“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” (v.1)

B. BEHIND THE CURTAIN, GOD IS PROFOUNDLY IN CHARGE!
“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.” (v.2)

C. BEHIND THE CURTAIN, GOD IS PROACTIVELY INVOLVED!
“Then the king commanded … to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (vv.3-4)

“And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (v.7)