S.S.S. Study Kings and Prophets
Family School at Faith Baptist Church
Week 7
Brief overview of Judah's fall, and the lives of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Part 1
Judah's Fall
2nd Kings 25:1-3 Jerusalem is besieged for over a year by king Nebuchadnezzar, and never once do the rulers humble themselves before God and petition for His help, even when the food runs out, God is not sought. Today there are many people who as Romans 1:28 states "...they did not like to retain God in their knowledge...." Notice it does not say that they did not know that there is a God, Romans 1:20-21, just that they did not "like" to retain God in their knowledge.
2nd Kings 25:4-7 There's a lot to be learned from these verses, this is just a summary
Verse 4- When the city was in its most dire hour, those who the people looked to for protection, guidance, safety, and leadership (who were not God!) Left them. Psalm 115:4-11 the peoples idols, those they looked to, vs our God.
Verse 5- Here the king who forsook his people is forsaken by his army, Proverbs 18:24.
Verse 6- Now we see that sin always ends in judgment, wether by God 2nd Timothy 4:8, or by man, either way, today or tomorrow, judgment will come for those who have sinned Romans 3:23/6:23, there are only two ways to pay that debt, eternity in Hell, or believing in The Lord Jesus Christ and accepting His sacrifice for you. Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Verse 7- Now that judgement has been passed, the last thing king Zedekiah ever sees before they put out his eyes, is his sons killed right in front of him. Ask any Older sibling who by their actions, caused the younger to rebel against God, any parent, mentor, friend will tell you that when you live in sin, when you rebel against God, it NEVER affects just you. Need an example? Joshua 7 Achans entire family is killed because of HIS sin, but praise God it isn't just when you live for the devil that people follow you, you can lead others to live lives that honor and glorify God as well! Acts 17:6.
2nd Chronicles 36:12-16,17 Just as we saw with the fall of Israel, God was long suffering with His people, He gave them many opportunities to repent and sent them many preachers; but eventually when they would not hear the sermon, He sent the sword, Verse 17.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Daniel 1:1-4 The heathen king wanted only the best of Judah, and he wanted them young. When does the devil start his attacks on your faith, beliefs, and convictions? He doesn't wait until your forty and know your bible cover to cover; the devil sees the potential you have for God right away and wants you for himself; not to help you reach your potential, but to keep you from it. How sad it is that Satan can see the potential threat a godly young person is to him, while many of you are already convinced that you will never do great things for God. You can be like those in Acts 17:6, but only if you believe God can use you.
Daniel 1:5-6 As we continue it is important to remember that these boys were part of a group torn from their homes by war, separated from loved ones and carried into a strange land full of people who did not know their God.
Daniel 1:7 The name Daniel means "God is my judge" the Babylonians changed Daniels name to Belteshazzar, which means "bel's prince" (bel was a Babylonian god), Hananiah which meant "Yahweh is gracious" was changed to Shadrach which means "command of aku" (a Babylonian god), Misheal which meant "who is like Yahweh", was changed to Meshach, which means "who is what aku is?" (aku was a Babylonian god), and Azariah which meant "Yahweh has helped", was changed to Abednego which means "servant of nebo" (yet another Babylonian god).As we will see, those around these four men may have changed their names, but they could not change their hearts. Today those around us may attempt to change our names, bible thumper, old fashioned, stupid Christian, fool, uneducated, hypocrite, etc, etc, the question is, will you let that change you heart?
Daniel 1:8 This is the only way to not let those around you change you; if you live for God you are warned that the world around you will hate you, not because your fat, ugly, skinny, or smart but because if your living for God, if your saved, you are the light of their world, perhaps even the only spiritual light they have, look at what Christ Himself said concerning this world.
John 15:18-20 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
1st John 3:13 "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."
John 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
We will have rough times, we will have peer pressure, we will always have the desire to fit in, and unless you purpose in your heart the things of God, plant your feet on the rock that is Christ Jesus The Lord, commit your time to reading His word, loving His people, spreading His gospel, if you do not purpose in your heart to stand up for Jesus Christ all day every day, YOU WILL FALL. You must purpose in your heart to love, serve, honor, obey, learn from, respect, hold to, and cherish God and His word, it is the only way to stand for Christ in the world today. In today's society much like the Babylonians we are constantly exposed to immorality, drunkenness, Idolatry, fornication, filthy communication, lust, greed, and more; but it is still possible to be pure.
Note: also in verse 8 it states that Daniel "requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself," Daniel did not command to be excused from the meats and wine, he showed humility and respect, it is good to stand for what's right, it is best to do so in a way that draws men to God, and doesn't make them think that your a jerk. Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Daniel 1:9-16 The prince of the eunuchs agrees and the four young men were allowed for ten days to eat food they chose, after the ten days were over they stood out from the rest as being healthier and stronger; because of that they were allowed from that time on to eat the things allowed by God.
Note: there were many hundreds, if not thousands of captives from Judah who knew Gods law concerning meats and wine, yet only these four refused to defile themselves. Away from their parents, synagogs, and priests the other young men didn't care to obey God, but even with the vast majority of their countrymen falling to sin, these four remained pure.
Daniel 1:17-21 Because they chose to obey God in the face of enemies, and indifferent friends, God granted them wisdom and position above all others. Today it is very simple, James 1:5-7.
Memory Verse: Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
S.S.S. Study Kings and Prophets
Family School at Faith Baptist Church
Week 7
Brief overview of Judah's fall, and the lives of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Part 1
Student Study Guide:
1. What happened that caused the men of war and the king to flee Jerusalem?
2. What was the last sight the king saw? And what does this teach us about sin?
3. What type of people did king Nebuchadnezzar first take captive from Judah?
4. What did the names of the four Hebrew boys originally mean?
5. What did the new names they were given mean?
6. What must we do in order to live for God and not fall away?
7. What did God give to the four Hebrew boys for obeying Him?
Student Notes:
Homework: Make a list of commitments you have made to God in the past, or are making now, this week check of each day that you keep that commitment, and X out each day you do not. (You will not turn this in it is just for your own eyes).
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