EXILES AS

MISSIONAR
IES

Lesson 5 for August 1, 20

DANIEL, A MISSIONARY IN
EXILE

Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of
the children of Israel and some of the kings descendants and some of the nobles,
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 kings
palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
(Daniel 1:3-4)

Daniel and his friends had to

follow their faith without the
main pillars of Judaism in
Babylon: The temple, the
priesthood and the sacrifices.
Daniels testimony in that
strange
recorded
in
Danielland
1:8. was
Daniel
purposed
the
inBible:
his heart that he would not

defile himself.
Daniel 2:47. Truly your God
is the God of gods.
Daniel 5:12. Inasmuch as an
excellent spirit, knowledge,
understanding were found
in this Daniel.

WITNESSES IN BABYLON

Ne
bu
ch
ad
ar ne
zz

God used the exiled believers to

testify before the Babylonian kings
several times so they could be
converted.

Belsha
zzar

Daniel 2
He accepted
God as being
greater than
other gods.
Daniel 3
He saw Jesus
and praised God
before his
subjects.
Daniel 4
He was finally
humiliated
and
converted.

Daniel 5
Sadly, he didnt
accept God.

Through the Hebrew captives the Lord

was made known to the heathen in
Babylon. This idolatrous nation was given a
knowledge of the kingdom the Lord was to
establish, and through His power maintain
against all the power and craft of Satan.
Daniel and his fellow-companions, Ezra and
Nehemiah, and many others were
witnesses for God in their captivity. The
Lord scattered them among the kingdoms
of the earth that their light might shine
brightly amid the black darkness of
heathenism and idolatry.
E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, on Daniel 2:47)

A WITNESS IN PERSIA

Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and

satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave
thought to setting him over the whole realm. (Daniel 6:3)

Daniel was a minister in the

previous government. Still he
was respected in the new
rgime because of his honesty
and faithfulness.
Darius had confidence in him.
He knew Daniel had a strong
relationship with God: Your
God, whom you serve
continually, He will deliver
you. (Daniel 6:16).
Daniels testimony ended up as
a royal decree that read men
must tremble and fear before
the God of Daniel.
(Daniel 6:26).

Then to Him was given dominion and glory

and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and
languages should serve Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass
away, and His kingdom the one which shall
not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)

Daniel had several visions

about the End Time (Daniel
8:17, 19; 12:4, 9, 13). Those
visions have been a living
testimony over many
generations, so we could
strength our trust in Gods
Word.
The main theme Jesus
in all those
used
prophecies is theDaniels
establishment ofprophecies
Gods eternal
kingdom on Earth.
when He talked
about the signs
of His Coming
and the

A
PROPHETIC
TESTIMONY

OTHER EXILED
MISSIONARIES

And seek the peace

of the city where I
have caused you to be
carried away captive,
and pray to the Lord
for it; for in its
peace you will
They knew
have peace.

Daniel

(Jeremiah 29:7)

God allowed
that several
men and
women were
sent to exile
so they could
testify there,
either
actively or
passively.
They were a
blessing for
both the
people and

he was
Hebrew.
He made
his
religious
conviction
s public.
God
protected
him and
his
He
testified
friends.
from
important
positions to
save his
and other
peoples

Esther

They
didnt
know she
was
Hebrew.
She
kept

her
religion
secret.
God
protected
her and
She
her family.
testified
from
important
positions to
save her
and her
peoples

Joseph
They knew
he was
Hebrew.
He made
his
religious
conviction
s public.
God
protected
him and
his testified
family.
He
from
important
positions to
save that
country
and his

What a lifework was that of these noble

Hebrews! As they bade farewell to their
childhood home, how little did they dream
of their high destiny! Faithful and
steadfast, they yielded themselves to the
divine guiding, so that through them God
could fulfill His purpose.
E.G.W. (Education, cp. 7, pg. 57)

Lets give our life to

God so He can use us
to fulfill His good