Garth Heckman

The David Alliance

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3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

NOTE…

They took the best of the best… not dummies.

THATS WHY I WOULD BE SAFE… THATS A JOKE

They would entertain them, feed them the best, meet their every need and put them with others who were also captured… take the best and the brightest, give them elite instructors, privileged education, New network and friends, New authorities over them, re-naming them… wearing them down. Many probably thought…

… I deserve this

…everyone is doing it

… God has forgotten me

… I will go back to God later

… This is so much better than my previous life

NOW IN A CULTURE THAT SERVED BAAL AND ASHERAH. THE GOD OF MONEY and POWER AND SEX

- THEY ARE TEENAGERS!!!!

This sounds a lot like our universities.. take the best and the brightest, give them elite instructors, privileged education, New network and friends, New authorities over them, re-naming them…

V. 6 But even out of the best of Judah, only 4 boys are mentioned. Only four stood the test.

Remember…

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

The others must have caved. V.6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah who stood out

Train them for 3 years.

Give them a royal role for service.

NOTE: The Assyrian nation dominated by fear and intimidation. They would skin their enemies alive and wall paper their houses with their skin…

BUT THE BABYLONIANS… They were far more subtle… Change your surroundings

Change your diet - the best to eat

Change your friends

Change your role - you are important

Change your name - identity

Change your education - mindset

FEED THE FLESHLY DESIRES FOR 3 YEARS

Be careful for the enemy prowls…. Seeking whom he may devour…. Prowling is sneaky… and then WHAM. You are dinner.

Are you allowing satan to pull your strings subtly?