The Humility of Truth

Babylon Sought to corrupt.

Daniel 1:1–7 NASB95

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along 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 he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king’s personal service. Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah Abed-nego.

Babylons goal was not to eradicate the Jews it was to absorb them into their wicked culture.

They understood like the Romans that if you simply fight people they fight back, but if you tempt people into choosing a luxurious lifestyle then you can tempt them into submission.

Eat our food, drink, relax, and forget the rules of your God. Its just bacon.

Enjoy your new names

In a similar way the American culture has done the same. Relax God will forgive you.

Its just one time. Its just one Sunday. Its just a small thing.

The Truth of Christ is Resolute.

It is unyielding in the face of temptation.

It is fearless in the way of the world.

Our temptation is compromise. Just let truth slide a little.

If you won’t compromise then shut up. Just don’t say anything.

“Truth without love is imperious self-righteousness. Love without truth is cowardly self-indulgence .”

-Timothy Keller

The Truth of Christ is Humble

Daniel 1:8–16 NASB95

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. “Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.

Notice here that Daniel does not throw the standards of God in the Babylonians face. He does not call them sinners. tell them they are going to Hell

He respects their authority over him, and he appeals them, humbly and respectfully.

He asks God. Give me favor.

Why didn’t he throw it in their faces?

Because he understood that truth alone wouldn’t change anything.

Truth had to link arms with love before it was effective.

Truth in America is only effective in the same way. It only works when it is married with the love of Christ!

When the love of Christ meets the Truth of Christ, lives are changed!

Some lean naturally towards love over truth or truth over love.

Either one is destructive. When we find the balance in Christ lives will be forever changed.