Resist the reprogramming • Apr 14, 2024 • Eric Stillman

This morning, I am in the second week of a new sermon series through the Old
Testament book of Daniel that will take us up until the summer. I’ve entitled the
series “Faithfulness in exile,” a title that may at first glance seem to be about
something that happened a long time ago in a kingdom far, far away, but I believe
you will find is very relevant to your life today. Let’s begin by reading Daniel 1:1-
7:
Daniel 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 delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the
articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in
Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered
Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the
royal family and the nobility--
4
young men without any physical defect,
handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to
understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the
language and literature of the Babylonians.
5 The king assigned them a daily
amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three
years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. 6 Among these were
some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official
gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach;
to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego