THE RESOLVED LIFE

The first six chapters of Daniel teaches us how live in a in the midst of Babylon. The book of Daniel provides a godly pattern for living in an evil age.

The prophet (1-6) and the prophecies (7-12), the man (1-6) and his message (7-12).

b. 7 through 12 deals with his message:

i. 1 through 6, the prophet,

ii. 7 through 12, the prophecies.

Two Major themes

Sovereignty of God - Most High God (13 x’s) – God determines the course of nations and establishes governments

o The Lord gave - Adonay (Septuagint = kurios [word study]) is the name for God indicating that He is the supreme Master.

· How to live in Babylon and how to do that successfully

o It tells me how to live for God in this evil age and it tells me what it will be like when I live with God in that golden age.

DL Moody tells the Story of - a young man that came up with a little handful of men to attack a king who had a great army of 3,000 men. The young man had only 500 men and the king sent a messenger to the young man saying, that he need not fear to surrender for he would treat him mercifully. The young man called up one of his soldiers and said, take this dagger and drive it to your heart. And the soldier took the dagger and drove it to his heart. And calling up another, he said to him, leap off that cliff and the man leaped off the cliff. The young man then said to the messenger, now go back and tell your king I've got 500 more like these. We will die, but we will never surrender. And tell your king another thing, that I will have him chained with my dog inside half an hour. And when the king heard that, he didn't dare to meet them and his army fled before them like chaff before the wind and within 24 hours, he had the king chained with his dog."

The young man had only 500 men and the king sent a messenger to the young man saying, that he need not fear to surrender for he would treat him mercifully.

The young man called up one of his soldiers and said, take this dagger and drive it to your heart. And the soldier took the dagger and drove it to his heart.

Daniel 1:1–8 ESV

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. 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. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

And calling up another, he said to him, leap off that cliff and the man leaped off the cliff.

The young man then said to the messenger, now go back and tell your king I've got 500 more like these.

We will die, but we will never surrender. And tell your king another thing, that I will have him chained with my dog inside half an hour.

And when the king heard that, he didn't dare to meet them and his army fled before them like chaff before the wind and within 24 hours, he had the king chained with his dog."

WE MUST ANTICIPATE ATTACKS

§ The word Defile means that this was a religious conviction

Purposed in his heart = pull together: This is the idea Daniel drew from something inside of him and made a Stand

2 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Peter is telling us that our salvation provides for us everything we need to rise above the Culture and live a life of godliness. We are not adding to our faith from anything outside of God. We are simply drawing upon what God has already placed into by bank account. An all-consuming purpose to live for the glory of God will enable us to meet the spiritual tests of life.

§ Peter is telling us that when we get saved God has given to us everything we need to rise above the Culture and live a life of godliness.

§ We are not adding to our faith from anything outside of God. We are simply drawing upon what God has already placed into by bank account.

§ An all-consuming purpose to live for the glory of God will enable us to meet spiritual tests of life.

Isolation from God’s influence. (1:1-2)

They were isolated from the influences that would mold their lives and characters in the ways of the Lord. In Babylon they were separated from the regular public worship of God, from the teaching of the Word of God, from the fellowship and wisdom of the people of God, and from the daily illustration of what it meant to be a citizen of Jerusalem. Separated from the furnace of Godliness, the king anticipated that the last dying embers of true faithfulness to the Lord would die out.

Indoctrination with the worldly ways of thinking (1:4)

Indoctrinate - To imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle. To cause to accept a set of beliefs uncritically through repeated instruction.

The aim of this course in Chaldean language and literature, however, was not merely academic. It was to retrain their minds to think as Babylonians rather than Israelites. In this, as in so many other things, our Lord’s warning is profoundly true: The children of this world often have more “horse sense” than the children of God. We too often ask the more superficial questions, such as “Are there any embarrassing phrases used by this author?” The deeper issue we need to recognize is that the ungodly think differently from the Godly. This is evident not simply in the language used, but in the whole way of looking at life; the ungodly view life without God. God is not in their thoughts, and there is no fear of God before their eyes. Their writing and teaching convey a completely different worldview from that of Scripture. It was this ungodly worldview with which the children of Jerusalem were being indoctrinated.

Karl Marx declared – give me the poets and the musicians and I will take the nation.

Compromise with the riches of this world. (1:5)

Daniel perceived (correctly) in this food allotment was an effort to seduce him into the lifestyle of a Babylonian through the enjoyment of pleasures he had never before known. High living very easily masters the senses and blunts the sharp-edged commitment of young Christians. The good life that Daniel was offered was intended by the king to wean him away from the hard life to which God had called him. It would encourage him to focus on himself and on a life of enjoyment.

Inner conviction can overcome any outer pressure to compromise.

In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden Dairy estate, he was already a millionaire. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave him a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Borden wrote home to say, "I'm going to give my life to prepare for the mission field." At the same time, he wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves."

Indeed, Borden held nothing back. During his college years at Yale University, he became a pillar in the Christian community. One entry in his personal journal that defined the source of his spiritual strength simply said: "Say no to self and yes to Jesus every time."

During his first semester at Yale, Borden started a small prayer group that would transform campus life. This little group gave birth to a movement that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, 1,000 of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.

Borden also strategized with his fellow Christians to make sure every student on campus heard the gospel, and he was often seen ministering to the downtrodden in the streets of New Haven. But his real passion was missions. Once he narrowed his missionary call to the Kansu people in China, Borden never wavered.

Upon graduation from Yale, Borden wrote two more words in the back of his Bible: "No retreats." In keeping with that commitment, Borden turned down several high-paying job offers, enrolling in seminary instead. After graduating, he immediately went to Egypt to learn Arabic because of his intent to work with Muslims in China. While in Egypt, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.

Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No regrets."

God-honoring convictions yield God-given rewards.

D.L. Moody: “The world is still looking for somebody who loves nothing but God, or no one but God, and hates nothing, but sin.”

One of the better stories of "no compromise" is the inspiring story of Scottish track star Eric Liddell he who had trained for the 100 meter race in the 1924 Olympics only to find out that it was to be run on Sunday. Although he was favored to win, his conviction to honor the Lord's day led him to withdraw a decision which resulted in considerable criticism from those who had formerly praised him. As providence would have it, a runner dropped out of the 400 meter race (a race he had not trained for) and Eric offered to fill the slot of this longer race which was scheduled for a weekday. And to everyone's surprise, Eric Liddell ran and won the gold medal in 1924. God honored his non-compromising spirit. Eric eventually died in a war camp in 1945 in China where he had gone to serve as missionary, a man who like Daniel remained uncompromising to the end. T

Nothing between my soul and my Savior, Naught of this world’s delusive dream; I have renounced all sinful pleasure; Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

Habits of life, though harmless they seem,

Must not my heart from Him ever sever--

Refrain: Nothing between my soul and my Savior, So that His blessed face may be seen; Nothing preventing the least of His favor; Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

He is my all! There's nothing between. --Tindley

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure; Habits of life, though harmless they seem, Must not my heart from Him ever sever; He is my all, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like pride or station; Self or friends shall not intervene; Though it may cost me much tribulation, I am resolved, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, e’en many hard trials, Though the whole world against me convene; Watching with prayer and much self-denial, I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.

Refrain:

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

Confusion about our real identity and purpose in life. (1:6,7)

What is certain is that anything that reminded them of their origin and destiny was removed in the change of names given to these four youths. Instead of incorporating the Hebrew words for God (El, Jah[iah]), these names incorporate the names of Babylonian deities (Bel, Nabu).

Their Hebrew names indicate their relationship to the God of Israel, truth which their god fearing parents meant to convey.

- Daniel = “God is my judge”

- Hananiah = “Jehovah is Gracious”

- Mishael = “Who is like God?”

- Azariah = “Jehovah is my Helper”

As they heard their names called day after day, it was an additional temptation for them to yield to the pressure to think of themselves as citizens of Babylon rather than of Jerusalem. The fact that in the royal court people could still remember that Daniel was Belteshazzar’s real name is a testimony to the way in which he continued to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land

Daniel 5:12–13 ESV

because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

This incident illustrates for us an important principle: The way we think—about God, ourselves, others, the world—determines the way we live. If Nebuchadnezzar could only change these men to think like Babylonians, then they would live like Babylonians. Conversely, so long as they thought of themselves as the Lord’s, they would live as His servants—even in Babylon. That principle is still true. The secret of faithfully living for God today lies in the way we think.

This incident illustrates for us an important principle: The way we think—about God, ourselves, others, the world—determines the way we live. If Nebuchadnezzar could only change these men to think like Babylonians, then they would live like Babylonians. Conversely, so long as they thought of themselves as the Lord’s, they would live as His servants—even in Babylon. That principle is still true. The secret of faithfully living for God today lies in the way we think. We are not to be conformed to the world, says Paul. Yet how can we avoid it? Christians have their lives transformed by the renewing of their minds (). This, Paul says, is where the true worship of God begins.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

). This, Paul says, is where the true worship of God begins.

How do live out Paul’s teaching.

The story is told of a wealthy Englishman who had a collection of rare violins. There was one instrument which was of such quality and such magnificence that the eminent violinist, Fritz Kreisler, desired to have it from this wealthy Englishman. OWNER REFUSED. One day Fritz came by asked – Can I at least play it. Granted - Amazing Skill – poured his soul into it –Englishman was enchanted - afterwards – Can’t buy it but you can have it ...I have no right to keep it...it ought to belong to one who can make such beautiful music with it.

WE MUST COMMITMENT TO MINUTE AND MUNDANE MUSINGS.

Resolved, to be faithful in those exercises of faith which seem minute and mundane, so as to prepare myself ready for greater exercises of faith and so not prove myself to be a hypocrite.

Present faithfulness can only be explained by past faithfulness.

Private faithfulness in the minute and mundane is revealed in one’s public actions.

The responses of these four Hebrew boys were the inevitable results of godliness in their life which brings about inevitable persecution.

WE MUST EMBRACE THE EXTREME EXERCISE OF OUR FAITH.

Resolved, to embrace every test with all vigor, vehemence, and violence so that they may be used to build up strength for yet fiercer test knowing that “The Great Vinedresser” has in their allowance design of greater fruit.

God allows testing to make us strong and serviceable.

Jesus Himself is the great illustration of this principle. His whole life was a period of testing and temptation (, , ). As He continued to withstand pressures, His human character was developed so that He might be the kind of Savior we need

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

, ). In the same way, God invests in our lives in order to make us strong and useful. No piece of equipment is fit for use unless it has been tested.[2]

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the same way, God invests in our lives in order to make us strong and useful. No piece of equipment is fit for use unless it has been tested.

In the same way, God invests in our lives in order to make us strong and useful. No piece of equipment is fit for use unless it has been tested.[2]

God Has a Design for Our Distresses

1 Peter

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:6 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

First, where do I get the idea that our distresses are designed by God for our good?

"If Necessary"

I get it from the phrase "if necessary" in verse 6; "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials." What kind of necessity is this? Who or what is making the distress of these trials "necessary"?

The answer is God. Peter makes it plain that Christian distress only happens if God wills it. For example, in

1 Peter 3:17 ESV

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

he says, "It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." You might suffer for doing what is right; you might not. The ultimate choice is God's. "If God should will it so," we will or we won't. Or again in 4:19 he says, "Let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."

You might suffer for doing what is right; you might not. The ultimate choice is God's. "If God should will it so," we will or we won't. Or again in

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

he says, "Let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."

In other words, Peter is teaching that the sovereign will of God governs all the distresses that happen to us and, therefore the design in them is not ultimately the design of evil men or the design of Satan (which are real enough!), but is a design of God.

So when Peter says in verse 6, "If necessary, you have been distressed by various trials," he means, "If God deems it necessary."

"So That"

But why would God do that? This leads us to the word "that" or "so that" at the beginning of verse 7.

1 Peter 1:7 ESV

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This gives the reason why God would deem it necessary that we be distressed by various trials: "that [or so that] the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

This verse teaches us that our distress has a design. The design is that our distresses would refine the genuineness of our faith the way fire refines gold so that when Christ comes back, the quality of our faith would win praise and glory and honor.

So there is a design in your distresses as a Christian. God wills them, and he does so for your good.

Then Does God Will Our Suffering and Distress?

Now I know that this raises a painful and troubling question. We are not playing games here. We are talking about your and my real life this very day. Does God will the break up of your marriage? Does God will your cancer, your homosexual orientation, the rebellion of your child, the loss of your job, the actions of Islamic terrorists? I will give you my answer, which I believe to be the biblical one, based on texts like and .

The answer is No, God does not will it, and Yes, he does. No, in the sense that he does not delight in pain for its own sake; he does not command sin or approve of sinning. However, he does will that these things be, in the sense that he could prevent any of those things but sometimes does not, but rather guides them, because of higher designs than the destructiveness of sin or the deceitfulness of Satan or the painfulness of suffering.

When Christians suffer for doing right, sin is happening to them. But says that sometimes God wills that this happen. He does not endorse or approve sinning, but he can and does will that sinful acts come about for his own holy designs. When Christ was murdered on the cross, it was sin, but God willed that it happen:

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

). And by that will we are saved.

WE MUST REMIND OURSELVES THAT EVERY TEST HAS A PRESENT OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY HIS GLORY AS WELL AS A PREPARATORY MEANS FOR THE DISPLAY OF FUTURE GLORY.

· Resolved, to embrace His sovereign allowance of every test as a present opportunity to display His glory and as preparatory means for the display of future glory.

Faith does not hold fast by accident but it acquires strength from previous test.

As they looked back on the crisis of the fiery trial, they must have seen the previous tests in a new light. Their significance was to prepare them for this monumental test. Why? So that their faithfulness would echo God’s glory throughout future generations.

OUR RESOLVE THOUGH PATTERNED BY 4 HEBREW BOYS POINTS US TO ONE HEBREW MAN.

The word Defile means that this was a religious conviction.

The word resolve means to draw from something inside.

§ Language

Purposed in his heart = pull together: This is the idea Daniel drew from something inside of him and made a Stand.

§ Love

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

§ Lifestyle

2 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

§ Longings

Peter is telling us that our salvation provides for us everything we need to rise above the Culture and live a life of godliness. We are not adding to our faith from anything outside of God. We are simply drawing upon what God has already placed into by bank account. An all-consuming purpose to live for the glory of God will enable us to meet the spiritual tests of life.

§ Longevity

Let us join our voices with the young martyred Zimbabwe pastor who wrote in his journal these words . . .

“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”

[1] Ferguson, S. B., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1988). Vol. 21: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 21 : Daniel. The Preacher's Commentary series (30). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.

[2] Ferguson, S. B., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1988). Vol. 21: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 21 : Daniel. The Preacher's Commentary series (39). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.

[3] Ferguson, S. B., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1988). Vol. 21: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 21 : Daniel. The Preacher's Commentary series (70). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.