Daniel 1: The Lord of Babylon
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Jesus is Lord over your Babylon.
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning!
Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept
as we thought of Jerusalem.
We put away our harps,
hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.
For our captors demanded a song from us.
Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn:
“Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”
But how can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a pagan land?
Today, I’m really excited to start the Book of Daniel. It’s an older book. Meaning, it’s in the Old Testament. It’s actually set during the time period of Psalm 137, sometimes referred to as the Babylonian exile.
And just in case you’re NOT familiar with Bible history (which is actual history - the events of “this book” are factual, not fiction), let’s do a quick sweep through the timeline.
The Bible starts with Adam and Eve. Some believe this was approximately 6000 years ago. Maybe, maybe not.
Regardless, then came sin, the fall, and the flood.
Afterwards, God called Abraham. Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, Jacob had 12 sons including Joseph.
Joseph was sold into slavery, but saved the world in Egypt.
His family moved to Egypt, became the nation of Israel, but also spent 400 years in slavery.
God delivered them by Moses and brought them into the Promised Land by Joshua.
Then came the Judges, but afterwards, the kings: starting with Saul, and peaking with David and Solomon.
The nation split in two after Solomon. The northern 10 tribes were called Israel, while the southern two (Judah and Benjamin) were called Judah. Israel always had wicked kings, while Judah went back and forth.
Eventually, because of their wickedness, Israel (the northern 10 tribes) were destroyed by Assyria. And despite the few good kings and repeated warnings of the prophets, Judah wasn’t far behind.
In the late 600 BCs, God used Babylon (led by king Nebuchadnezzar) to destroy Jerusalem and lead the remaining Jewish people into captivity. This happened in multiple waves, starting around 605 BC, and ending in 586 BC.
And this is when both Psalm 137 and the book of Daniel take place. It was a time of great tragedy and suffering. But it was also a season of purpose.
God had foretold this season by the prophets. That if His people would continue to sin, He would use the nations to discipline them. And this brings up two truths that we need to consider:
God’s discipline always has a loving purpose. His desire in correction is restoration, not separation, chaos, or destruction.
God has never lost control. God is sovereign. He is not defeated, but forever victorious and working out His purposes.
And that last truth is how the book of Daniel fits our 2024 Vision as a church. This year’s vision (or what we believe God wants our church to focus on) is centered on the theme of victory. More specifically, we believe “Jesus is Lord in 2024.”
And the book of Daniel (I believe) is a perfect book to help us live out this Vision. So, I’m excited to dive into Daniel, but are you guys ready?
Alright, chapter 1, verse 1. Btw, something cool about Daniel chapter 1. Notice verse 1 says…
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
We get the beginning of the story. But then…
And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
The last verse of chapter 1 gives us the end of Daniel’s story. This tells us couple of things:
The events of Daniel 1 are chronologically first in the timeline of Daniel’s story.
However, when verse 21 skips to the end of his story, I’d like to suggest it’s intentionally teaching us that what we read (what we learn) in chapter 1 accurately summarize the entire book of the Bible.
Therefore, what we learn today sets the stage for the entire book!
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
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.
This is not a good start to the story. The year is approximately 605 BC. The northern 10 tribes are destroyed. And now, a weak Judean king faces the most powerful king in the world, Nebuchadnezzar.
And the sense is… Nebuchadnezzar walked right into God’s house, took everything valuable (he said, “Gimme that!”), then he put them in his god’s house. The description seems to say, “My god is greater than your God.” God has been defeated.
And that’s not all…
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.
When I grew up, I moved a lot. For many years, I was the new kid at school. And even though I was good at sports, I wasn’t good at making friends. And I would often get picked last at recess. Anyone know that feeling?
And you know the feeling when there are two team captains. And they start picking teams. And it becomes obvious that one team is stacked - like they picked all the good players?
I’ve been back on my Survivor kick. Earlier this year I started watching Survivor and got hooked. Right now I’m on Season 29, where it’s “white collar vs blue collar vs no collar (free spirits).” And they recently mixed up the teams. And when they did - all the strong men went on one team. It became obvious that if there was a physical challenge, they would dominate. And it made the other team want to give up even before they played.
That’s kinda what happened here. Babylon took all of Jerusalem’s best and said, “They are on our team now!” And the Jewish people basically gave up…
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.
This was Babylon’s proven method of brainwashing. It aided in the process of getting a captive people to fully surrender. Three things here:
They gave these Jewish men the king’s diet. The best food and drink. And soon, these boys were like, “I could get used to this!” And food is very cultural. Food gives us identity. We understand this: sushi is Japanese. Orange chicken is chinese (kinda). Tacos and burritos are Mexican. What you eat gives you identity. As these men ate the Babylonian cuisine, they unintentionally declared, “I am now Babylonian.”
They got the best education available. Babylon was the world’s most powerful empire at the time, with all the best resources. In some ways, it’s like being educated here in New England. You know you’re getting the best. And it opens opportunities you might not have anywhere else. And you begin to say, “I like being Babylonian!”
And then, they are renamed. And we’re specifically introduced to four Jewish men. Men with Hebrew names that honored the God of Israel. And while the translations are debated, it seems like Daniel’s new name means: Lady protect the king. Like - really? I’d be like, “Lady? Why I gotta be a lady?”
The other names possibly mean, “I am fearful,” “I am despised,” and “servant of Nebo (Babylon’s god).”
In other words, they were renamed to emphasize, “You belong to Babylon and there’s nothing you can do about it. So just give up and join the team. It’s better here anyways.”
As we read the first seven verses, it feels like God has lost to Babylon. No wonder the psalmist wrote…
Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept
as we thought of Jerusalem.
… you know, some of us (today) live like this too. We live at a time when many people say “God is dead.” That God is not relevant. And even if He does exist, He is defeated. So, we live defeated too.
But here’s my encouragement… the story is not over! Let’s keep reading!
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 one verse makes Daniel one of my most favorite people in the Bible. I love the phrase, “But Daniel resolved.” If we look at other translations, we see, “Daniel was determined - NLT,” or my personal favorite, “Daniel purposed in his heart. - NKJV”
In the midst of cultural compromise among his biblical community, where people were jumping ship, leaving the faith, deconstructing, switching teams (from Jerusalem to Babylon), Daniel boldly declares, “I ain’t switching teams!”
Here in New England, I’ve found there are typically three football teams people are loyal to:
The New England Patriots
The Philadelphia Eagles
The New York Football Giants
We ain’t counting the Jets… [Bryce - the Bills are too far away and so are the Steelers. Texas - I don’t even want to hear about the Cowboys.]
But I can tell you, you will never catch a Patriots fan switching loyalties to the Giants. A Giants fan would NEVER put an Eagles jersey on.
And I’ve even noticed this resolve-like loyalty in college sports. I’ve recently become friends with a lot of people in Michigan. And you would think that Ohio done slapped their mamas by the way they view their neighboring state.
Let’s go south. We got some people in our church who will confirm. There is no chance in [h-e-double hockey sticks] you’d ever catch a UNC fan cheering for Duke!
People are committed to their team! And they ain’t switching. So, as God’s people, why aren’t we that passionate about God’s team?
Because many times we aren’t like Daniel, and we’re switching to Babylon because it looks better, feels better, tastes better.
Are we feeling a little bit of the Holy Spirit’s conviction right now? Good! So, what was it that gave Daniel such resolve? Look at the next verse…
And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,
GOD GAVE [say “God gave]. This gives us an opportunity to rewind the story because this isn’t the first time we find this phrase in chapter 1.
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.
Interesting. Did Babylon really defeat Judah if the Lord who GAVE victory to Babylon?
Btw, why would God do that? Well, I mentioned it earlier. God had already warned Israel that if they kept sinning, He would discipline them. He even said He’d use Babylon!
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’ ”
Jehoiakim (the king during Daniel’s time) was Hezekiah’s great-great-grandson. God said this a long time ago. And now it was finally happening! God GAVE Judah into the hand of Babylon.
But now God is giving Daniel favor with Nebuchadnezzar’s chief of staff. Let’s keep reading…
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.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 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.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
So, at first, the chief of staff didn’t like the idea. He said, “You’re gonna get me killed. The king takes this assimilation process very seriously! So - no!” But then, Daniel convinces the steward to test them.
Now, I know all you vegetable fans are gonna see this passage as biblical justification to promote eating vegetables. And while vegetables is good (even though I personally hate them) - that’s NOT the point of this passage. What Daniel is actually suggesting is an impossible situation!
He’s suggesting that if his friends only get veggies and water, they will be more fit than people getting the best, most well-rounded diet! Why would Daniel suggest such an impossible thing? A few possible reasons:
He did not want to defile himself. Defile is a broad word, but it definitely can refer to the strict Jewish diet God’s law required him to abide by. Babylon could’ve been the capital of pulled pork and bacon, which was a no-no for Israel.
It also could’ve considered that the king’s food was likely offered to idols. And Daniel had purposed in his heart to not spiritually pollute his heart.
He was making an IDENTITY statement. Look at what’s written next…
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. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
How did this impossible thing happen? How did Daniel know this would be the outcome?
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.
There it is… for the third time, “God gave…”
Here’s what we really discover in Daniel chapter 1… God is STILL on the throne. He is still King. He is still in control. He is still Lord. He is still victorious. And Daniel (and his 3 friends) fully believed this (by faith), which is why they declared, “We are NOT switching teams!”
They knew who God was, which impacted who they were.
God was still Lord of the earth, so they still served Him as Lord, no matter where they lived.
God is ALWAYS victorious, so no matter the present circumstances, they ALWAYS walked in victory.
And that’s exactly what happened…
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.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were found victorious. And NOT because of the king’s diet or the world’s best training, but because they belonged to the LORD. He GAVE them everything they needed. And what God GIVES is always better than the best the world can offer.
God made Daniel 10x better than the best of Babylon. There was no comparison.
And we will continue to see this as we progress through the book of Daniel…
Response:
Response:
So, as we close today, here’s our response question: Who is Lord over your life?
Daniel 1 happened over 2500 years ago, in a different country and culture. But honestly, it ain’t that different from today. In fact, the word “Babylon” can be used to describe any worldly or pagan culture. In a way, we are living in Babylon today. And the question for us is the same one Daniel had to face: Who is Lord of your life?
How you answer this question will determine your identity. It will determine how you live. Are you a Babylonian or Christian?
Today you know you need to make Jesus the Lord of your life, maybe for the first time. If so, the Bible makes this simple…
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
If you need to, do that today. But maybe you’re already a Christian, but you’ve compromised. The gifts of Babylon have tempted you to switch teams. And you know that’s not right - you need to repent. It’s time for you to purpose in your heart to not defile yourself.
So, how do you do that? How do you serve Jesus as Lord in today’s Babylon? Here’s two things Daniel did that most of us ALREADY know how to do!
Be loyal to God’s team. With the same passion you commit to things you love on this earth, apply that passion to the Lord Jesus. Determine that you are NOT switching teams. That you belong to the Lord Jesus and will live that way!
Trust the Lord, even when it seems impossible and you’re ready to give up. Because sometimes your victory simply depends on following the right Leader.
I’m listening to the audiobook “Extreme Leadership.” It’s a book written by Navy Seals. The authors tell a story about hell week (when people attempt to qualify for the Seals). And one time, the teams were racing up and down the beach carrying heavy boats. There was one team (Team 2) that was dominating. There was another team losing significantly every time (Team 6).
Then the instructors tested something. They switched the leaders of both teams. And all of a sudden, Team 6 started winning. And it revealed something: When it comes to victory, leadership matters.
Daniel knew this, which is why the Lord was his Leader. Who is leading your life? If you pick one thing to remember from today, remember this: Make Jesus the Lord of your life.
Let’s pray…
Jesus, for too long we have lived as if you are not Lord. Give us the heart of Daniel. Give us the faith and resolve of his three friends. Regardless of our circumstances we declare you as the victorious Lord! And we trust You with our lives. We turn from our sins. We turn from our idols. We turn from Babylon. And look to You to give us everything we need in Jesus name - amen.