Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Our gracious God sent many prophets to the rebellious and stubborn Israel.

Yahweh solemly warned his people, time and time again, to rpent from their wicked ways and keep the obligations given on Mount Sinai or wrath and exile would come upon Israel.

Well, God kept his word, and Israel fell in 722 BC to the Assyrians.

Though the Assyrans never conquered Judah, the Babylonians finished the the job by conquering Jerusalem in 605 BC and implemented the first stage of exile by deporting youths from royal and noble Judean families.

Context

Daniel was written during the Captivity of God’s people in Babylon.

After many sucessive seiges of Jerusalem (607-586 B.C.), the king of Babaylon finally destroyed the Solomon’s temple and left Jerusalme in ruin.

“

“Under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire spread throughout the Middle East, and around 607 B.C., King Jehoiakim of Judah was forced into submission, becoming a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1).

It was during this time that Nebuchadnezzar took many of the finest and brightest young men from each city in Judah captive, including Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego).”

Reasons for Exile: The Israelites worshiped false gods in Canaan (Ezek.

8:12) .

In the North Gate women mourned for Tammuz the Sumerian-Babylonian god of plant life who died during the heat of summer to be reborn during the Spring rains (Ezek.

8:14).

Worshipped the queen of heaven (Jer 44) This title refers to Ishtar, an Assyrian and Babylonian goddess also called Ashtoreth and Astarte by various other groups.

She was thought to be the wife of the false god Baal

King Manasseh - (697-643 BC) - He reversed the reforms of his godly father Hezekiah by actively promoting the worship of the gods of the Canaanites.

He sacrificed some of his sons in the fire, set up an Asherah pole in the Temple and "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood" (2 Kings 21:1-8, 16; 2 Chron.

33:1-8).

King Zedekiah (2 Kings 24–25, 2 Chronicles 36,) - sought to align with Egypt to defeat nebudchadnezzar.

Didn’t keep God’s law regarding freeing slaves.

married gentile wives

Ezekiel and Jeremiah say that they are more sinful than Sodom (Ezek.

16:46-50; Lam.

4:6).

Is there any hope in the situation.

The temple is destroyed, Jerusalem is is ruin.

Yet,

Author: Daniel, was a faithful and intellegent young man from Israel.

The king chose him and his 3 friends to be trained to serve the king for 3 years.

God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

They wisely declined to eat the food that did not align with God’s dietary rules

Will God keep his Word and redeem a people to be a light to the nations?

Would he establish his law upon the earth and se fourth a kingdom that will last forever?

Though some may think that hope is lost and God has left his people because of their sins, in realith, Babylon is a mere tool for God to fufill his all wise purpose.

Our soveriegn God will use Babylon as an instrument of Wrath.

Then, God will promptly inflict Babylon with the sam epunishment and ruin that they inflicted on the Israelites.

As we’ll read in our passage, the Lord raises up kings and tears them down.

Yet, the Lord will keep his Word on time, and as promised.

70 years proceeding this prophecy, Daniel was brought before King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, to read what the Lord had miraculously written on the walls of the banquet hall.

One of the words was intepreted to mean, “Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.”

That very night king Belshazzar was killed and the Medes and Persians took over.

King Nebuchadnezzar

Contrast between vice regency of Nebuchadnezzer and the Church.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (2:1-16)

God’s Sovereignity Over Absolutely Everyone (2:17-236

Times and Seasons

The trajectory of history

The course of the stars and catclismic weather events

God orchastrates the rise of mighty rulers.

He grants favor from the peole adn in battle.

He can and does remove the most powerful of kings.

In history he has swiftly orchestrated the fall of empires humans could never image crumbling

No astronomers, wise men, or enchanters can give revelation (2:24:30)

Interpretation of Dream (2:31-45)

What is the kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is primarlily wherever the rule or reign of God exist.

It is particularly present is regerated and empowered by the Holy SPirit.

Kingdom of God

Founded on Christ, the cornerstone

“not of this world”

Bottom up - regeneration

Non violent

Characterized by suffering and persecution

Starts small and grows to take over the whole world

Mustard Seed to large tree

Leven spreading to the whole loaf

Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under feet.

God’s Appointed Means of Kingdom Expansion

All authority on heaven and earth is given to son, Go therefore and make disciples of every nation.

Weapons of our warefare

Proclamation the the gospel

Intercessory prayer

The church suffering well demonstates the all surpassing value of Christ to a dying world

Sacrificial love

Establishing God’s law on the earth

Assurance of Victory