Pt. 18a, the Biblical Story - Daniel

 
1. Serving Faithfully in Exile - Daniel Pt. 18a, the Biblical Story By Pastor Dan Kennedy © August 3, 2014 www.pastorkennedy.com Nury Vittachi recently wrote an article in Science 2.0, titled, “Scientists discover that atheists might not exist, and that’s not a joke”. Further in his article it says, that … … Some scientists [are] claiming that “atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think,” says Graham Lawton, an avowed atheist himself, writing in the New Scientist. “They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.”      This shouldn’t come as a surprise, since we are born believers, not atheists, scientists say. Humans are pattern-seekers from birth, with a belief in karma, or cosmic justice, as our default setting. “A slew of cognitive traits predisposes us to faith,” writes Pascal Boyer in Nature, the science journal, adding that people “are only aware of some of their religious ideas”.1 1 http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/scientists_discover_that_atheists_might_not_exist_and_thats_not_a_joke-139982 Worship of God or supernatural deities are recorded in the earliest human records, throughout history, in every culture; and, belief in God and/or the supernatural continues to be a primary belief of the majority of people in the world today. Almost all fictional stories, Vittachi notes, are crafted having the underlying need and response for “cosmic justice”, pitting good against bad, and the ultimate victory of good over evil. Rarely the ultimate hero or heroine is a terribly evil despot who destroys all and wins in the end; such stories, if to be published for the public, are infrequent and are commonly known as “bleak narratives”. “Bleak narratives” do not resonate well with human beings! Everyone naturally has a desire for good to prevail. While some bleak stories are well-received by critics, they rarely win mass popularity among readers or moviegoers. Stories without the appropriate outcome mechanism feel incomplete. The purveyor of cosmic justice is not just a cast member, but appears to be the hidden heart of the show. 2 - Ibid. [Emphasis mine] God cannot be redacted or expunged from the pages of human history. In fact, Jesus Christ has been determined, by secular analysis’ to be the most historically significant person – ever! “With over two billion followers a full 2,000 years after his death”….Author’s Skiena and Ward concluded in their book, Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank, “Jesus Christ is the most significant person ever.” 3 3 Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank, by Steven Skiena and Charles Ward (published by Cambridge University Press) (http://www.whoisbigger.com) Mankind is naturally infused with the innate desire for good, right, justice and honor to prevail…predisposing us to faith in a Supernatural Good God, unless, of course, we choose otherwise – because of the whims and sins of our own carnal nature. So…the internal tug of war continues on between good and evil – within our soul! Because of the ultra-complexity of our bodies…not even commenting on the “hard question” of where did our consciousness come from, with the prevalence of vast and profound creation all around us, we are predisposed to understand naturally that we could not exist without being created by a Supernatural Power. “We know that nothing ever created anything!” But we still may aggressively adhere to this illogical, impossible belief that God, our Creator, does not exist. Creation is the greatest revealer of God to humankind (Romans 1:19-20). At times of His own choosing, God Supernaturally Reveals Himself…to Anyone Good or Bad, Common or Powerful! Today we are looking at the book of Daniel in the Bible. Three pertinent examples of those whom God revealed Himself to are as follows: • Daniel believed God and pressed forward facing huge obstacles at times, through that faith. His faith did not require supernatural “fireworks” in order for him to trust God. The depth of Daniel’s confidence in God was internal – not needing an external source. • The kings of Babylon, on the other hand, were confronted by God’s Supernatural Power, not once but multiple times. When they were confronted, they acknowledged God’s Sovereign Power. • The three Hebrew friends of Daniel had the same depth of conviction in their faith toward God as Daniel did, which was not based on Supernatural deliverance, but on the reality that the All Powerful God of heaven, was their God, and they believed in Him, even if He did not choose to deliver them. God reveals Himself to the most irreligious and to the most heathen idol worshipper in ways that will rock their world. When He does, that person is shaken into the reality that there is vastly more to this life than that which only affects “me”, and that there is a Supernatural Dynamic in this world that reveals His Power and Presence through ways that could never be defined as “natural”. • God allows His Supernatural Power to be seen in the life of the unbelieving person, because He truly exists and He wants the agnostic to know Him, and to have faith in Him. • God allows a revelation of Himself to those who believe in Him because He is their God! The book of Daniel is full of both such revelations of God. Daniel God shook the world of Daniel and of Nebuchadnezzar (with those surrounding them), through supernatural encounters with Himself. Today, in His own way, God individually personalizes His encounters with us. Not only does God work through Supernatural means to reveal Himself, He works in and through the normal lives of those who believe in Him to fulfill His purposes in the world. 1. How did Daniel survive the troubling circumstances surrounding his youth? • Corrupt political leadership, • The demise and capture of Israel’s northern kingdom, • Babylon attacks Judah, • Jeremiah’s prophecies against sinning Judah, • Nebuchadnezzar’s besieging of Jerusalem, • The personal tragedy in the forced separation of Daniel from his family, at around 16 years of age – what happened to his family? • A nine month or more trek by foot in a forced desert march to Babylon, • When brought to Babylon, Daniel and his three friends faced the very likely personal humiliation of being forced to become eunuchs. (See Isaiah 39:7. They were also under supervision of “the chief eunuch” - Daniel 1:3, 7) • They had no assurance of a position in their trial appointment to youth governmental administrative leadership circles. (Daniel 1:5-16) (See Daniel 1) What sustained Daniel’s early spiritual life when everyone around him in his own nation was worshipping carnal and despicable gods – the worship of which actually caused the nation’s downfall? I believe, most likely God used the Power of a Godly Parents and friends. What held together Daniel’s belief in God and youthful spiritual life when his nation was conquered and eventually completely captured, burned and destroyed? When it seemed God had departed from Israel? I believe, through The Power of God’s Holy Spirit working in Daniel’s personal life. What happened to Daniel spiritually when he was carried off to a foreign, heathen land? Daniel was spared, I believe, through The Power of God’s Holy Spirit, working together in the fellowship of others of like faith. What happened to Daniel when he was confronted with the uncomfortable decisions of eating non-kosher food, most likely dedicated to idols…pressured into following the expectations of those around him, and not doing what he knew was right before his God? He appealed to those in authority to give him the opportunity to follow the dictates of his conscience, in what he believed would be honorable to God. How did Daniel survive the troubling circumstances of his youth? Daniel survived by Trusting in his God. When King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a very troubling dream and made a firm decision as to how he would know it was properly interpreted, Daniel and his friends were now thrust into a dilemma that threatened their lives. 2. How did Daniel survive the troubling, life-threatening circumstances surrounding Nebuchadnezzar’s Demands regarding his dream? Daniel 2:1–13 Nebuchadnezzar’s Demand because of his Troubling Dreams 2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. The King’s Ironclad Requirement – “Tell me my dream, and then interpret it for me! This way I know your interpretation will be accurate.” How do you suppose the majority of the “magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans” responded to King Nebuchadnezzar’s life-threatening requirement concerning his dream? • They most certainly got together at their most secret conclave and vehemently complained, cursed, and condemned the king’s “totally unreasonable” edict. • They may also have secretly conspired to conjure a way to destroy the life of the king before he destroyed all of them. They did not respond in appeal to the God of heaven, as did Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. Daniel’s Response Daniel responded as he had throughout his life when faced with heartrending, life-threatening dilemmas: • When the Babylonian soldiers surrounded Daniel’s home in Jerusalem how did he respond? Had Daniel, as a young teenager, called on the Name of the Lord for protection then – as he would now? • Did he respond as he had numerous times on that long – almost yearlong desert death march to Babylon, when he felt he might not be able to go on? • Did he respond in cries to God as he and his three Hebrew friends did – as they often faced cultural and moral dilemmas, such as the non-kosher food in the royal court, surrounded by carnal, suspicious and sarcastic peers? Daniel responded to the iron-fisted decree in calmness and wisdom, and he and his three friends cried out to God for His revelation and protection. Daniel 2:14–24 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time that he might show the interpretation to the king. 17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21  He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22  he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23  To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” 24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” What happened next? Daniel 2:25–30 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Revealed specific things to the king, but it also revealed critical things to Daniel and to Everyone else – including Us! Daniel 2:31–45 31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” • What did this dream reveal to Nebuchadnezzar? o It revealed that God had given Nebuchadnezzar this great kingdom, which was inferior to none other – and for which he, as king, was accountable before God. • What did this dream reveal to Daniel? o The dream confirmed once again to Daniel the certainty and reality of the God of heaven. o The dream and the circumstances surrounding its revelation confirmed the integrity and stability of Daniel’s own faith and worship of his God – the God of heaven, and that singular worship and honor to this God was the only way for him to live and conduct the affairs of his life. o Although Daniel was in exile and would never return to his own country, the God he served would one day rule over all the nations of the world, in a very visible, physical and practical reality (through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – Daniel 7:13-14; Matt. 26:64)! • What does this dream reveal to Us? o That we can historically validate and authenticate the revelation of the kingdoms of the world, (which dominated the known world and directly affected Israel), which dominated the world in the sequence revealed by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream as revealed, by God. o It confirms to us that in the end, the God of heaven will conquer all; and, as the Scriptural declares, the “stone” cut out of the mountain without hands is the Messiah Jesus Christ who will be King of kings and Lord of lords - forever! (Daniel 2:44; 7:14, 18, 27; Luke 1:31-33; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 11:15; 19:11-16, see addendum.) Conclusion Do we feel sometimes that because of serious physical pain, or awkward frustrating relationships, or distressful pressure, that you may be living in your own personalized “exile”? Even as Daniel was an “exile” – living in “captivity”? The only safe place is to put your confidence in God, who is our hope in this life, and our ultimate hope for eternity! God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream, which revealed specific insight into dominant world kingdoms that would rise – and which have, in fact, taken place, just as the dream from God predicted. The final Kingdom to be revealed, which would destroy all the kingdoms of this world, is the revelation of His Eternal Kingdom! Addendum The God of heaven will conquer all, in the end – and, we know from the following passages regarding the Messiah, that Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords - forever! Daniel 2:44 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, Daniel 7:13–14 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And 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 one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:27 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ Luke 1:31–33 (the angelic announcement to Jesus’ mother, Mary) 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Matthew 26:64 (Spoken by Jesus at His trial, referring to Dan. 7:13, that He is the Messiah) 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Hebrews 1:8 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. Revelation 11:15 15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 19:11–16 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. http://www.pastorkennedy.comhttp://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/scientists_discover_that_atheists_might_not_exist_and_thats_not_a_joke-139982http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/scientists_discover_that_atheists_might_not_exist_and_thats_not_a_joke-139982http://www.whoisbigger.comshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3