46 matching verse commentaries
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. Sin always brings its punishment. King Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the Lord, so God used Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to be the rod in his hand to scourge his sinful people and their wicked king.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, It was not merely that Nebuchadnezzar was strong enough to overcome the Jews; but God handed over his people into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. The enemy cannot touch the Church of God without the divine permission. Dan_1:2. With part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children — Or, youths, —
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
In whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Nebuchadnezzar was, in many respects, an enlightened ruler. He looked upon this as one of...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: Treating them exceedingly well, thinking, perhaps, that the very food they ate might help to tone their minds for the work to which he had called them. He wished to make them into true Chaldeans, so be ordained that they must eat of the meat he ate,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
That at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: You know these men’s names. You will recognize them when you hear them in their altered form.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: This was to Chaldeanize them, to take away from them everything Jewish. Dan_1:7. For he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. Now these young men’s Jewish names had, each one of them, the name of God wrought...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But Daniel purposed in his heart — I always like to come across a “but” when there is any scheme of this kind on. When the plan is to seduce men from right, then it is a happy thing to have a but, but, but, “But Daniel purposed in his heart,” determined, settled, fixed it, Dan_1:8. That he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. It was like the case of Joseph and Potiphar. Daniel’s gentle disposition, his loving ways, his open and frank spirit, had won upon the prince of the eunuchs, so that he not...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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. What a reign of terror there is in a despotic country, where kings can do as they will! For...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Then said Daniel to Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. I like it that the Holy Ghost uses their old names whenever it is proper that they should be used. May we never lose our old names! I...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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. “If we do fall off, and grow thin, and look pale and ill through this coarse food, as you think it, well then, alter it; and if, on the other hand, we should be as well as...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. A round number, standing for a sufficient period to afford a fair test.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And at the end of days their countenances appeared fairer — and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. I doubt not that the satisfaction of heart which they had in keeping themselves undefiled tended to give them a good digestion, and thus they were more likely to be well than were the others.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: God can help us in our study. We may pray as much over what we have to learn as over what we have to do. I believe that, often, a difficult problem can...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 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. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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. They communed with God, and that was better than being magicians or stargazers. Men of God are ten times better than all that lot put together.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. Those two words summarize the whole of Daniel’s history: Daniel continued.” May God give to each of us here grace to continue as Daniel did!
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; Who can stand before envy? High places furnish very uncomfortable seats, for even if God exalt a man, men will try to pull him down; but he is an honourable man indeed who puts his enemies to their shifts...