Daniel 1 - How To Honor God When Your Culture Does Not

Message Introduction

Our world

Secularism - rejects God

Humanism - humanity replaces God

Relativism - no truth

Emotionalism - emotions and experience replace truth

Pragmatism - the ends justify the means

IN EXILE: Living in a World that is Not Home

The people of God face frequent challenges of living in a world that is not home to them. The Bible reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven.” So, how do we carry on without compromise? Daniel is an Old Testament hero who teaches us how to live as exiles in one kingdom with our identity firmly rooted in a greater one.

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

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.

Message Outline

The PRESSURES that the Faced

SEPARATION

INDOCTRINATION

VALIDATION

The PRINCIPLES AND PROMISES in which they had Faith

God’s Grace is Displayed In His judgments

God’s Grace is Displayed In His Word

God’s Grace is Displayed In His calling you, His own

The PATH they resolved to Follow

Vertical: Our Relationship with God

FELLOWSHIP with God

FAITHFUL to the Word

FIND your security in God’s salvation and your identity in your union with Christ

Horizontal: Our Relationship with Other Believers

INTIMACY – Community with other believers

INSTRUCTION – Being taught and teaching others biblical truths

INFLUENCE – One another passages

Message Exposition

The PRESSURES that they faced (DANIEL 1:1-7)

The Babylonians begin to conquer Judah (Daniel 1:1-7)

Exiles in three waves (605 BC, 597 BC, 586 BC)

Daniel 1:1 ESV

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

Daniel: An Expositional Commentary (The Importance of Daniel)

By way of historical background it is helpful to know that Nebuchadnezzar attacked the southern Jewish kingdom of Judah three times, beginning in 605 B.C., a little more than a hundred years after the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians.

The second invasion occurred in 597 B.C., when Jehoiakim, son of the king of Judah mentioned in Daniel 1:1–2, was compelled to surrender Jerusalem and go into captivity with many of the Jewish leaders, including the royal family, the commanders of the army, craftsmen, and even some of the priests like Ezekiel.

The third invasion was the one we remember most. It took place in 586 B.C. when Jerusalem was completely destroyed and the people of the land were deported to Babylon. Jeremiah was in Jerusalem at the time of this final destruction of the city.

God is Judge

Daniel 1:2 ESV

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.

The Lord GAVE His people into the hands of their enemies

Demoralizing: Nebuchadnezzar took

The TREASURES of the temple

The TEENAGERS of the town

The taking of the best and brightest of Judah (people from the royal families and nobility)

Reprogramming by the Babylonians

The PRESSURES that the Faced

SEPARATION

INDOCTRINATION

VALIDATION

Separation - removed them from their families and relocate them. Isolation.

Daniel 1:3–4 (ESV)

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,

Indoctrination - re-educate them

Trained them in the Babylonian language

Trained them in the Babylonian literature

Daniel 1:3–4 (ESV)

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.

Daniel 1:5 ESV

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.

a new language, and new laws.

Daniel 1:6 ESV

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

Daniel

Very young

Committed

Courageous

Clear thinking

Will not fight every fight out there

Uncompromising

Biblically wise

Validation - rename them

Give them a new identity

Into whose image?

World’s image

Daniel 1:7 ESV

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.

Two cities by Saint Augustine

City of God

City of Man

(A Tale of Two Cities)

Yet this needs to be placed in an even larger context. One of the most influential books on theology ever written is The City of God by Saint Augustine of Hippo (written between A.D. 412 and 426).

Its theme concerns the existence of two societies, which Augustine calls “cities.” One is God’s society. The other is the society of this world.

Augustine described them, saying, “Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self.”5 - James Montgomery Boice

“The question is not about what city do you live in, but what city do you live for” - John Lennox

The PRINCIPLES AND PROMISES in which they had Faith (Daniel 1:8-21)

The PRINCIPLES AND PROMISES in which they had Faith

God’s Grace is Displayed In His judgments

God’s Grace is Displayed In His Word

God’s Grace is Displayed In His calling you, His own

Identity this is who I am. This is whose I am

Integrity - this is how I live. wholeness of life. It is where your beliefs and your behaviors lineup.

No compromise.

Influence

Daniel seeks to remain undefiled (vs. 8-14)

Refused Assimilation

You can give me a New place, new education, new language, new laws...

I refuse a totally new life

Assimilation - remake and reculturate them

Babylon’s fineries - splendor, expense, trappings, classiness

Babylon’s fellowship - pagan worship, provider, significance, security, satisfaction

Daniel 1:5 ESV

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.

Daniel 1:8 (ESV)

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.

Why not eat the food? Why make such a big deal about food and wine?

Kosher laws

Associated with idols

Why not the wine

Sacred vessels - drinking wine - profound spiritual defilement - in chapter 5

Daniel did not want to Compromise

His dependence will not be on the King but on God alone

Providence

Daniel and his friends were resolved and resistant and respectful (Daniel 1:8-13)

Daniel 1:8 (ESV)

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.

This not about Daniel’s faithfulness and obedience. This about the Lord’s faithfulness

Instead, the main point, once again, is the Lord’s faithfulness towards his people. Once again, we read in verse nine, “and God gave.” God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. Whatever we might say about Daniel’s faithfulness, it’s God who blesses Daniel and his friends in this situation, both before, during and after the tests that they take. It’s the Lord who is at work in this pagan and polytheistic infused environment. Just as the Lord in the words of Proverbs turns the king’s heart wherever he wills, so too it’s the Lord who directs that hearts of the chiefs of eunuchs and the steward.

From the start to finish, the spotlight in this text falls on the Lord and his faithfulness. The main message of this passage isn’t, be like Daniel. It’s fundamentally rests in the faithfulness of Daniel’s God, who even in the midst of exile is faithful to lead and direct his people for their good unto his glorious appointed ends. He doesn’t abandon his people even in exile. No, in a sense he goes with his people into exile.

Resolved

Clear conviction

Determined

Am I resolved not to defile myself?

Our character is crucial

Am I going to stand for God?

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Resistant

Held his ground

Respectful

humble attitude

respectful of his authority

Was not trying to change the laws

Was not trying to change the Babylonian culture

He proposed not to defile himself

“It was not him versus Babylon, but it was Daniel for the Lord”

If we have a problem with authority, it may reveal a deeper issues; you may have a problem with the authority of God in your life

Does not demand his right

He does not belittle; he is not looking for a fight

There is big difference between holding fast to our conviction and disagreeing with those above us

Politeness, respecting others make people feel valued

Manner - friendly and effective at the same time

Takes you out of the equation, let God rule and reign

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:21 ESV

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Daniel asks

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Daniel 1:8b

Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Who was the Romans emperor at the time?

1 Peter 2:18 ESV

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Our identity will lead to crucial questions about our character and integrity and that will have to do with our credibility in society - John Lennox

Fight the fear and the shame

God is gracious

Daniel 1:9 ESV

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

God GAVE them favor and compassion in the leaders’ sight

Daniel 1:10 ESV

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.”

God is sovereign

Daniel 1:11 ESV

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Daniel 1:12 ESV

“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

Daniel 1:13 ESV

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.”

They Trusted God and God Blessed Them (Daniel 1:14-21)

A. God blessed them physically (vs. 14-16)

Daniel 1:14 ESV

So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

Daniel 1:15 ESV

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.

Daniel 1:16 ESV

So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

Daniel and his friends were reviewed by the king after three years (Daniel 1:17-21)

B. God blessed them intellectually (1:17,20).

Daniel 1:17 (ESV)

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.

C. God blessed them spiritually (1:17).

Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams

D. God blessed them relationally (1:18-21).

Daniel 1:18–21 ESV

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

God GAVE them learning and skills and understanding

Gifts flourished. God gave them success. He who honors me, I will honor

God’s blessings is over all that did

Powerful witness

Stand for the Lord

Retain his integrity

Have an appealing witness

God honors and blesses him

Faithful in little. Trusted in much.

He know who is he and Whose He is.

God will open doors of opportunities where we prove to be faithful. God give Him even greater influence

Point us to Jesus

Into a foreign world

Confronted by the enemy

Challenge all you abilities to make a name for yourself

I will live by the Word of God

I will by the Will of God

I will be led by the Spirit of God

I will live every moment for the glory of God

Do you know whose you are? Do you know where your real home is?

Who am I?

Why am I here?

Where am I going?

Be a light for God in a dark world

Make us distinctive

ACTS prayer

The Path: The path they resolved to follow

VERTICAL PATH: Our Relationship with God

FELLOWSHIP with God

FAITHFUL to the Word

FIND your security in God’s salvation and your identity in your union with Christ

HORIZONTAL PATH: Our Relationship with Other Believers

INTIMACY – Community with other believers

INSTRUCTION – Being taught and teaching others biblical truths

INFLUENCE – One another passages

Daniel 1:21 ESV

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

Application

Know who you are. The Apostle Peter tells us in the New Testament that we are also exiles. One of the prevailing metaphors that we come across in the scriptures to describe the Christian life is one of exile and sojourn. The Apostle Peter isn’t the only one to use that language. In Philippians 3:20, we are told that our citizenship, where we belong and where we claim residence, isn’t fundamentally here, it’s in heaven. The author of Hebrews tells us, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek a city that is to come.”Of course, in this world we may experience incredible benefits and good gifts from the Father of Light. We can delight in God’s creation and the many good things that he gives us in this life to enjoy. We should also work as good citizens in this world and seek the welfare of the city into which we have been placed. But on this side of glory we are still exiles and sojourners.

That identify has a profound effect on what we expect of this world and what we think will really satisfy the desires of our soul in this world. That identity should lead us to be distinct in this world. Distinct in how we engage the world and distinct in what we bring to the world. That identity reminds us that we don’t take our cues from the God’s of this world. We look to the Lord for our cues and trust his promise that our exile isn’t endless, and our sojourn isn’t aimless.

Know who you are and constantly ask yourself if you are living out of that identity or whether you are more at home in this world than you should be.

Conduct yourself with modesty and respect during the time of your exile. When I studied this passage, a number of commentators drew my attention to the manner in which Daniel conducts himself in captivity. Notice that when he resolves not to defile himself with the king’s food, he doesn’t broadcast his intentions with some kind of obnoxious show of defiance. Instead he respectfully approaches the chief of the eunuchs.Daniel hears his concern, even while holding his convictions firmly. Then he hatches a plan that won’t get anyone in trouble of draw any sort of unwelcome attention. Daniel is not confrontational in the midst of a confrontational world. As Sinclair Ferguson notes, in view of 1 Peter 2:23, there is something Christ like about Daniel’s spirit.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23, ESV

Friends, whatever pressures we face in our exile, and we will face pressures in our exile. More so in other parts of the world than here, but we do experience them. The nations rage and the peoples will plot in vain. Nonetheless, there’s no reason for us to lash out in rage. Instead we are called to stand with a Christ-like spirit and entrust our future to God’s hands. Afterall, they are good hands. Take hold of that.

Rest in the providence of God. We talked a bit about the providence of God, but I want us to hear and consider what the Heidelberg Catechism says on this important doctrine. The Heidelberg Catechism is another reformed confession. In question and answer twenty-eight, the Heidelberg Catechism asks,

Question: What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by his providence? Answer: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from his love; for all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot so much as move. Heidelberg Catechism, #28

Despite what the world might tell us, we are not on the wrong side of history because we have a God who moves the wheels of history to his ordained ends. So, we can be patient in adversity. The fruit of the spirit isn’t suspended in our exile. We can be thankful when we are going through exile in a way that God is providing richly for us, knowing that everything we enjoy is a gift from the Father of Lights. We can have firm confidence that whatever tragedies we face in our exile, our God has secured for us a future, only in Christ alone through faith alone. In which nothing on the face of this earth, nor in heaven, nor in hell will be able to separate us from his love through God in Christ Jesus.

How do we remain faithful in our exile? How do we navigate theological reflection that is sparked by tragedy when it comes our way? The answer that Daniel gives us is that we look to God’s faithfulness in our exile. We look to Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Let me pray.

Discussion Questions

What new thoughts have you had since reading and studying the passage or from hearing James’s message?

What verse from this passage will you commit to meditate on and memorizing this week? Write it down. Share it with others.

Bringing It Home

Pondering the Passage:

What is the main point of the passage?

Learn

What did I learn?

Where has my thinking, beliefs, and values been challenged in this passage?

Do I find any of the characteristics ways of thinking or behaving of the ungodly in my life?

List and describe those areas in which I struggle.

Love

What does this passage teach me about God?

Has my thinking about God changed?

How have I learned to love God more and others selflessly as a result of this passage?

Have I learned ways that I have acted unlovingly towards others that I must change?

Live

What are the practical steps that I can take to apply to what I have learned in this passage?

Where must I change?

What do I need to repent and confess?

How will pondering and personalizing this passage change how I live my life today and moving forward?

Praying the Passage (ACTS)

What specific things can I pray adoring God because of what I learned in this passage?

What specific things do I need to confess based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to thank God for based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to request in prayer (supplication) based on what I learned from this passage?