Live Distinctly

Series Intro

Excited for this series!

Over the next several weeks we are going to follow the stories of four young men who find themselves in a place they never wanted to be for reasons that were not their fault. This was a dark culture that attempted to draw them away from their faith through both temptation and force. But instead of compromising, these men remained faithful and became shining lights into a dark culture that brought kings to faith and influenced entire nations for God.

Written in the 6th Century BC.

Daniel 1-6 - stories about Daniel and his friends and how they remained faithful in Babylon

Daniel 7-12 - prophecies

Some of these prophecies are so specific that some scholars believe the book to be written 400 year laters (200 BC) and after the events they describe.

Ex: Flavius Josephus - Jewish historian records that when Alexander the Great was rapidly conquering much of the world from the Persians (early 4th Century BC - 200 years after Daniel), he came to Jerusalem, and as he came close to the city he found the priests of Jerusalem all standing outside the city dressed in white waiting to great him and lead him into city. Josephus notes this is very different from the response of many other cities.

Alexander the Great as he approaches, dismounts and salutes the high priest.

A the G’s general pulls A aside and asks him if he has lost his mind.

A the G explains that he had seen this very priest in a dream during the time that he was contemplating whether he should continue his campaign. The person in his dream bid him come and A saw the exact scene in his dream.

After the high priest leads A into the city he takes him to he temple where, Josephus says, he explains how he knew to expect A the G.

“And when the book of Daniel was showed him, wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended”

Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 307.

The priest likely showed A Daniel 8 where it describes the kingdom of the Medes and Persians and prophesied of a goat that represented the king of Greece who had a great horn between his eyes which was later broken and four others rose in it’s place — indeed, after A the G died his four general divided his kingdom.

Many scholars who don’t believe in predictive prophecy claimed the second half of Daniel was written much later than the first — in the 2nd Century BC — obviously after the events which they describe took place.

There are several reasons why this dating doesn’t work, but probably the biggest reason is that in the late 1940’s there was a significant archaeological find from the Qumran community in what was then Jordan. There were many scrolls found which are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some of these scrolls contained portions of the book of Daniel and some contained the prophecy we just talked about. The community gathered around 2nd Century and the scrolls are older.

The Bible can be trusted!!! God knows the end. God speaks to us today.

Introduction

The world is changing . It seems that at least in our generation there will forever be Pre-COVID and post-COVID.

We can’t keep looking back to the “good ‘ole days.” We look forward to the Ancient of Days, while figuring out how to last in these days.

“Yet Daniel steps into our confusion and fear with a book that contains the life-changing rebukes, correction, and training in righteousness we so desperately need.4 He offers us a model for not only surviving but actually thriving in the midst of a godless environment. He found a way, in a culture far more wicked than anything we face, to glorify and serve God with such integrity and power that kings, peasants, and an entire nation turned to acknowledge the splendor of the living God. Which raises the question: How did he do it?”

— Larry Osborne, Thriving in Babylon

Daniel 1:1–21 (ESV)

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

This is not a myth - real dates, real people

Jeremiah 25:1 (ESV)

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),

Daniel is counting the years of the king according to the Babylonian reckoning which understands the first year of the king to be the “year of ascension” and begins counting the years of the king on his second year on the throne.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand,

LORD GAVE — Why would God give a Jewish king over to a pagan dictator?

Sin.

God had warned Israel that their unrepentant sin would lead to exile and punishment.

They were not immune to God’s standards simply because of who they were.

Should America be blessed? Or could we expect that we might experience Babylon?

2 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.

Ironically, this was meant to say, “My god is bigger than your God.”

Good news: God is BIGGER than Babylon!

God is sovereign over ALL world events and leaders. And He uses both the good and bad leaders to accomplish His purpose.

Vote and Pray. God already has our next president lined up.

3 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, 4 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.

6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 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.

King was going to make his country stronger by using the best and brightest of the conquered people.

youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent

You know, the people you don’t like!

The Babylonians had distanced the men from their physical homes, and now they were planning to distance the men from their values and beliefs — brainwashing.

Change in identity

i. The name Daniel (meaning God is my judge) was changed to Belteshazzar (meaning Bel's prince).

ii. The name Hannaniah (meaning Beloved by the LORD) was changed to Shadrach (meaning Illumined by Sun-god).

iii. The name Mishael (meaning Who is as God) was changed to Meshach (meaning Who is like Venus).

iv. The name Azariah (meaning The LORD is my help) was changed to Abed-Nego (meaning Servant of Nego).

Change in Culture

Babylon

Personified as evil

worshipped pagan gods

Change in Education

The men were royalty in Judah and now they are being completely reeducated.

literature and language of the Chaldeans

magic and enchantments

We are given this information so that we understand how much these young men lost - how much things around them had changed AND they remained faithful to God.

You can lose everything and remain faithful.

It does not matter what you lose — you CAN remain faithful.

It does not matter what situation you find yourself in — you CAN remain faithful.

It does not matter what you are taught, what things you see or hear around you — you CAN remain faithful.

If we are not careful, we can allow our circumstances to be used as an excuse for compromise.

5 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.

8 But Daniel resolved

Everything around Daniel changed, but Daniel did NOT.

8 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.

Not sure why Daniel asked for different food — Against mosaic food laws? Sacrificed to idols?

9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days;

Daniel had enough confidence in God that he could risk.

let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

Interesting that Daniel resolved for himself but Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah must have also resolved in their hearts the same thing.

It is easier to stand alone together. This is why Life Groups and ROOTED is so important. — Real life and real faith meet.

14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

Daniel was better at magic than the magicians. He knew more about the wrong things than the bad people. Yet he remained faithful.

Students, you CAN do this!

Parents, just because your kids are in Babylon does not mean that they cannot stay faithful.

Daniel becomes the personal advisor to the king.

21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

The entire length of the exile - almost 70 years.

God used Daniel to bring the pagan kings.

Grow where God has you.

Ever watch what is going on in the news or entertainment and feel uncomfortable? Good, because you don’t belong here.

This world is not your permanent home

1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV)

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

This world is messed up and we should be upset because it is messing up our neighbors — how are our friends, coworkers, neighbors supposed to know how to live the good life for which they are made by God if all they see is twisted versions of it all around them?

Within a few clicks any teenager or middle-aged man can find explicit photos that lead them away from the wife of their youth.

What used to be taboo in movies and limited to dark alley theaters is now in anyone’s living room.

It’s hard to find a movie or tv show that portrays the family as God intended.

It is hard to know which office or institution is telling the TRUTH or not simply out to profit themselves.

This world is messed up!

We are exiles living in Babylon!

In a letter from Jeremiah, Daniel reads:

Jeremiah 29:4–8 (ESV)

4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

This world is not your permanent home, but you are where God has planted you.

Yes, the world is messed up. Yes, you may find yourself in a place you didn’t choose that is difficult at best, but seek the welfare of that place and pray to the Lord on it’s behalf.

Some couples say they don’t want to bring a child into this mess and some parents do all they can to shield their families from any contact with the Babylonians.

Other parents are raising their kids as Babylonians!

The world IS messed up — that’s why God has us here! To show what a healthy marriage looks like, to show what a godly family looks like, to send our children into the world as pockets of light.

The church was never meant to retreat from the world, it was meant to engage the world by standing for truth and serving with love and compassion.

ILLUST - Why did God have me at Masanos? Working with more than a dozen people who had no connection to a church or group of Christ-followers.

It is no accident you have the neighbors you have, work at the location you do,

Daniel could only make a difference because he:

Draw the lines of your heart in advance.

* Daniel refused to allow surroundings, circumstances, or sinful people to compromise his character.

He had every opportunity and every excuse:

No one will know.

Everyone around me is doing it.

After all I’ve been through, I don’t think God will mind if I relax a bit.

I still stand out — I’m not doing half the things THAT guy is doing.

Any of those sound like echoes of whispers you’ve heard when you've found yourself in times of temptation?

But Daniel didn’t compromise. Why? Because he had drawn lines on his heart in advance.

You aren’t RESOLVED about something in the heat of the moment.

The backseat of a car is not the time to decide how far you’ll go with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

The office is NOT the place to decide whether or not you will do what the boss asked by fudging the numbers or misleading the customer.

You had better have the lines in your heart drawn BEFORE that woman at works looks at you that certain way or that guy offers to stay late at work with you.

These may not seem like big things but:

*If you don’t draw lines on the little issues of character, you’ll be more vulnerable for compromise on the bigger issues.

Compromise creeps in when we begin to:

Identify ourselves in relation to the world

Feed on what the world offers

Educate ourselves on the things of the world.

“God would rather have His people living in shameful captivity in a pagan land than living like pagans in the Holy Land and disgracing His name.”

— Warren Wiersbe, Be Resolute

*You can’t stand UP for biblical principles if you don’t first stand OUT with biblical principles.

Who were the other youths that were brought back? Surely, there were more than four! We don’t know, they didn’t stand out, they dissolved into Babylon.

I learned this early.

ILLUST - The other “Christian” guy at ATC.

Living distinctly doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk.

8 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.

Daniel resolved for HIMSELF, he didn’t demand it of others. When it came to living a godly life, he critically viewed his own instead of criticizing others.

I wonder what would happen if we spent the same amount of energy weeding out areas of compromise in our own lives as we do talking about the lives of others.

Notice he ASKED the chief of the eunuchs.

He didn’t have a choice in the change of his name or the things he was taught, but he did have control in what he ate.

Daniel had wisdom to know what lines to draw and how to draw them.

Trust that God is at work in, around, and ahead of you.

Daniel 1:2 (ESV)

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.

God had been at work way before Nebuchadnezzar ever took the throne.

Daniel 1:9 (ESV)

9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

There is a story here that I wish Daniel could unravel — It wasn’t as though Ashpenaz was struck by a lightning bolt of favor and compassion — God was at work in his life (a pagan official who was working on brainwashing godly men) to further His work in Daniel’s life.

Daniel recognized God was at work because he knew God was working.

*God was

Acts 17:26–27 (ESV)

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Daniel 1:17 (ESV)

17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

God has placed you where He has so you can be a light in a dark Babylon.

God has you where He has you for the season He needs you — for Daniel that was almost 70 years.

* Sometimes God places godly people in ungodly places for His godly purpose.

*PRAY*

I know God has been speaking today.

What are the lines you need to draw today?