Living In Babylon (2)

Neil McDonough

Nypd blue

yellowstone

Angels in the outfield

Star Trek

Sonic the hedgehog

Paul Belart

band of brothers

desperate housewifes

Arrow - Dameon Dahrk

Scoundrels - fired

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

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 1:2.

They Demand Coexistence

to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 1:4.

They Demanded Conformity to the Culture

They were to be educated for three years

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 1:5.

Indoctrination Through Education

And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 1:7.

Erased Their Identity by Changing Their Name

Be Resolved

Verse 8a

To set, lay down or arrange

It has the idea that he resolved the conflict

We often see Daniel as unwavering, but it would not be unreasonable for him to have had large internal conflict

He resolved his priorities

Definition: resolve

Decide firmly on an course of action

firm determination to do something

We have to be resolute to not defile ourselves

Ask

Verse 8b

He didn’t demand

Please don’t make me act against my convictions

Don’t make me disobey my God

This has the idea of a peaceful protest

Overcome Fear

There is reason to be fearful when going against culture

The Church of Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)

Revelation 2:18–29 ESV

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

A town occupied by guilds

the guild had meetings in pagan temples, eating food offered to pagan god’s and having orgies

Not worshiping could lead to an inability to make an income

Jezebel, possibly a real lady, enticed or taught that these activities were acceptable

in Thyatira, culture had the ability to prevent earning a living

For Daniel, and the Babylonian’s overseeing Him, the king had the authority to kill them

For us, culture has a more subtle threat;

We wont be accepted

we wont be promoted

our kids wont “belong” or fit in

Culture is so powerful over us that sociologist make the case that everything we do is to not stand out, thus not calling attention to ourselves and not being at risk

We need to be part of a group

Be Willing to be Tested

verse 12

Daniel asked to be tested, but it wasn’t really him being tested

It was God that would be put to the test: does God’s law stand up?

Daniel had faith that God’s commands would make him successful

When we are being tested, it is really God’s word being tested

Sometimes He will deliver, other times He will not

Know You Will be Observed

Twice Daniel and his friends were observed

First, by the eunuch’s at the end of 10 days (v15)

laster by the king at the end of three years (19)

They were found to be better than all the rest

They learned and understood the culture but were not conformed to it

The culture will watch you, they will wait for you to fall

“And they call themselves a Christian” or

Expect God to Give

V17 - God gave them what they needed to engage the culture

They put in the work and effort, but God grew them in literature and wisdom

The soverngty of God is evident in this event from begining to end

v2 - God gave Judah

v9 - God gave Daniel favor

v17 - God gave wisdom