Faith Under Fire
(Daniel 1:3-7)
Intro:
A. The northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the power of Assyria around 722 BC after almost 20 years of a slow demise. The kingdom fell because of sin and God allowed them to be taken into captivity. The southern Kingdom should have taken a great warning from their brothers north of them and held close to Jehovah, but they too enjoyed the pleasure of sin. Jeremiah pleaded with the people of Judah, but they and their leaders did not head his warning.
B. Listen as Jeremiah speaks (READ Jer. 25:1-9). Jeremiah would go on in that section to tell them of their terrible demise and that their captivity would last 70 years before God would punish the Chaldeans.
C. Judah had periods of spiritual revival and periods of spiritual adultery with foreign gods. God knew that the greatness of Israel would have to come to an end. The love God had for Abraham and David could not keep Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah from choosing idols over YHWH.
D. When Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army began its conquest of Judah, not every person in the whole country was sinful. We may live in a land that does not seek to follow the moral teachings given God, but that doesn’t make every person in our country immoral. In Judah there were still good, God-fearing, God-honoring people. Not enough to change the outcome, but still sincere followers of Jehovah and believed in the power of God who was allowing them to be killed, captured, and the beloved temple to be robbed and eventually destroyed.
E. For the months of October and November, I want to take lessons from the book of Daniel and see how we can apply them to our lives. I want us to come away from each sermon with an understanding of how to live a holy life in a society that is unholy.
F. Our first lesson opens with the open verses of Daniel (READ Dan. 1:1-7)
I. Indoctrination
A. I want you to understand two points that come from these verses. The first is, if you want to make changes, indoctrinate the children and then re-create them in your image. The Bible is filled with warning about children who run with the wicked. The Bible also speak to parents about how to train up a child in wisdom and understanding of scripture. Nebuchadnezzar had a plan to change a nation, and starts with the young people. Look at what he does:
1. He takes the best of the young people who are able to become what he wants and puts them in a place that is comfortable, which will show them that they are special, and that this new country has much to offer.
2. Then he has the read and study all the great works of the Babylonians and teaches them the language of their new nation.
3. He blesses them with food fit for a king. Making sure all heir need are met beyond what others would have.
4. Then he gives them a new name, a name that is not Hebrew, but Chaldean. Over a three-year period of time, he believes can re-create these young people into just the type of wise men that he needs to improve Babylon.
B. Do you remember after Moses is weaned from his Hebrew mother and given to the princess of Egypt, what they do for Moses? They give him every opportunity to flourish. He has all this life has to offer him. They educate him, teach him to dress and present himself and the name we know him as is not the name his mother gave him, but the name the princess gave him “Moses, because I drew him out of the water.” Moses was supposed to be a good Egyptian. He looked, acted and dressed the part, but in his heart was a Hebrew.
C. The Bible describe Daniel and his friends as, " without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace." Kind of like me.
D. Point #1, Nebuchadnezzar had a plan to change the hearts and mind of these youth of Judah, but it would fail.
II. Conform or Stand Your Ground?
A. For Daniel and his friends, it could have been an easier life than other slaves. They were to serve in the king’s court. It was a place of power and influence. What a great opportunity. But there was a snag. Daniel was being asked to fit in. He was to become a Babylonian. Do you conform to this world or stand your ground? It was a choice they had to make. Daniel was in a difficult, stressful situation that would test his faith and principles at a fundamental level.
B. Look at what Daniel does (Dan. 1:8). Daniel stands his spiritual ground. While the eating of meat was not forbidden, it appears Daniel would not defile himself with unclean food or maybe it was meat offered to idols. God would be with Daniel and his friends, even though they did not see or experience any divine intervention that is recorded.
C. Listen to what happens (Dan. 1:11-16). Point #2, The challenge set before me is to not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind in Christ.
D. They were to be in the king’s service, but the king they would serve with their whole heart would not be Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar or Cyrus. The king they would serve with their whole heart would the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Conclusion:
A. The Lord did not miraculously free Daniel from being taken into Babylon, but as we will learn these next few weeks, He used him in a powerful way.
B. William Barclay wrote, "Jesus did not say discuss me; he said follow me.” Christianity does not mean being interested in Jesus Christ; it means becoming a servant who does the will of God. These young men show me how.
C. Are you willing to become the Daniel of this generation, of this congregation, of your family?
