Introduction
The author of the book of Daniel was a Hebrew lad taken captive by the Babylonians.  The King of Babylon was the great Nebuchadnezzar that broke and defeated the kingdom of Judea.  Actually there were three carryings away of Judah by Babylon.

The first was recorded under the reign of the 17th king of Judea, Jehoiakim,.

II Chron. 36:5-7 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and
                            he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in
                            the sight of Jehovah his God.    Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar
                            king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
                            Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Jehovah
                            to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

The second captivity or carrying way was under the reign of Jehoiachin, 18th king of Judea.

2 Kngs. 24:7-15  And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land; for
                            the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt unto the river
                            Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.   Jehoiachin was eighteen
                            years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months:
                            and his mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
                            And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all
                            that his father had done. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king
                            of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.  And
                            Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto the city, while his servants were
                            besieging it;    and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon,
                            he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the
                            king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.  And he carried out thence
                            all the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king's house, and
                            cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the
                            temple of Jehovah, as Jehovah had said.   And he carried away all Jerusalem, and
                            all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all
                           the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of
                           the land.   And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king's mother, and
                           the king's wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity
                           from Jerusalem to Babylon.

The third carrying away was under the reign of King Zedekiah, 19th king of Judea.

2 Kngs. 25:1-10   And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in
                             the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came,
                             he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they
                             built forts against it round about.  So the city was besieged unto the eleventh
                             year of king Zedekiah.  On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was
                             sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.  Then
                             a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the
                             way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden
                            (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about); and the king went
                             by the way of the Arabah.   But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after
                             the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered
                            from him.   Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon
                            to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah
                            before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and
                           carried him to Babylon. Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month,
                           which was the  nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came
                           Nebuzaradan  the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto
                           Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of Jehovah, and the king's house; and all the
                           houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.  And all the army
                           of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of
                          Jerusalem round about.
 

Daniel was carried away in the first wave.  All the best of the best were taken to Babylon which is located in modern day Iraq.

Along with Daniel we read of three other fine specimens named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  The unskilled labor and the weak were left behind.  The Jewish boys were no doubt the best of the best.  The captivity would last as was prophesied by Jeremiah for 70 years.

Jer. 25:11-13  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment;
                        and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
                       And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished,
                       that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah,
                       for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate
                       for ever.   And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have
                       pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah
                       hath prophesied against all the nations.

Daniel would have been captive for 70 years from the words of  Jeremiah and this would be accomplished.

Dan. 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

The young men were taken to the court of Nebuchadnezza.

Dan. 1:4  youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom,
                and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability
                to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the
                tongue of the Chaldeans.

There they would serve at the pleasure of the King.

Dan. 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat,
                  and water to drink.

The Young men being Jews could not eat the unclean things of Babylon.  Their diets were regulated by the law of Moses.  The catfish of the Euphrates, Pork chops, pork sausage and deep fat fried pork skins were not to be eaten.  They had a decision to be made based on their faith.  Would they serve God or the King of Babylon?
 

                                                   THE TRIAL OF THEIR FAITH

The table was spread for the kings eunuchs and the servants.  The food appointed by the King was not kosher and was forbidden for the people of God.

The four Hebrew boys determined and purposed not to sin against the Lord's commands even though others would eat of the kings table.

Mother and Dad was not around,  yet the boys would not sin.  Everyone else was eating the unclean food but peer pressure was not enough to make them sin.

Dan. 1:12  They purposed in their hearts not to sin against God.

They asked that pulse be served them, such things  as grains, vegetables, cereals, they wanted nothing unclean.  they were on a spiritual no cholesterol diet.

They would not let companionships corrupt them.

I Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.

They knew God was not left behind in Judea but that God was with them in this foreign land.

Dan. 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should
               bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;
 
They perhaps recalled Joseph in the land of Egypt and how faithful he served God among the heathen.

Gen. 39:1-3 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the
                    captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had
                    brought him down thither.   And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous
                    man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.   And his master saw that
                    Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Whatever they did they sought to obey God rather than man/

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

They would not fear the voice of the Babylonians and sin like King Saul when he disobeyed God.

I Sam. 15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the
                      commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people,
                      and obeyed their voice

They did not believe the adage"   When in Rome do as the Romans".  They remained Faithful to God no matter where they were or who they were around.  The other captives dug right into the kings menu and wine, but not these four Hebrew boys.

Dan. 1:15-17 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they
                      were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king's dainties.
                      So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink,
                      and gave them pulse.  Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge
                      and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions
                      and dreams.
 

                                     THE DEPTH OF THEIR FAITH

These young men did not flinch or turn from God but rather they turned to God and their faith in this captivity.

They asked that they be allowed to eat the food that their faith demanded.

Dan. 1:8   But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's
                 dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince
                 of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

They were like the apostles who chose to suffer the wrath of the rulers than God's displeasure.

Acts 4:17-29  for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst
                      anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples
                      of Israel, were gathered together,   to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council
                      foreordained to come to pass.   And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings:
                      and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

The young men displayed valor and courage in their faith.  They knew they would fare better doing God's will than obeying mortal man and they said so!

Dan. 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance
                  of the youths that eat of the king's dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy
                  servants.

The people of God always do better than the unfaithful in the long run.

Matt. 25:34-35  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed
                           of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
                          of the world:     for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty,
                          and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;   naked, and
                          ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came
                          unto me.

God makes provision and cares for his faithful servants  yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Phil. 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

When we are under the scope of heathens what does our faith show?  Do we compromise?  Fall? or do we stand on the Lord's side?
 

                                                 THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR FAITH

Their faith was tried and tested and they proved that God takes care of the faithful.   The fact they were captives did not mean they were forsaken and lost.  They were captives physically but not spiritually.

There Hebrew names had been changed but their faith had not changed.  The god's of the Babylonians were nothing and the God of Heaven stilled ruled and reigned.

God showed his power in the face and appearance of health he gave his servants that did not defile themselves with the unclean food.

Daniel because of God had already been favored.

Dan. 1:9 Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

Just as Joseph had been delivered so would these Hebrew boys.  God still works things out for his children today.

Rom. 8:28  And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good,
                   even to them that are called according to his purpose.

The faith of the Hebrew boys was rewarded in God giving them favor and knowledge and skill and learning and wisdom.

Dan. 1:17  Now as for these four youths,  God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning
                  and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

The proof of God's power was as clear as the skin of their face.  They did not have acne. pimples, zits or blackheads, rather they were ten times better off in appearance than all the others.

Dan. 1:18-20  And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in,
                       the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.  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.  And in every matter of
                      wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them
                      ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.

Just as these boys proved the power of God so does every Christian today that remains faithful and overcomes the world.

Just because sin is popular, pleasure some for a season and everyone is doing it we must not sin and need the faith to overcome as these Hebrew boys did.

These boys were tried as being the children of God and were acquitted.  If you are tested and tried as a Christian today will you show enough evidence of your faith to prove your relationship with God.
 

Conclusion
It takes courage to obey the Lord today  Denominational teachers scorn us, Satan mocks us and most everyone else is indifferent to sin.
To become a child of God:  Believe Jesus is God's son.  John. 8:24
                                           Repent of sin.  Luke 13:3-5
                                           Confess Christ name before men.  Matt. 10:32
                                            Be baptized in the element of water for remission of sins.  Acts 2:38
                                           Live faithful unto death.  Revelation 2:10

 
 
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