January 7
Lesson 6 (KJV)
A Sincere Faith
Devotional Reading: Psalm 56
Background Scripture: Daniel 1
Daniel 1:8–21
8 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.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Key Verse
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
Faith in Action
Unit 2: A Living Faith in God
Lessons 6–9
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Recount the details of the first test that Daniel and his friends faced as captives in Babylon and how they responded to it.
2. Give examples of modern workplace situations that parallel those of the text.
3. Form a plan for responding to a workplace challenge that the model of the text addresses.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Worst-Case Scenarios
B. Lesson Background
I. Maintain Values (Daniel 1:8–10)
A. Request Made (v. 8)
“When in Rome, Do as the Romans”
B. Request Granted (vv. 9, 10)
II. Offer Solutions (Daniel 1:11–16)
A. Limited Trial (vv. 11–14)
B. Exemplary Results (vv. 15, 16)
III. Work Diligently (Daniel 1:17–21)
A. Empowered by God (vv. 17, 18)
Jonah, Esther, or Daniel?
B. Outperforming the Godless (vv. 19–21)
Conclusion
A. Strategy for Exiles
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Abednego
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Uh-bed-nee-go.
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Azariah
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Az-uh-rye-uh.
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Babylon
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Bab-uh-lun.
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Babylonian
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Bab-ih-low-nee-un.
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Belteshazzar
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Bel-tih-shazz-er.
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Chaldeans
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Kal-dee-unz.
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Cyrus
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Sigh-russ.
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eunuchs
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you-nicks.
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Gentiles
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Jen-tiles.
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Hananiah
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Han-uh-nye-uh.
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Jehoiakim
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Jeh-hoy-uh-kim.
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Judean
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Joo-dee-un.
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Melzar
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Mel-zar.
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Meshach
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Me-shack.
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Mishael
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Mish-a-el.
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Nebuchadnezzar
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Neb-yuh-kud-nez-er.
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Persian
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Per-zhunz.
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Shadrach
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Shay-drack or Shad-rack.
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What Do You Think?
When was a time you honored a boundary to stay true to God’s will? What did you learn from that experience that could help others?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding tactfulness (example: Judges 8:1–3) vs. directness (example: Judges 12:1–6)
■ Considering boundaries that you model for others to honor as well (Ephesians 5:3–7; etc.) vs. boundaries of private conscience (Romans 14:22; etc.)
______________________________
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Visual for Lesson 6. Ask learners if they see the problem with this visual (the gears are locked). Then ask for constructive solutions to the problem.
______________________________
What Do You Think?
How would you use Daniel 1:17a, 20, if at all, to counsel a student who is worried about being corrupted by secular higher education?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding the role of humility
■ Regarding the role of discernment
■ Regarding the role of academic excellence
■ Comparing and contrasting with other opportunities to engage culture
______________________________
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To print the reproducible activity page, simply click the highlighted text below to create a pdf file on your hard drive. Then open the pdf file in Acrobat Reader and print.
Activity Page (January 7: A Sincere Faith)
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Redford, Douglas et al. “A Sincere Faith.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2017–2018. Ed. Jim Eichenberger et al. Vol. 65. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2017–2018. 161–163. Print.
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