Godly Living

We're coming to my sermon this morning now and I've found myself thinking about the end times lately. And I've been reading and studying the book of Revelation in my spare time. And there's a verse at the beginning of the book of Revelation. Most of you know it. It talks about the blessing that comes to the person who reads and hears the words of the prophecy of that book--and also heeds the words of the prophecy. Have you ever read that verse in the book of Revelation, anybody? I'm talking about v. 3 of chapter 1. It says there's a blessing for the person who reads, hears, and heeds Revelation's message. And there's something interesting that comes right after the emphasis on blessing in that verse. It goes on to say in Revelation 1:3, "[F]or the time is near." "[F]or the time is near." How many of you know the time of the end of the world is near? *******

And so I've been thinking about the end times lately. And what better book to study--certainly, the book of Revelation I've referred to, we could study as regards end times events--but I want to begin looking at another book instead today. It, too, has much to say about the time of the end. I'm talking about the Old Testament book of Daniel. Did you figure it out? We're going to be studying it beginning today. I'm going to be preaching on Daniel for the next number of weeks. And among other things, the book of Daniel has much to say about what's just around the corner in our lifetime as well as it talks about other topics including holy living, trusting the Lord, the providence of God, etc.

We're beginning a study in the book of Daniel this morning. And before we get to Daniel 1--to which I'd like you to turn--I want to give you a short introduction as you're turning. It's important we understand a few things as we're getting started in the book of Daniel. *******

The first thing I want to bring to your attention is the outline of the book. I have it on a transparency. It's a good thing to get a quick overview of what's contained in Daniel. And the chapter outline does well to do that. Actually, the book is laid out in two parts of six chapters each. I want you to notice that the first part--the first six chapters of Daniel have to do with his experiences (these are narratives as regards his experiences). And the second part--the second set of six chapters have to do with the prophet's visions. And so we have Daniel's experiences--the experiences of Daniel in narrative form. And then we have Daniel's visions--the things that he saw whether it was in a dream, during a prayer, or in a trance.

And so--something else you ought to know--the book of Daniel isn't written or put together in chronological order. You can't read it and say that, for example, chapter 5 comes right after chapter 4 and before chapter 6 because it doesn't. I'm talking about the chronological order of the book here. Daniel isn't written or put together in this way. I have another transparency to show you (see below). And I've also included the verses that give us clues to where certain chapters belong in the sequence of time.

	Chapter Outline of Daniel
Ch. 1	Refusal to Eat the King's Food
Ch. 2	The King's Dream (or The Statue)
Ch. 3	The Image of Gold (or The Fiery Furnace)
Ch. 4	Vision of a Great Tree (or The King's Pride)
Ch. 5	Writing on the Wall (or Belshazzar's Banquet)
Ch. 6	The Lions' Den
Ch. 7	Vision of the Four Beasts
Ch. 8	Vision of the Ram and Goat
Ch. 9	Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
Ch. 10	Vision of the Future/End
Ch. 11	Vision of the Future/End
Ch. 12	Vision of the Future/End

Book in Chronological Order:
Refusal to Eat	Ch. 1	1:1	Nebuchadnezzar beseiges Jerusalem
The Statue	Ch. 2	2:1	Nebuchadnezzar's 2nd year
The Fiery Furnace	Ch. 3	3:1	Nebuchadnezzar on throne
The Great Tree	Ch. 4	4:29	Nebuchadnezzar
The Four Beasts	Ch. 7	7:1	Belshazzar's 1st year
The Ram and Goat	Ch. 8	8:1	Belshazzar's 3rd year
Writing on the Wall	Ch. 5	5:30	Belshazzar deposed
The Seventy Weeks	Ch. 9	9:1	Darius' 1st year
The Lions' Den	Ch. 6	6:1	Darius on throne
The Future/End	Ch. 10-12	10:1	Cyrus' 3rd year

And something else now that's important to understand--there's been a battle over the book of Daniel. And the battle has centered around the whole issue of it's genuineness since in it is included much predictive prophecy. There are some people that don't believe it can be done--that a person can fortell the future prior to it happening. And so it is these who say the book of Daniel must have been written much later than the sixth century B.C.--the time in which Daniel lived--because how on earth could Daniel have possibly known about things that hadn't taken place yet? These people dismiss Daniel (the book) as genuine who don't believe in predictive prophecy.

And yet--And yet--something very important to note--Jeus doesn't dismiss the book. My brothers and sisters, it's one of the keys to telling whether or not a book in the Bible is authentic/inspired by God--this is one of the keys--if Jesus Himself quoted it. And Jesus does quote Daniel in Matthew 24 and v. 15 and Mark 13 and v. 14. Why don't you turn there real quickly so you can see it yourself. Hold your place in Daniel and turn to the book of Matthew 24 and v. 15. Notice, it says--these are Christ's words...

"Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (do you see that there?)--Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (and the verse concludes) standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) . . . (and the passage goes on to talk about the destruction that is to take place in that day due to the Antichrist setting himself up to be worshipped as God)" (Mt. 24:15). *******

And so we find that Jesus Himself quotes the book of Daniel. Daniel spoke of the "abomination of desolation" in his book, chapter 12 and v. 11. We'll be talking about what the "abomination of desolation" is near the end of this sermon series. But what I'm really wanting to say here is that our Lord, through His quoting of Daniel, has given, as it were, His stamp of approval to it's authenticity--to Daniel's genuineness. Despite what others think who don't believe in predictive prophecy, there ain't no hanky panky going on with the book of Daniel according to Christ. It is true that a person can foretell the future prior to it happening with the help of God.

One last thing now about Daniel and then we're considering chapter 1 this morning. The purpose of the book--you might want to write this down if you're taking notes. The purpose of the book of Daniel and the writing of it is to show the superiority of the God of Israel over the heathen idols of Babylonia. That's right out of the Bible Encyclopedia. Let me say it again. The purpose of the book of Daniel and the writing of it is to show the superiority of the God of Israel over the heathen idols of Babylonia. It's seen in three areas--this superiority of the Lord--#1: it's seen in the multiple deliverances of Daniel (and his friends especially in chapter 3), #2: it's seen in the passing away of the Babylonian Empire as Daniel predicted (chapter 2 & 5), and lastly #3: it's seen in the vision of the Messiah's reign which would continue forever (Dan. 7:13-14). We just studied it last month in Sunday School, how Christ's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Daniel himself sees a vision of that reality in his book. *******

And so I conclude my introduction to the book of Daniel this morning. And now we come to the book itself and chapter 1. And I want to begin reading and I'll be commenting as we go. We're in Daniel 1 and v. 1. The title of my message today is: Living For God In A Land Of Captivity." And let's just pause for a moment now to pray.

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and beseiged it. And the Lord (v. 2) (this is something to notice here)--And the Lord (it says) gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar's) hand, along with some of the vessels (the verse goes on) of the house of God; and he (Nebuchadnezzar) brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god (Dan. 1:1-2).

Lord gave" so-and-so and such-and-such into an evil king's hand--the first thing I want to say is that God is in control in the book of Daniel. From the get-go, we see that God is in control. It isn't Nebuchadnezzar who's in control and he decides to go down and overpower Jerusalem and it's king. No. It's God who's in control and He decides that Nebuchadnezzar can go down and do what he does. And God moves Nebuchadnezzar to do it. Again, the verse says, "And the Lord gave" so-and-so and such-and-such, the articles of God, into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. How many of you understand that if God didn't want it to happen, no matter what Nebuchadnezzar did--no matter how strong he was (and he was strong!)--how many of you understand he wouldn't be able to take Jerusalem or anything else for that matter if God didn't want it to happen? Is somebody still awake in the house of the Lord this morning? ******* "And the Lord gave" so-and-so and such-and-such into Nebuchadnezzar's hand we read in v. 2.

And included in the so-and-so and such-and-such the Lord gave into his hand were certain persons of noble Jewish blood. The royalty were also taken to Babylon from Israel to be subjects in that foreign land. Notice, v. 3 continues...

Then the king (Nebuchadnezzar) ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles (do you see that there?--some of the royal family and Jewish nobility were ordered by the king to be brought by the chief), (and v. 4 goes on now) youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; (and the verse continues) and he (Nebuchadnezzar) ordered him (Ashpenaz, his chief official) to teach them (these certain persons of noble Jewish blood who had met the king's requirements) the literature and language of the Chaldeans (the verse concludes) (Ashpenaz was to teach them) (Dan. 1:3-4).

And the king appointed for them (these hand-picked exiles in Babylon) a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king's personal service. 1:6 Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel (and so we finally meet Daniel here and we also meet his three friends as well), Hananiah (v. 6 goes on), Mishael and Azariah (Dan. 1:5-6).

We've read a portion now of the story of Daniel where we find that his country is beseiged and the people there are taken into exile. And I won't take any time this morning to talk about the ins-and-outs of why the southern kingdom of Judah was allowed to be ransacked by a heathen king other than I will say it was due to sin that God allowed for His people to go into captivity. My friends, it's always how the Lord deals with sin. He allows for "problems" to develop so that He gets the attention of the sinner. God loves men and women too much to not allow for problems to develop when they're sinning so that they might be awakened and realize what they've done and turn back to Him. That's why God allows the southern kingdom of Judah to be ransacked. And the people there are taken away to Babylon, some 450 miles east. And among the exiles who are taken are Daniel and his three friends. *******

And so the first thing I want to point out to you here is that they've been uprooted from their homeland--these four young men. How many of you know it's a hard thing to be uprooted from your homeland especially in the way that these boys are? ******* And so Daniel and his friends--they're uprooted from their homeland, first of all.

And then, as if that wasn't bad enough, they are then singled out and made to learn things of a godless culture. Did you happen to notice that? Our text says Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief official to teach them "the literature and language of the Chaldeans" in v. 4. ******* And so Daniel and his friends--they're uprooted from their homeland and then they're made to learn things of a godless culture. A type of stripping is taking place here, my brothers and sisters. Daniel and his friends are being stripped--listen--they're being stripped of their Jewish heritage--of their identity as people of Israel. *******

And it goes even further--this stripping--as we see in v. 7 that even their names are changed from Hebrew names in v. 6 to Babylonian names in v. 7. And so their Jewish heritage--their identity as Jews--Daniel and his friends are laid bare of it--kind of like a tree being stripped of it's bark--that's what's going on.

Uprooted from home. Made to learn things of a godless culture. Name changed. Identity stripped. If anything could discourage a person from living for God, it would be these things. ******* And yet Daniel isn't discouraged nor are his friends discouraged.

******* It's a lesson for us all, my brothers and sisters. As believers we live in exile. How many of you know this isn't our home--this "world"--we are far from our homeland--heaven?! ******* And isn't it also true that the godless culture we must operate in--it's always trying to make us a part of it--it's always trying to impress it's ways--it's thinking on us that we might act and think the way the it acts and thinks? ******* The "world"--it's in the Christian-identity stripping business, if you will, beloved. And if we're not careful we can become discouraged by it and lose our faith and become lukewarm and maybe even get the point of wanting to give up on living for Jesus since the world is always trying to strip us of our identity as Christians. *******

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself (Dan. 1:8). *******

I haven't mentioned it--though we did read about it in the beginning of v. 5--that along with the things that were happening to Daniel and his friends, they were to be made to eat of food and partake of wine from the king's table. And one source indicates that this so-called "choice" food and drink was forbidden according to an ancient Levitical dietary law (ZPBE Vol. 2, pg. 22). It was forbidden for a Jew to ingest these things. God's law forbade it.

And so what we have here in v. 8 is Daniel (and he's representing his friends as well as we'll see in just a moment)--what we have here is Daniel, though he's been stripped of a lot of things as regards who he is on the outside--homeland, culture, name, identity--he hasn't been stripped of what's on the inside of him, namely, his will, his resolve, his character. Daniel hasn't been stripped inwardly.

My brothers and sisters, Daniel remains true to God despite living in a land of captivity. Did you hear that? Daniel remains true to God despite living in a land of captivity. It's seen in the fact that he seeks permission, the second part of v. 8 says, to not defile himself with food and drink items that are forbidden by God for him to partake of. ******* And so Daniel remains true to God in a land of captivity from the inside out.

And let's just continue reading at v. 9 now as Daniel's doing that. And, by the way, it's a very precarious position Daniel finds himself in here, isn't it? I mean, it's not like he has much pull in the position he's in. Daniel's an exile in a foreign land. How dare he ask to not defile himself? How dare he refuse the king's food? ******* And yet he does it anyway. Daniel does it anyway. And I believe Daniel does it because he knows that God'll somehow work things out for him. Somehow God'll work things out. It's a mark of Daniel's faith. "I don't know how You're going to do it, Lord, but I'm going to remain true to you anyway." It's Daniel's mentality here. My friends, it needs to be our mentality. *******

Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials (do you see that there?--isn't that something?--Daniel's resolve, his faith is rewarded) (and now v. 10 goes on) and the commander of the officials said to Daniel (as he's seeking permission to not defile himself--the commander responds), "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces (he's referring to the four friends here--and he goes on) looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king (Dan. 1:9-10). *******

And now this is the point in the story where Daniel shows his diplomacy skills. And it's with somebody else he's diplomatic with, I want you to notice. It's with the overseer whom the commander he was just speaking with put in charge of Daniel. Notice, as we're in v. 11 now and doing our best to read the entire story today--notice v. 11 goes on...

But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (and v. 12 goes on--Daniel says to the overseer), "Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance (v. 13) be observed in your presence, and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see." So he (the overseer--v. 14) listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days (Dan. 1:11-14).

And at the end of ten days their appearance (Daniel and his friends) seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food. 1:16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables (Dan. 1:15-16).

And as for these four youths (Daniel and his friends), God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. 1:18 Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king (v. 19) talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's personal service. 1:20 And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and con jurers who were in all his realm. And Daniel (v. 21--the final verse) continued until the first year of Cyrus the king (Dan. 1:17-21).

Now let me just offer you some final comments on the story since we're running out of time and then we'll close. As I've been talking today about living for God in a land of captivity and how Daniel and his friends are a picture of us as believers living far from our heavenly home in a captive land called the "world" ******* and Daniel and his friends are also an example to us of how we should live in this captive land of ours--I want to offer you four lessons we learn from Daniel 1 this morning. I've already commented on two. But let me just give you 'em all together so you have 'em. Four lessons from Daniel 1...

LESSON #2: We will be challenged in the area of whether or not we'll continue living for God. (Daniel was stripped and then called upon to eat and drink that which was unlawful. Question: When all things are taken from you, will you still be true to God?)

And let me just say that a lot of Christians would do well to follow Daniel's example and learn the art of diplomacy. Too often some of us--we come out guns drawn and shooting when if we just acted like adults and expressed our desires in a civil and respectful manner, we'd be surprised--God would work things out as we were hoping if we would just act like adults. Listen--Daniel was a master diplomat. He "sought permission" to not defile himself. And then he offered a reasonable plan as regards his request. And he didn't yell at the top of his lungs when he did it. And He didn't get into the face of the commander of the officials or his overseer. Daniel was a master diplomat. And it ended up being the way God had planned to deliver him and his friends in this instance--through the use of diplomacy. Later in the book, we'll find out it won't work. Civil disobedience will be what God requires (The Fiery Furnace--Dan. 3; The Lion's Den--Dan. 6). But at least this time diplomacy/wise negotiating was God's plan.

LESSON #4: The humble are exalted. Another way of saying it: If you refuse to not give up living for God despite everything around you that's trying to get you to do it, God's going to bless you for it. (Daniel and his friends trusted God. They clung to His commandments--they clung to His law--despite being stripped. It's a mark of humility--these young men's actions. It's the opposite of pride. And so God raised them up to high positions in the Nebuchadnezzar's administration because they were humble--because they clung to Him.)

Attorney General John Ashcroft is a modern-day Daniel. Comment on the challenges he faced in his appointment to President George W. Bush's cabinet. Ashcroft clung to his Christianity. And now God is using him in the administration of this great country of ours. (He has since retired in Jan 2005!)