills – “well favoured”
1. Learn that the body is God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
2. Learn good health practices (1 Corinthians 6:12)
3. Learn self-control over physical desires (1 Corinthians 9:27)
2. Achievement skills – “skilful in all wisdom”
1. Learn the best way to get things done (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
2. Learn to focus and finish what you start (Colossians 3:23)
3. Learn to do the best things (1 Chronicles 12:32; Ephesians 5:17)
3. Information skills – “cunning in knowledge”
1. Learn the value of knowledge (Proverbs 24:4-5)
2. Learn the core knowledge of civilization (Acts 7:22; Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 23:12)
3. Learn to compare and contrast knowledge (Proverbs 1:1-6; Matthew 13:52)
4. Analytical skills – “understanding science”
1. Learn math computation and understanding (Luke 14:28)
2. Learn scientific understanding (see Job 12:7-9)
3. Learn practical applications of scientific principles (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
5. Social skills – “ability in them to stand in the king’s palace”
1. Learn basic etiquette and manners (Luke 6:31)
2. Learn to interact with people (Romans 12:10)
3. Learn to follow and to lead (1 Samuel 18:5, 14, 30)
6. Learning skills – “whom they might teach the learning… of the Chaldeans”
1. Learn to learn on your own (2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 18:1)
2. Make learning a part of your life (Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 15:14; Proverbs 18:15)
7. Language skills – “whom they might teach… the tongue of the Chaldeans”
1. Learn to speak, read, and write (Job 6:25)
2. Learn the structure of language (Nehemiah 8:8)
3. Learn other languages than your own (Acts 21:37-40; Acts 22:1-2)
3. To Intimidate (Daniel 1:5; 1 Samuel 17:42-44)
1. The king’s meat
2. The king’s wine
3. A three-year program
4. To Inoculate (Daniel 1:6-7; 2 Kings 18:28-32)
1. Taken as the children of Judah (Daniel 1:6)
2. Given heathen names to separate them from their heritage (Daniel 1:7)
3. THE PURPOSE IN DANIEL’S HEART (Daniel 1:8)
1. Daniel’s Strength of Character (Proverbs 23:7)
2. Daniel’s Refusal to Compromise (Proverbs 4:23-27)
3. Daniel’s Request in Courtesy (Colossians 3:12)
4. THE PROVING OF THE PULSE (Daniel 1:9-16)
1. The Testing of their Convictions (Daniel 1:9-14; Luke 9:23-24; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
1. The favor given to Daniel (Daniel 1:9)
2. The fear of the prince of the eunuchs (Daniel 1:10)
3. The proposal made to Melzar (Daniel 1:11-13)
1. The participants (Daniel 1:11)
2. The time: ten days (Daniel 1:12); The number ten denotes completeness; not in the sense of perfection so much as in the sense of a full cup or a use of all one’s chances (Genesis 31:7,41; Numbers 14:22; Nehemiah 4:12; Job 19:3). Ten also seems to make special reference to the Gentiles (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12).
3. The diet (Daniel 1:12)
1. Pulse to eat; pulse would be a diet of herbs and vegetables (2 Samuel 17:28)
2. Water to drink
4. The determining factor: their countenance (Daniel 1:13)
4. The agreement to the test (Daniel 1:14)
2. The Testimony of their Countenances (Daniel 1:15-16; compare Genesis 4:6; Isaiah 3:9; Matthew 6:22-23)
5. THE PROSPERITY OF THE HEBREWS (Daniel 1:15-21; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3)
1. Physical Prosperity (Daniel 1:15-16)
2. Intellectual Prosperity (Daniel 1:17)
1. Learning and wisdom for the four children
2. Understanding in dreams and visions for Daniel
3. Vocational Prosperity (Daniel 1:18-19)
1. Brought before the king (Daniel 1:18)
2. Highly esteemed for their wisdom (Daniel 1:19)
4. Spiritual Prosperity (Daniel 1:20)
1. In all matters of wisdom and understanding
2. Ten times better than the magicians and astrologers
5. Perpetual Prosperity (Daniel 1:21); Daniel continued well into the kingdom of the Persians

Conclusion: Daniel and the Hebrew children give us a wonderful example of godly people who will not lower their convictions or compromise because of the pressure of the world. We must learn to stand for right according to God’s truth and not according to the world’s standards.