Daniel, Wise Guide

Intro

Series: Connecting OT figures anticipating Christ, Advent Season

[P.Jared] Adam (Son of God), Heal relationship, restore son/daughtership

Moses (Rescuing prophet), Brings freedom & life

David (Royal Conqueror), Jesus takes captive, defeats wickedness

Esther (Peacemaker), Restores order and right-life to the kingdom; saves

Wisdom

“Chook-mah’”

Right or wrong, best vs. worse

Jewish - understanding how pcs. fit together

Puzzle… again, coupled with action!

Wisdom for making a car engine

Wisdom in relating to others - how they ‘work’

Wisdom to know what is right or best path to take…

Results in shalom! Completion, peace.

God has wisdom for all of creation.

as the architect, he knows how [creation] SHOULD work, motivated to put it together

Typically, uses us to guide creation to final end.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...”

Respecting; putting first = walking the best way!

Examine an OT fig. that is the def. of honoring God first leads eventually to life

God Guides

Daniel, a Wise Guide

Daniel 1 - Kosher eating

Wisdom: God’s law greater than man’s law

Even personal/seemingly harmless things like eating habits

Daniel 3 & 6 - 3 Friends in furnace & Dan in Lion’s Den

Wisdom looks like standing for YHWH when state opposes!

Wisdom looks like laying down your life for YHWH’s law, if necessary.

Daniel 4 - Another dream interp.

God gives Dan supern. wisdom to interpret dreams.

Even when the truth might shorten Dan’s life!

Wisdom looks like speaking judg’t to correct wrong behavior.

Daniel 2 - King’s Dream

Neb has dream, won’t tell wise men what it is; they can’t interp. Condemns them all!…

Daniel 2:14-19 “When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact... Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends... He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven ... During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

Wise to ask for more time, get others, PRAY & plead - rely on YH

God gave Dan & friends favor in sight of Neb.

Would have made sense to muster up a battalion

rebel against wicked pagans!

Organize a coup! Take down from inside!

Instead, they worked for the machine… took in Babyl culture, but never compromised worship.

Could have been easier to just acquiesce to the demands of all-powerful Babylon

Might have seemed wise to keep a low profile by mingling all lifestyle… already in a fortuitous sitch.. king’s palace! They’re new bosses - fall in line!

To some degree, Dan & friends DID do this; made the most of bad sitch

didn’t try rebel or get out. Wisd. to know Babyl. was God’s plan/judg’t

However, didn’t let looking/naming like Babylon keep from worsh. YH!

Wisdom looks like correct priorities for circums.

Daniel used God’s chook-mah’ to gain favor w/ God & humans…

In fact, never shown to sin! Idealized… (repents in ch. 9)

Proverbs 8…

Wise Solomon wrote of lady wisdom in opening sections of his Proverbs.

A personified woman who was there “at God’s side” in the beginning, designing and implementing the work of putting it together!

Wisdom gets blurred with God himself - so both IS YHWH, but is also working alongside him....

Our NT places Jesus in that role - wisdom incarnate. God’s wise nature dwell among men.

Jesus, a Wise Guide

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

“Wonderful Counselor”

Advocate, support, guide,

How many questions did X ask? over 300! ans? 40...

Teachings sounded foolish at face value.

Ethics of His Kingdom God’s priroities & ways… Upside-down!

Provision. Generous; giving away; small amt.; foolish ways??

Love. Sinner; weak; hurt; meager; small

Honor. Lowest; last; deny self; lose life…

X came teaching the root, the “why” behind Torah law.

Infuriated relig. leaders & made jealous - not inspired

They rebelled against wisdom & chose foolish

Not surprising that humans would mess this up, too! :)

Walk in Wisdom!

Daniel’s life ebmodied Jesus’ ethic.

Painted as someone who know and lived out a Kingdom life!

It gave him actual favor with the Kings under whom he served.

Jesus came as a standard by which we life our lives!

May we relish being the ‘least’ and the ‘last’ and the persecuted… bc it might mean we are walking in wisdom.

May we trust YHWH to honor us and lift us up!

May we change the world and may God give us favor in the eyes of others so that His good plan can come about!