THURSDAY January 26, 2017
The Cream of the Crop
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. - Daniel 1:1
During the first siege of Jerusalem, King Nebuchadnezzar picked the best from among the Jewish people––the cream of the crop, to take captive for himself to Babylon. He took young men who were wise and intelligent, to train them in the ways of Babylonians and to help prosper his kingdom. Daniel was one of those young men; he may have been thirteen years old at the time of his captivity:
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, 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 (Daniel 1:3-4).
During the second siege, King Nebuchadnezzar went into the temple and took all the beautiful cups and utensils. In his final siege, the city of Jerusalem was burned to the ground and the people taken captive for seventy years, but he allowed some of the poor to remain in the city.
Interestingly, as we go back to the book of Deuteronomy 28:64-65, what God said did come to pass. The Lord, at this time, judged His people. God would now use Daniel, his three friends, and the Prophet Ezekiel to speak to His captive people in the kingdom of Babylon.
During this time in history, God is choosing His best to be used in His kingdom for His purposes. Are you ready to be used by the Lord?
…be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master,
prepared for every good work.
~2 Timothy 2:21~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!