Daniel 1 Dare to Obey
Theological Proposition/Focus: God has Soveriegnly set standards for His people to follow.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: As we begin a new year may we stand firm even when no-one else is watching.
Introduction:
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Need:
Subject:
Preview: As Christ followers we are called to live in the world but not of the world. Therefore, you can expect to face many temptations. As you face temptations just remember that obedience is worth it.
Text: Daniel 1:1-21, read with each point
Setting the Stage:
In 722 BC the Northern nation of Israel fell to the Assyrian empire. However, the southern nation of Judah remained in the land. In 612 BC the capital of the Assyrian empire fell to the forces of Babylon and Media. In 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar attacked the city of Jerusalem, captured a number of Israelites, and hauled them back to Babylon. Daniel and his friends were part of this group of people who were displaced. Over the decades to follow Nebuchadnezzar attached Jerusalem two more times. In 586 the walls of Jerusalem were breached and almost every Jew who was not killed in the attack was carried off to Babylon.
Body
We are called to live life in the world but not of the world (1-6).
The text starts of with an important historical marker in verse 1. The events in Daniel are contextualized within the world of Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem. However, the first part of verse 2 provides a vital theological commentary.
In the ANE worldview kings go to war on behalf of their god. Victory shows the superiority of their god as they acquire territory and people for their god. However, as stated in Daniel 1:2 this conquest is not because some false god is superior to Adoni. This conquest is at the bequest of Adoni. Elohim, Adoni, the Lord is allowing Nebuchadnezzar to be part of His unfolding plan and part of that plan involves removing His people from their land, from their temple, from the comfort of the promised land.
We need to remember that as Christ-followers we are not of this world. However, we live within this world.
Following Jesus needs to be a part of your life outside the walls of this church (1-2).
God moved his people outside of the promised land. He placed them in a foreign land, with a foreign religion, foreign customs, and foreign influence. Yet, this was not an excuse for the people to abandon God. Verse 2 made it clear that God was still in control. Even though it seemed that the gods of the Babylonians were in charge, that was not the case. God was still God.
Here is the reality, when you leave this building today you will enter a world that rejects, denies, and even mocks the God we serve. That does not mean we stop following Jesus. No following Jesus is a part of life regardless of which land we find ourselves.
What happens next furthers this idea. We learn that some of the best of Israel are brought into service to Nebuchadnezzar. The use of the title Israelite in verse 3 is significant. These individuals are more properly from the nation of Judah. However, the use of Israelite reminds us that these are not just any people, these are God's people. God is allowing, even more, placing His people into the positions where he wants them to be. The passage continues to remind us that these were the cream of the crop but remember that their first quality is that of being God's people.
You have been placed on the mission field in your day-to-day life (3-5).
If you are a Christ-follower then you are one of God's people. But more than that, God has placed you specifically into a mission field. When you leave the confines of this building you enter a foreign land and are representing the God of the universe to this foreign land. Much like Daniel and the other Israelite nobles, we need to recognize that we have been placed into a specific place as missionaries.
Moreover, the land in which we have been placed would teach you otherwise if given the chance. In verse 4 we learn that Ashpenaz was given the task of teaching these young men the language and literature of Babylon. The language of Babylon was Aramaic, a language close to Hebrew that these young nobles probably learned quickly. However, the literature of Babylon was written largely in Akkadian a complicated language that requires learning hundreds of symbols. Moreover, the method used to teach Akkadian involved copying significant Akkadian texts, many of which would have been religious. In short, these young nobles were to be enculturated into Babylonian life. Nevertheless, as we will see their retained their identity as followers of God.
We must remember that while we live in the world,
No matter your title or position remember you follow Christ (6).
In verse 6 we see the names of 4 of the young nobles. Daniel means "God is my judge" Hannaniah means "YHWH has acted graciously." Azariah means "YHWH has helped" Mishael means "Who is like God." In verse 7 we will see an attempt to change their identity but right here and now Daniel is reminding us that these men from Judah were God's people.
We need to remember that we follow Christ! Our identity is first and foremost as followers of Christ.
Image: My mission field, LNK - what is your mission field?
We need to realize we live in the mission field. What is your mission field? Maybe it is work, maybe a group you do a hobby with? My mission field is the Lincoln Airport. My reality is that I spend most of my week here at the church. No surprise there, so I need a mission field. My choice has been to make that the airport. Why do so many of my examples involve airplanes? Simple, because if I am not at the church, or in my office at home studying then you can bet I am at the airport. That is my hobby, but since it is my place outside the four walls of this building it is also my mission field!
