Exiles Find the Home in God
Notes
Transcript
Warren Brosi
October 29, 2023
Dominant Thought: We find our home in God through the victory of Jesus.
Objectives:
I want my listeners to realize the spiritual battle between God and evil forces.
I want my listeners to remain faithful during suffering.
I want my listeners to rest in the hope of eternal life in Jesus.
“Realism + Hope = Resilience” (David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock in Faith for Exiles, p. 214).
As we conclude our series through Daniel, we’ll look at the final three chapters of Daniel to discover Exiles find their home in God. As we move through Daniel 10-12, we’ll lift a theme from each chapter to describe how exiles find their home in God.
First, Exiles find their home in God…by giving your heart to understand (Daniel 10.12; 12.10).
In Daniel 10, Daniel experienced a vision of a great war that cause him to mourn for three weeks (Daniel 10.2), took his strength away, turned his face deathly pale, and made him feel helpless (Daniel 10.9). Those with him did not see the vision, but were so frightened that they fled and hid (Daniel 10.7).
So alone, he ate no choice food, meat, or wine for three weeks (Daniel 10.3). He used no lotions. It appears Daniel is fasting in response to this terrifying vision. Remember he is a praying man (Daniel 2.18; 6.10; 9.4). In Daniel 10.10, a hand touches Daniel and said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you...” The man continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days...” (Daniel 10.12-13a). The phrase, “set your mind to gain understanding” simply reads, “give your heart to understand.” Exiles who find their home in God give their hearts to understand His ways. Prayer is one way we seek God’s ways.
In Daniel 10, we see Daniel as an older man in his 80’s engaged in three weeks of spiritual battle. He’s fasting and seeking God’s face and humbling himself before God. Daniel’s prayers were heard, but a resistance was mounted for 21 days. Then, Michael, came to help and overcame the prince of Persia.
Mark Mangano writes,
Esther and Daniel (X. The Vision of a Heavenly Messenger (10:1–11:1))
Daniel 10 reveals a connection between rebellious earthly powers and evil cosmic forces. In other words, there is a direct correlation between evil government and governors and demonic influence.
My friends, living in exile, we are in a spiritual battle. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the reality of this battle in Ephesians 6.12.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Another fellow exile, John, the beloved disciples sees a vision of a spiritual battle in Revelation 12.
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
My friends, we cannot see the forces of evil combating our prayers. Even in this moment, as the truth of the good news of Jesus rings out, the evil one has entered the ring to disrupt and distract the message of truth.
For exiles, who find their home in God, we realize that we engage in a spiritual battle by giving our hearts to understand the ways of God.
Second, Exiles find their home in God in the midst of suffering (Daniel 11.31-35).
Daniel 11 describes the vision in more detail about this great war. Kings from the south and north will battle against one another over and over. I believe the vision in Daniel refers to events after the life of Daniel, but probably have multiple fulfillments. As Daniel’s life concludes, the exiles have begun to return back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the holy city. In the generations to follow, the kingdoms north and south of Israel will fight for control. The kingdom to the north was and is today, Syria. The kingdom to the south, was and is Egypt. In the seasaw battles of these kingdoms, Judah was the center of the conflict. In 312 BC, a battle was fought at Gaza. Sound familiar? Gaza strip is still a battleground today. So, as you read these Old Testament prophecies, many foretold specific future event. And many of them have multiple fulfillments throughout history.
Daniel 11 could refer to following kingdoms after the Persian Empire. We could see the story of Alexander the Great in this window of time as he conquered Persia (330 BC). Then around 175 BC, Antiochus Ephiphanes, the king of the north (Syria, Seleucid empire) comes to power.
It appears that Daniel 11.29 and following could describe the events of Antiochus’ conquest. “He will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant” (Dan. 11.30). According to records describing the events of this time, we find disturbing details.
11 When news of what had happened reached the king, he took it to mean that Judea was in revolt. So, raging inwardly, he left Egypt and took the city by storm. 12 He commanded his soldiers to cut down relentlessly everyone they met and to kill those who went into their houses. 13 Then there was massacre of young and old, destruction of boys, women, and children, and slaughter of young girls and infants. 14 Within the total of three days eighty thousand were destroyed, forty thousand in hand-to-hand fighting, and as many were sold into slavery as were killed. (Source: The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (2 Mac 5:11–14). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Sounds like what we witnessed in the news recently with the battle between Hamas and Israel.
Antiochus desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and removed the holy articles. Again it is described, “Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering...” (1 Maccabees 1.54).
Jesus references this image in a sermon he preached that he used to describe the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A. D.
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—
For those who find their home in God, they have resources to sustain them through times of suffering and persecution. You have the Holy Spirit. You have your salvation in Jesus Christ. You have the truth of the gospel. You have your church family.
Do not be surprised when persecution comes. Paul reminds Timothy.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Jesus said it this way,
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Third, Exiles find their home in God for all of eternity (Daniel 12.1-4, 8-13).
When it appears all hope is lost, the message of Daniel concludes with one of hope and triumph. Daniel 12 is one of the clearest passages in the Old Testament to describe the resurrection of the dead. For those living in exile, it may be helpful to remember we have eternal life with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to enjoy.
Daniel speaks of rising to eternal life. Jesus lived and died and rose to life again. Jesus rising from the dead is foundational for our belief as followers of Jesus. We serve a king who rose from the dead and promises to raise us up with Him.
As exiles, we have allegiance to a different kingdom. The Apostle Paul shares where our citizenship is and what awaits us.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
We find our home in God through the victory of Jesus.
Daniel 12 pictures a book with names. Some will wake up to everlasting life and other to everlasting shame and contempt (Daniel 12.2). Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12.3). Daniel 12.3 is my wife’s favorite verse.
Question are you shining bright? Are you living a wise life according to the truth of God’s word? Are you leading many to righteousness?
Daniel asks the question, “How long will it be?” (Daniel 12.6). People throughout the ages have asked that question, “How long?” From the Psalmist to John in exile in Revelation 6.10). In Revelation 6.10, the vision of the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained asked the question, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” They were given a white road and told to wait a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters have been killed. Daniel is given a similar answer, “It will be for time, times and half a time...” (Daniel 12.7). A little longer.
Then, two times, Daniel is instructed, “Go your way” (Daniel 12.9, 13). Keep on living. In Daniel 12.12, “Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end...”
Daniel concludes with a powerful and encouraging messages to all who are living in exile.
“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
You will rest.
You will rise.
You will receive your inheritance.