Daniel 1: 3,4 Chosen (April 22, 2020)
Last week we placed the book of Daniel in history and geography. We placed ourselves historically and pondered the historical influences that have formed our lives. This week we will ponder Daniel’s qualifications to be used by God…and ours. Was there anything that made him special?
3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
Daniel was chosen as one of many young men to be trained.
- What were his qualifications. ______________________
- Now think about your training, perhaps application for college, perhaps apprenticeship, perhaps enlistment into the armed services? What qualifications did you have?______________________
Daniel was chosen “to serve in the palace.”
- What do you imagine that might have meant? _____________
- Nobility chosen to serve, what tensions might Daniel have struggled with? ______________________________________
- Now reflect on those first years of service in your “career.” My first year of probation hall was a very steep learning curve. I had to find a voice! I jumped out of the frying pan of probation into junior high math teacher with the low achievers!!! If I could have afforded to quit I would have or if I could have found someone to marry me and rescue me, I would have jumped. Lessons learned! What challenges did you face, or lessons learned? ______________
- What helped you persevere? ___________________________
- Hmmmm, could immigrants living us, be going through similar challenges? How might we help them? _________________
Daniel was not a priest or theologian but an ordinary person caught in social upheaval, chosen to be trained. Spend time thanking God for times you have been chosen and the challenges and blessings that came with it.
On the Way to Wonder 