Humble Wisdom (simplified)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Timeline
Timeline
Ch. 1: An Introduction
Daniel and friends taken to Babylon and selected for training
Recognized as greatest among all trainees and enter king’s service
Daniel outlasts Babylon in his service
Ch. 2: First Display of Daniel’s Gifts
Takes place either at the tail end of training or just after it was completed
Daniel is the new kid who is not yet among the known wise men
Daniel displays the power and character of God
Disturbing Dreams
Disturbing Dreams
The king summoned magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers
He demanded they tell him the contents of the dream
It could be interpreted with extensive dream books
In anger, he ordered execution of all the wise men of Babylon because no one could do this impossible task
14 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. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
God Worked Through Daniel
God Worked Through Daniel
Daniel responded to his would be executioner “with wisdom and tact”
He went to the king to request time
He asked his friends to pray with him
He secured the lives of all the wise men of Babylon in the process
How can Daniel's reliance on prayer with his friends inspire our own prayer lives?
Daniel Took No Credit for Himself
Daniel Took No Credit for Himself
This is an impossible task for any wise man
No one is capable
I am no more capable than anyone else
The One True God has revealed what is to come
It was only revealed to me in order to better serve you
How does recognizing God’s part in our capabilities affect our approach to leadership and service?
Daniel Explained the Dream
Daniel Explained the Dream
A dream about the ends of Babylon and the empires that come after it
A large statue made up of gold, silver, bronze, and iron
Babylon and future empires
A large rock that is cut out by God and smashes the statue
Jesus - Kingdom of Heaven
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
How To Interact With Empires
How To Interact With Empires
Daniel shows us that even in the midst of oppressive empire, God’s people are able to lead with humility and grace
God honors our commitment to integrity while resisting being consumed by empire theology
What are some practical steps we can take to resist the temptation of empire theology in our everyday lives?
The book of Daniel was written to show us that God has empowered His faithful followers to endure and resist in the hardest of times and He’ll do it again
Will you stay humble and let Him use you?
Today, our experience with empire may not look like Babylon
We may not need to worry about interpreting a king’s dreams to gain favor
Our form of empire today is the Kingdom of God being divided
by the temptation to substitute the training of Babylon
with the consumption of fear and hatred
for those we disagree with
Rather than holding onto the humility that Daniel teaches us about,
this consumption of fear and hatred leads us to react
with anger or defensiveness.
Why is it important to reflect on our faith when we feel consumed by fear or hatred?
Humility requires an attitude of curiosity
and a confidence in God to honor your commitment
to not defile His image in those we encounter
Take a moment to pray for wisdom and compassion,
asking God to help you interact with others with grace.
Engage in interactions that foster understanding rather than conflict,
aiming to reflect Christ’s love.
