Most of us go about our daily routines without giving much thought to HOW the devices we use were constructed. Many of the items you use for work, play, and education rely on what are known as rare earth elements. There are seventeen rare earth elements in the periodic table, and all of these are extremely useful in technology – really, really valuable. "How valuable?" you ask? The F-35 Fighter Jet has 920 pounds of rare earth materials in it. The Tesla Model 3 uses a rare earth element in its magnetic motor. But you know what is even rarer than rare earth elements? H O P E - Hope.
I find hope to be one of the rarest things in our day. In nearly everyone I speak to, we simply lack hope. There's a lack of hope for our beloved country. There's a lack of hope for our children's future. Hope is rarer than even rare earth elements. We are in desperate need of hope.
The number one thing people are looking for, hungry for, begging for, thirsting for, living for, even dying for is HOPE! Hope is not only one of the most powerful words in the English language, it truly is one of the most powerful forces in the world. For some hope, I invite you to turn to the Old Testament book of Daniel. For anyone new to the Bible, you'll love the first part of Daniel as the stories are jam-packed exciting while the second part reads like science-fiction!
Daniel has some of the most exciting stories in all of the Bible. It is action-packed story after story of one miracle after another. Did you know that when Daniel lived, God's people were parched for hope? And at just the right time, God comes along and raises up Daniel and his three friends.
Today's Scripture (Read before the Message)
"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 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. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, four youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 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" (Daniel 1:1-7).
Again, people love the book of Daniel. Children love this book as well – just as any children's Sunday school teacher. For years, Children's workers have taught little children would sing:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone,
Dare to have a purpose firm.
Dare to make it known.
Imagine if you heard America was invaded by a foreign nation. Before your TV was overtaken by the invading nation's censors, you heard reports of churches being burned to the ground all over the land. You leave your house to drive up Grapevine Highway 26 and Glenview to find your church building is burned to the ground. Friends and church family members are scattered all around sobbing and on their knees, crying. The building where you were married, you were baptized, your worshipped, and your loved one's funerals were held was no more. You swing by your high school, and there they have torn up the football field. All the band instruments are in the dumpster outback. Your school's marquee has been torn down. That's what happened to young Daniel. His whole world was shaken, and every sacred place he cherished was razed to the ground. The journey would have been around 680 miles long if they had marched through the ancient city of Damascus. They were deported to the modern nation of Iraq. They would spend the rest of their lives in a foreign nation and were given no choice in the matter. They would look at the best and the brightest men in the country they conquered - the best looking, the smartest, socially well-to-do, the crème-de-la-crème, the first round draft picks, the five-star recruits. He was separated from many of his friends and family members. Despite all of this, Daniel still had hope! Listen carefully: God is able and willing to do mighty things through His people who believe in Him.
Let's find hope with Daniel.
1. Unshakable Hope
"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 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" (Daniel 1:1-2).
In this snow globe of a world, we all need unshakeable hope. Verse 1 and 2 tell you when Daniel's takes place and why Daniel's story takes place.
1.1 When
The story of Daniel begins all the way back in 605 BC. Daniel tells us about the fall of the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the Persians. The Babylonian Empire attacked Jerusalem in 3 stages, beginning in 605 BC. The Babylonian Empire was shaking the known world like you might shake a snow globe in a gift shop. All hope was seemingly lost. This world is STILL shaky, isn't it? It might be a car accident for you or the decision of your spouse or your child. Your world is in a tailspin all of sudden without warning. Your teenager tells you she's pregnant. You are panicking for her. All your plans and your hopes for her are gone at that moment! For Daniel and his friends, hope was gone because of the capture of their beloved city of Jerusalem. The Chaldeans defeated the world's superpower of the day, Egypt, in the famous Battle of Carchemish, just as Daniel opens. And now they were conquering Daniel's nation. Daniel was but a teenager when he was forcibly carted off to another nation. Just like today, people then were searching for an unshakable hope.
1.1.1 Jehoiakim
You need to understand a little about two major players in this story: King Jehoiakim of Judah and King Nebuchadnezzar of the world superpower, Babylon. King Jehoiakim was Daniel's king. Jehoiakim was but a young man when he was elevated to rule Judah in October 609 BC: "Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God" (2 Chronicles 36:5). When your nation has terrible leadership, it hurts every single person – even the young people such as Daniel. Bad character in high places has a "trickle-down" effect. Years before, the King detested God's words so much that he cut the scroll into pieces and tossed them in the fire (Jeremiah 36:23). He thought he could get rid of God by simply burning God's words. Here was a man who had no fear of God! That's the king of Judah.
Let me introduce you to his counterpart, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar.
1.1.2 Nebuchadnezzar
He is the architect of the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. He thinks highly of himself – not only does he put up a statue of himself, but his statue is ninety feet high and nine feet wide. We'll see a lot more of Nebuchadnezzar in the weeks to come. He rules over this world superpower for more than forty years.
1.2 Why?
Now, why does Daniel's story takes place?
1.2.1 The Land of Shinar
Your first clue is embedded toward the end of verse 2. You might write Genesis 11:1-9 above the words "the land of Shinar" at the end of verse 2. Let me share with you why: "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" (Daniel 1:2b). Daniel wants you to remember the story of the Tower of Babel from the book of Genesis, a famous incident where people did everything they possibly could to oppose God.
The Tower of Babel
Briefly, the Tower of Babel is a well-known and ancient story where the whole earth speaks the same language. In the same place that Daniel finds himself, the people decide to build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves. God didn't care for their arrogance, and He intervened. Daniel finds himself in the very same place, the land of Shinar. Daniel and his friends were far from home because his people didn't obey the Lord, their God. God walks away from His people in hopes that His people will run to Him. God walks away from His people in hopes that His people will run to Him. Has God walked away from you, hoping you'll run after Him?
1.2.2 The "Why" Behind the Book of Daniel
Let me show a second why for Daniel's story: "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" (Daniel 1:2).
Daniel's story is in your Bible, so you'll always know hope. The book of Daniel was included in your Bible, so you would know of the absolute sovereignty of God.
1.2.3 The Book of Daniel's Big Purpose
We are in desperate need of hope right now. In a recent Pew Center survey, Americans are not optimistic about our future. Most people see a bleak future in many areas. There is widespread depression, drug abuse, addiction, and loneliness. Remember, my Christian friends, Jesus said a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground without His permission (Matthew 10:29). There is one God who is in control over all the events of the past, the present, and the future. No evil king, no sitting senator, and no school bully can thwart His Almighty hand. No single molecule runs loose and in anarchy in the universe. When it seems like all is lost, God's Temple is burned down, and the gods of this world have conquered Him, God is able to accomplish His will no matter what comes against Him.
1.2.4 What is Hope?
Daniel's story gives us hope. Hope is the desire for something good in your future. Whenever we talk about hope, we are often uncertain about something. I hope to work at my job for thirty years or more. But uncertainty comes in when you think, "Will my boss want me around that long?" I hope to start on varsity in my sophomore year. But uncertainty raises up, and you think, "Will I be good enough to make the team much less start?" It's the uncertainty of good things that makes hope elusive.
Hope in the Christian sense is the confident expectation of future blessings and the confidence that the best is yet to come. Biblical Hope not only desires something good – it expects something good is going to happen. Biblical Hope not only expects something good will happen – it is confident it will happen. Hope in the Christian sense is the confident and certain expectation of future blessings and the confidence that the best is yet to come. God controls everything, and nothing controls Him! I have hope in God!
Oh, we are in desperate need of hope right now. We need a hope that a virus cannot touch. We need a hope that a divorce cannot destroy. We need a hope that a bankruptcy cannot obliterate!
1.3 Winston Churchill and Hope
When Winston Churchill was asked about his country's greatest weapon against the Nazi regime, Churchill didn't hesitate to respond. He said, "It was what England's greatest threat had always been… hope." The Nazi regime had conquered nearly all of nearby Europe, and America wouldn't engage in the battle. What Churchill knew is the most empowering thought a person can receive is hope. It is unquestionably the strongest motivational force in all the earth. When hope fills our hearts, we dream of a better future. We begin to see possibilities that otherwise would not have been seen. It makes the seemingly impossible become possible. God is the God of a great big hope.
1. Unshakable Hope
2. Unshakable Grit
"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Again, God gave Babylon (the enemy) two items: the vessels from the Temple and these four young men. Daniel and his three friends are key characters in our story.
2.1 Daniel
Daniel was probably just a teenager when he was ripped out of his land. Daniel and his three friends, whom you probably know by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, are forced to leave their homes and go into exile.
2.2 Babylon Compared to Judah
Babylon was a city bigger, stronger, and shinier than anything the Hebrew boys had ever seen. As they drew closer, there was a large bridge for them to cross before entering one of the many glorious gates of the city. Can you imagine how intimidating the scene must have been for these Hebrew boys! As they walked across the bridge, I am sure the city walls were filled with Babylonian teenagers jeering and hurling insults at these young men. The people of God were heartbroken. Beginning in verse 3, we notice that Nebuchadnezzar attempted to reprogram Daniel and his friends. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the chief of his court officials to choose young men who would be easily molded by their new environment. They sought to "babylonianize" the next generation. They sought to isolate them from their spiritual heritage, and they did everything possible to get their church out of them.
2.3 Name Change
"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" (Daniel 1:7).
First, he changed their names. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Why is this a big deal? Notice that Daniel and Mishael both end with the letters "el." El is Hebrew meant God. Daniel's name meant "God is my Judge" Mishael's name meant "Who is like God?" Azariah means "one who Yahweh helps," and Hananiah means, "Yahweh is gracious." Now, do you see why Babylon changed their names? Every one of their names was a reminder of their faith. Their new names were modeled after the Babylonian gods of Marduk, Bel, and Nebo.
The four teenagers were the targets of an intense reeducation program. They hoped to erase their faith identities and connect them with gods that were cherished by the "world's value system." "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect' (Romans 12:2). Your job, mom and dad, is to stamp your children with God so that when they do go to Babylon, their name is already branded deep in their DNA. Babylon will get them, and Babylon will try to rename them.
2.3 Education
"youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans" (Daniel 1:4). If you go into a Babylonian school located in a Babylonian city by Babylonian teachers, reading Babylonian literature, then you are going to start to think like a Babylonian! This wasn't just about eating your vegetables!
2.4 Three Years
This was about reprogramming their very minds: "The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. (Daniel 1:5). Three years! – Freshman year, Sophomore year, and Junior Year! It was a three-year spiritual reprogramming for these godly Hebrew teenagers. In place of God creating the heavens and the earth, they were told about omens, magic, sorcery, and astrology. Can you imagine the kind of confidence these teens had in God's Word to withstand three years of indoctrination? Can you imagine the discipleship process their parents and their rabbis had done? And one more "can you imagine" – can you imagine the faithfulness of these four teens? Somebody say, "Wow!"
2.4 Dependence on the King's Wealth
"The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. (Daniel 1:5). Yes, they would eat well but notice carefully they were trained to get their food – "a daily portion." The word behind this word means a governmentally provided daily portion. Yes, this was excellent food and just what the king ate, but it was also governmentally rationed food. These young men were being tempted to eat the king's food just like the lion in the zoo eats his daily rationed food. After three years, they would develop such a life of dependence they wouldn't dare cross their new master. Give a man a fish, and you feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Everything was being thrown at these four teenage boys to get them to adopt the world's values. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).
2.5 Americanize
Satan will use different strategies to make you adopt this world's values. For some, he will violently persecute you and attack you. But for others, he will seduce you with the king's finest foods. He will make you like a caged lion eating the choicest food the king offers. And like the frog in the kettle, you wake up caged by the world's golden handcuffs around your wrists. You want to be free, but you'd rather enjoy the good life.
2.6 Daniel's Resolve
"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
The Chaldeans thought they had changed Daniel's character. In reality, all they did was change his circumstances. Daniel had an inner resolve. He refused to wear "the golden handcuffs" of a royal daily handout. There is more to Daniel than meets the eye! He had a deep commitment to the living God that location could not change! Here was a man with conviction! There are certain places you don't go! There are certain people you don't need to be near. And there are certain things you don't need to do.
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone,
Dare to have a purpose firm.
Dare to make it known.
Daniel teaches us how to live when you believe in the one true God in a world where the moral compass is broken. Now, Daniel appears to have been the leader among them as well as the spokesman to the authorities. Yet the decision was a mutual one made by all four young men.
2.7 Daniel's Resourcefulness
We know he has resolve but also watch the winsome way Daniel handles the situation. In verse 8, we learn he sought permission of chief eunuch over him: "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). Some of you have "bad bosses" telling us to do something contrary to God's instructions. Again, Daniel was winsome in how he approached it. Daniel responded with respect for those in authority. He didn't go "scorched earth" and act like he was morally better than everyone else. Daniel and his friends took a calculated risk in asking for ten days. "After ten days, test your servants and see if we measure up," Daniel said in effect. Daniel's proposal wasn't scorched earth, and it wasn't to run. Learn from Daniel's resolve and his resourcefulness. Instead, Daniel was creative, and God was moving in the heart of the king's officials.
God permitted this "bad boss" to exist, and Daniel and his three friends had to deal with him. The Bible says that God caused the chief eunuch to have favor toward Daniel in verse 9. My dear Christian friend, when the world says you need to accept this lifestyle or you may lose the deal… … remember the resolve of Daniel. When this world says, "Everyone takes a bribe" and "Everyone cheats to get ahead,"… remember the resolve of Daniel.
1. Unshakeable Hope
2. Unmovable Grit
3. Unbelievable Act
"Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility" (Daniel 1:3).
Before we close the book, I need to show every grandparent in the room one thing.
3.1 Split His Trust
The ancient Jewish rabbis said that these four boys were descendants of King Hezekiah. The ancient Jewish rabbis said that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were descendants of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah ruled 130 years before. Let me tell you a quick story about "Grandpa Hezekiah" ?. King Hezekiah opened every closet door in the king's treasuries house in an effort to secure help from the nation of Assyria back in his day. Every single door and every single closet. He was playing an ancient version of The Price is Right in order to get Assyria's help in an alliance against their enemies. The Bible says some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). Good king Hezekiah no longer FULLY trusted God. Good king Hezekiah split his trust. Good King Hezekiah trusted in God, but he also had a plan just in case God didn't come through. He felt he had to form an alliance with evil nations to accomplish God's will. Good king Hezekiah split his trust. Though God had worked miracles in Israel's past, Hezekiah felt he needed to help God this time around.
Hear what God says to him: "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the LORD: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon'" (2 Kings 20:16-18).
God predicted it more than 100 years in the future. Even though Babylon wasn't even the world problem during Hezekiah's day. Daniel was shipped off because the generation of his grandfather had split their allegiance to God. Part of their allegiance was God, and part of it was political. Two to three generations before Daniel, God's people shifted their weight, if you will. "In God We Trust" may be on our coins, but we have split our allegiance just like Hezekiah did.
3.2 My Day
"Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.' For he thought, 'Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days'" (2 Kings 20:19)? One of the most heartbreaking things Hezekiah says is this: "As long as I have peace, prosperity, and security in my day, I don't care about tomorrow."
Think about the American people for just a moment with me. American Christians are much like Daniel and his three friends. Look around because evil is called good, and good is called evil. We have become a nation where the life of an animal has become more valued than the baby in the womb. Long before America is conquered from without, we are corroding from within! America will not die by homicide, we are going to die by suicide. America's biggest problem is not inflation, interest rates, budget deficits, or even crime. Our biggest problem is sin.
America's greatest enemy is not China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, nor Russia. America's greatest enemy is America. So much of the problem of America is lackadaisical Christians and an apathetic church. Don't collateralize your grandchildren tomorrow to pay the devil for a moment of peace today. America's biggest threat is God. Stand for what is right. Be faithful to God. Be righteous and walk the narrow path.
