THE EFFECT OF SIN OF OTHERS ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Daniel 1:3-7

INTRODUCTION

There is not one Babylonian Captivity. Actually there are three captivities:

     1. Daniel was taken in 605 B.C.

     2. Eight years later – 597 B.C.

     3. Eleven years later – 538 B.C.

The basic sin of Israel was idolatry. Babylon was a center of idolatry and was one of the most wicked cities of the ancient world. After the Babylonian Captivity, idolatry never again became a major temptation to Israel (Psalm 51:8).

But this doesn’t help Daniel who was still sent away. He was a descendant of Hezekiah and was only about 15-17 years of age. He never

returns to Judah. Daniel cf. Joseph:

     1. Both prisoners in a strange land

     2. Both revealers of dreams

     3. Both had their moral character severely tested

     4. Both stood firm

     5. Both were teenagers

     6. Both were raised to positions of highest honor

NOTE: In the mouth of two witnesses, truth is established. We can be a witness and succeed as a Christian.

NOTE: In Daniel chapter one, the young man Daniel is at the center

     1. His status in society

     2. The temptations that tested him

     3. His associates in temptation

          a. A man is known by the friends he keeps

          b. How can two walk together except they be agreed?

          c. One shall put a thousand to flight, two shall but 10,000 to flight

         d. Blessed is the man Psalm 1

     4. The discipline that developed him

     5. His strength of character

     6. The sphere of his service

THEME: THE WORLD AFFECTS US:

I. BY ITS JUDGMENT      1:3-5

     A. The World Wants To Control Us

NOTE: The world does not want us to reproduce spiritually          1:3 cf. Isaiah 39:5-7

          1. By taking our best born

NOTE: Children of the King

          2. By taking the best by their standards

NOTE: Man looks on the outward appearance

               a. No blemish but well favoured

                    1) No physical defects

                    2) Good looking

               b. Skillful in all wisdom:

                    1) Not of God’s wisdom

                    2) Educated as royalty in Judah

               c. Cunning in knowledge; understanding science

                   1) Not today’s word for science

                   2) Pertains to their skill in all learning of their day, the science of learning

          3. By teaching us the way of the world

               a. The learning and language of the Chaldeans

               b. Remember:        The learning of the Chaldeans was of no help in Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

          4. Reasons for controlling us

              a. To serve as hostages

to keep the royal family of Judah in line

              b. To be a reminder of the king’s conquests

              c. To use them later in running Jewish affairs

THEME: THE WORLD AFFECTS US:

          I. BY ITS JUDGMENT

II. BY ITS SUPPLIES       1:5

     A. Daily Provisions

          1. The king’s meat and wine

               a. The very food the king ate

               b. Lavish rich food

          2. For three years

               a. The time the world needed to conform them

               b. The prescribed course of training to be “one of them”

     B. To make us dependent upon the king of this world

          1. They were permitted unlimited indulgence as a part of the brain – washing scheme

NOTE: Payday some day

          2. To stand before the king

               a. To be his servant

               b. To take a place of responsibility in serving him

THEME: THE WORLD AFFECTS US:

          I. BY ITS JUDGMENT

         II. BY ITS SUPPLIES

III. BY ITS CONTROL      1:6-7

     A. The World Wants To Rename Us

          1. To erase every vestige of identification between them and their God, people and land

          2. The god of the new name was to be honored instead of the God of the old name

     B. With Our New Names We Have New Gods

          1. Daniel

               a. “My Judge is God”

               b. Beltshazzar – “Bel (Baal) will protect his life”

          2. Hanniah

               a. “Jehovah is Gracious”

NOTE: Amazing Grace

               b. Shadrach – “The command of Aku (the moon god)

          3. Mishael

                a. “Who is what God is?”

                b. Meshach – “Who is what Aku is?”

     4. Azariah

          a. “The Lord helps”

          b. Abednego – “Servant of Nego (the son of the Babylonian god, Bel)

CONCLUSION

THE WORLD AFFECTS US:

I. BY ITS JUDGMENT

II. BY ITS SUPPLIES

III. BY ITS CONTROL

HOW WE MUST STAND IN THE WORLD

Daniel 1:8-16

INTRODUCTION

There is no question but that the Bible teaches us to stand for what is right and to stand against what is wrong. The problem is: Many Christians are obnoxious for the glory of God. It seems the harder we stand for, or against something, the more obnoxious we try to be, even against the people of God. John 13:34-35 versus the holy huddle. No wonder the world doesn’t want to be around us and doesn’t like us.

Jesus says we are to be the salt of the earth. Illustration of salted potato chips: Bet you can’t eat just one! (Matthew 5:13)

Daniel gives us the guidelines needed to stand right.  Right before God. Right on truth. Right before others who don’t stand as we do.

THEME: IN ORDER TO DO RIGHT:

I. WE MUST TAKE A STAND     1:8

     A. Daniel Purposed In His Heart

          1. Literally – placed it on his heart

NOTE: He did not make it and lay it aside (forget it)

          2. Solemnly resolved

          3. With purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord           Acts 11:23

     B. That He Would Not Defile Himself

          1. All meals at the king’s table were feasts in honor of gods

               a. A portion would be dedicated to a god

               b. The eating of the remainder meant sharing the sacrificial meal in honor of that god

                   1) To honor meant to admit his claims and existence

NOTE: To publicly acknowledge that god

                   2) This practically denies God

          2. Daniel wanted to be holy because his God is holy        Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2

NOTE: Defile – cf. pollute, stain

               a. Daniel faced the issue at once

               b. He asserted immediately the supremacy of:

                    1) Duty over self – interest

                    2) Obedience over danger

                    3) Faith over fear

                    4) Fear of God over fear of kings

                    5) Spiritual over physical

                    6) Will over appetite

NOTE: We must please God rather than men        Acts 5:29

          3. Factors that made the decision difficult:

               a. The king ordered it

               b. To disobey could mean punishment

               c. To refuse would spoil advancement

               d. The food was attractive

               e. Long way from home

               f. God had not protected them from captivity, so no need of being careful in obeying His commands

     C. Therefore, He Requested That He Might Not Defile Himself

          1. Daniel faced the issue at once

               a. He decided the battle at the first skirmish

               b. He determined to do right when it was easy to do wrong

          2. Daniel showed good judgment and common sense

               a. Instead of inviting punishment by rebellion

               b. He courteously requested from his superior to be excused

THEME: IN ORDER TO DO RIGHT:

          I. WE MUST TAKE A STAND

II. WE MUST HAVE A GOOD TESTIMONY   1:9

     A. Now God

          1. The Bible repeatedly shows the God will do for the person who is faithful to His will

          2. I will never leave or forsake thee  Hebrews 13:5

     B. Favour And Tender Love

          1. Favour

               a. Kindness

               b. Good will

         2. Tender love

               a. Sympathy

               b. Convinced of Daniel’s sincerity

               c. Respected the request

     C. God Can And Does Control The Hearts Of Others For Our Good

          1. Daniel does not provoke others to persecute him

               a. He does not needlessly make a martyr of himself

               b. He is not stubborn and doesn’t exhibit tactless opposition

               c. II Timothy 2:24-26

NOTE: Daniel was not morbid about it

          2. God gives us peace

               a. The Lord will bless His people with peace

NOTE: Peace – wholeness, completeness

              b. When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him     Proverbs 16:7

THEME: IN ORDER TO DO RIGHT:

          I. WE MUST TAKE A STAND

         II. WE MUST HAVE A GOOD TESTIMONY

III. WE MUST BE WILLING TO STAND THE TEST 1:10-16

     A. When Others Are Afraid To Stand   1:10

          1. Our decisions will set us apart from other Christians

               a. The only ones who stand for God

                    1) Daniel

                    2) Hanniah

                    3) Mishael

                    4) Azariah

               b. Where were the other people of God?

                    1) The corrupting influences of Babylon were too much for the others

                    2) They were useless in God’s hands

          2. The unsaved are afraid that our stand will hurt their position in the world

NOTE: The name of the game: Don’t rock the boat

               a. I fear the king

                    1) He has provided food and drink

                    2) What if WE look sickly?

NOTE: What if your way don’t work?

              b. My head will be on the block

              c. Besides others of OUR kind do it

NOTE: M. Ghandi – “I’d be a Christian if I had every seen one”

     B.  We Must Have Faith To Put What We Believe To The Test      1:11-16

          1. Having been refused permission for a permanent change in diet, Daniel asks for a brief trial

               a. Prove your servants

NOTE: The powers that be are ordained of God   Romans 13:1-7

               b. Give a ten-day test

               c. Give us pulse and water

                    1) Pulse

NOTE: Hebrew – that which grows out of the ground

          a. Vegetables

          b. Grains

                    2) Water

NOTE: Neither were considered by the Babylonians worthy to offer to their gods

          2. The consenting       1:14

               a. He proved them ten days

                    1) Not, he ignored them ten days

NOTE: Proved – assaying of gold

                   2) Daniel and his friends had to decide daily to stand or not

               b. Ten days

                    1) Long enough for faith

                    2) Not long enough for damage

          3. They passed the test        1:15-16

               a. They were better than that

                   1) The world

                   2) The quitters of God

NOTE: James 4:17 – “He that knows to do good and doesn’t, to him it is sin”

               b. The food and wine were removed as a temptation

NOTE: When we prove our point the world will help us in our stand

CONCLUSION

IN ORDER TO DO RIGHT:

I. WE MUST TAKE A STAND

II. WE MUST HAVE A GOOD TESTIMONY

III. WE MUST BE WILLING TO STAND THE TEST

WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TESTS?

Daniel 1:17-21

INTRODUCTION

We all like the successful person.  Most of us are success oriented.

Much of our lives will be spent in finding ways to be successful. That’s why we want to graduate from high school. That’s why we want to graduate from college. That’s why we want jobs whereby we can achieve, not just once but many times.

Daniel meets the criteria of being a success all of his life. Yet he would never have been a success if he was not willing to stand early tests in life.

All of life is filled with curses and decisions. Almost every day we come to a fork in the road of life.  Where we are today is due to the turn in the road we took yesterday.

Illustration:  I-44 goes past Springfield. There are seven exits off I-44 into Springfield. Ideally we want to choose the exit that is closest to our intended goal of our journey.

The destiny – determining decisions we face are usually selected in our youth, salvation, friends, mate, habits, vocation.  What makes us a success tomorrow is due to the choices of today.

THEME: WHEN WE PASS THE TEST:

I. WE FIND GOD GIVES US THINGS  1:17

NOTE: “God gave”

     A. Knowledge And Skill In All Learning And Wisdom

          1. The ability to separate the true from the false

          2. Not dependent of what others say is right

     B. Daniel (The Leader) Had More Understanding

NOTE: Beyond what the other three had

          1. In visions     10:5-7

          2. In dreams

NOTE:  After 15 years in Babylon, Daniel is classified with the patriarchal heroes, Job and Moses     Ezekiel 14:14,20

THEME: WHEN WE PASS THE TEST:

          I. WE FIND GOD GIVES US THINGS    1:17

II. WE FIND THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD’S CROWD COME TO US FOR ANSWERS   1:18-20

     A. After Regular Testing

          1. This is a summary of three years of hard study

          2. After three years of God’s blessings on them

     B. The King Personally Questions Them          Matthew 10:18-20

          1. Their final exams, their comprehensives

          2. This would determine the outcome of their life’s course

     C. The Leaders Of The World Will Recognize What God Has Given Us

          1. Ten times better

               a. Literally – ten hands better

               b. Outstandingly different

          2. Because of passing a ten day test (vs. 15) they are ten times better

THEME: WHEN WE PASS THE TEST:

          I. WE FIND GOD GIVES US THINGS

         II. WE FIND THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD’S CROWD COME TO US FOR ANSWERS

III. WE FIND WE CAN HAVE A LONG MINISTRY FOR CHRIST 1:21

     A. Daniel Continued Till Cyrus

          1. Daniel witnessed to four great monarchs

               a. Nebuchadnezzar

NOTE: Prime Minister for over 40 years

               b. Belshazzar

               c. Darius

               d. Cyrus

          2. Daniel had one of the longest ministries in the Word of God

               a. King’s Dream – Chapter two – 20 years old

               b. Second Dream – Chapter four – 23 years old

               c. Handwriting on the wall – 80 years old

               d. Lion’s den – 81 years old

               e. He witnessed the return to Judah of Zerrubabel – 538 B.C.

               f. He died at about 83 years old

     B. Our Ministry Can Be Full Like Daniel’s

          1. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long on the earth      Exodus 20:12

          2. Abraham died full of years            Genesis 25:8

CONCLUSION

Instead of suffering punishment by an angry king or experiencing any loss in their competition with the other captives, they actually advanced in position above the others.

“The only successful cure for drug addicts today has been spiritual experience. If a spiritual confrontation with God can solve the problem of addicts, think what young people can do if they discover Christ before getting involved in such problems as drugs.”   Tom Landry