Adult Mentor: Adult Bible Study: Conviction, Determination, and Discipleship

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

The Adult Mentor is a topical Christian quarterly study guide is for the adult learner and is designed to increase Christian faith and biblical understanding using a variety of learning methods. It is a practical resource for every day Christian living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781681677859

Book preview

Lesson 1

Living Your Convictions

LEARNING SESSION

How do you normally respond when you are faced with a difficult decision? Do you step up to meet the challenge, or do you find yourself avoiding the issue? If you struggle with this choice—which, in all honesty, few of us find to be easy—today’s lesson will hopefully be the prompt you need to reconsider your approach to difficult moral and spiritual decisions. Daniel’s convictions were so strong that he was willing to take a stand. His stand affected not only him, but also the lives of his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, as well as the palace officials and even King Nebuchadnezzar. How will you respond the next time you are faced with a difficult decision?

In 605 B.C., 597 B.C., and again in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, launched attacks against Judah. In the end, Solomon’s temple was destroyed, and Judah’s political leaders along with their wealth were carried into Babylon. Part of subduing the Israelite population was assimilating their nobility into Babylonian culture. Nobility from conquered kingdoms were typically brought into exile (see 2 Kings 24:14–16); educating their youth was thought to increase acceptance of foreign rule and minimize the likelihood of revolt. This is exactly what happened in Daniel’s case. These are the circumstances operating in the background of today’s lesson. They remind us that often the greatest challenges to our faith come when we enter positions of (seemingly) great privilege and status.

LESSON SCRIPTURES:

DANIEL 1:8–21

DISCUSSION POINTS:

I. Daniel’s Resolve

II. Daniel’s Request

III. Daniel’s Reward

KEY VERSE

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

(Daniel 1:8, KJV)

EXPOSITION

I. Daniel’s Resolve

When we believe in our hearts that God cares for us and will provide all of our needs, it is much easier to stay true to our faith without wavering—even if it means our lives might be threatened. Daniel had this kind of faith: Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (v. 8, KJV). He resolved in his own heart not to eat the king’s food. He did not want to eat or drink anything that had been consecrated to idols or that might not have been slaughtered in the proper manner (see Deut. 12:23–24).

It is important to note both the language and tone in Daniel’s request to the official in charge of him and his friends. Daniel framed his request as an experiment with fixed time limits. He was not dogmatic or defiant toward the palace master. God had brought Daniel into favor with his overseer: God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master (Dan. 1:9, NRSV). This could very well be the result of the way Daniel carried himself in the presence of his captors, but it also shows that God was active in Daniel’s life.

It is significant that Daniel’s request was not granted without question. Verse ten lays out the palace master’s concerns about what would happen if Daniel’s request did not bring about a favorable outcome. What would he report to his superior if he were questioned? What was in it for him? Simply, nothing! However, we can see God softening the heart of the palace master for His servant Daniel.

II. Daniel’s Request

Having complete trust and confidence in God allows the believer to live and move, knowing that doing things God’s way will effect change. Daniel was persistent. Even though the palace master denied his request, he did not give up. He next proposed to his guard that he and his friends be tested for ten days to see if eating and drinking vegetables and water would make them healthier. In other words, Daniel requested, I want you to do a thorough examination of me and my three friends. Look at our health, our skin, and our weight. Test our minds for sharpness. At the end of the ten-day period, I want you to do a comparison between the ones who have eaten the king’s diet and us, who chose not to defile ourselves with the rations of the king’s diet. Examine us and see if our diet has made us malfunction in any way. The guard agreed to Daniel’s proposal. At the end of the ten days, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food (v. 15, NIV).

THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

• To appreciate Daniel’s strong convictions and the risk he took to live out those convictions.

• To understand the importance of living out our convictions.

• To weigh worship of God over and against political authority.

III. Daniel’s Reward

When God’s people seek to live in accordance with His Word, the end result will be more favorable for them than for those who do not. Daniel and his friends were continually in the presence of the king, where they would be judged alongside their fellow students. Even though there were no noticeable physical differences between the four Hebrew youth and their counterparts, Daniel and his friends were healthier than the others were.

#YieldNotToTemptation

Why should one resist the temptation to live a life contrary to the will of God? Tag us

@rhboydco!

Regarding their mental capacity, we are told that as Daniel, his friends, and the other candidates stood before the king, in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers (v. 20, KJV). They were deemed superior to the other candidates in all matters of study, wisdom, and understanding.

This is significant because magicians and astrologers were a commonplace (and honored)