Revelation in an Alien World

INTRODUCTION

It is difficult perhaps for us to understand the book of Daniel. The book was written in a culture very different from our own. Daniel’s age is one when kings had ultimate power.  Perhaps due to the immense power and authority that they had, it would be easy for them to delude themselves that they were a god. Indeed the king referred to in our passage today, Nebuchadnezzar, regarded himself as being one of the Babylonian gods’  (Nabu) "beloved" and "favourite.”

However, the bible tells us that an idol is nothing (see 1 Corinthians 8:4) and although Nebuchadnezzar had immense power God decided to prove to him that He was greater!

 

The Dream (Read Daniel Chapter 2)

The centre of the story in this passage seems so silly! The king had a dream he couldn’t understand.  I’m sure many of us have had many of those. However, the dream must have shaken the king strongly as he gets very worked up about it threatening to kill the other astrologers and wise men who can’t tell him his dream and what it means. What is amazing to think about here is that God is proving to probably the most powerful man in the world at the time that He is in charge. God is almost playing with him, poking him, saying “if you are so great and mighty work that out for yourself!”  But the king can’t work it out for himself. He needs to hear from God.

All through the history of the bible up to and including the present day God has placed His people alongside those who don’t know him. For the king Daniel was placed near him and his officials said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” (Daniel 2:25)

Daniel then explains what is troubling the king and says, “As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand.” (Daniel 2:30)

Biblical scholars generally agree that the four kingdoms referred to in the dream are the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires. Jesus, who appears on earth during the time of the Romans is the “rock . . . not cut out by human hands.” (Daniel 2:34) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

There are two key points that we can take from this story. First, no matter how successful or fulfilling life is it is revelation from God that we need. Second, that whatever is built up on earth no matter how powerful or strong it is, will eventually be knocked down by God. All these things, if we put our trust in them are idols. Only His kingdom the kingdom of the King of kings and Lord of Lords will stand.

This is sobering stuff, it should first challenge us not to put our faith or trust in anything but Jesus.  It should challenge us to live a Holy life, a life in the way that our king will be pleased with. As we saw last week, a key challenge from Daniel is to live a Holy life that does not compromise in any way.

Secondly, it should challenge us to seek revelation from God. Paul is very blunt when he comes across people deciding what “flavour” of Christianity they will go for. It is not a consumer choice, some ways will achieve nothing at all, God will reveal and test with fire “the quality of each person’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:13) This is a sobering thought. Whilst the passage is talking primarily to Christian leaders I believe it is a challenge to all Christians not to simply do Christian stuff but to seek revelation from God. This revelation comes by seeking and developing our relationship with Jesus Christ. He (Jesus) is the ultimate revelation of who God is.

 

Cross Reference to other books

1 Corinthians 3

Colossians 1:14-22

Psalm 118:21-23

Matthew 21:42 ; Mark 12:10 ; Luke 20:17

 

Questions to think on (Please think and post comments on the blog)

1.    It is easy to say that we put our trust 100% in God. What things in your life might easily turn into idols?  (Even good things like our family, our work, the NHS etc can turn into idols if we put our faith in them above out faith in God)

2.    How would you feel if important things in your life (such as work, family, Britain etc) got overturned in your life?

3.    If you were to have a dream where God revealed something to you supernaturally, what do you think it might be?

4.    Think about a time past when God has revealed something to you, in what way did this have an impact in your life?  Think about how hungry you are for more revelation from God.

5.    Read Colossians 1:14-22. This tells us that Jesus is the image of God. Jesus is, therefore, a picture  (indeed the Revelation) of who God is. Think about how well you know Jesus. How hungry are you to know Him more?

 

Notes on First Session - July 28th 2013

The Power of Holiness (Read Daniel Chapter 1)

The Babylonians were clever. When they conquered a people they would take the most promising young men (i.e. the future leaders of the conquered nation) and train them in the Babylonian way (1:5). The young people would then become “programmed in the Babylonian way” and would then be used to further expand the Babylonian empire. Britain did something similar in the days of its empire by bringing young men from India etc to Eton and Oxford and Cambridge.

As a young person at the time it would be easy to accept the high status offered (by eating at the King’s table) and pursue a “glittering career” in Babylon. Instead Daniel risked all of this by requesting a vegetarian diet. The person in charge of Daniel could have his life taken away for this, see 1:10.  Daniel would have faced the same risk.

Daniel requested vegetables as Jewish people would have regarded the food at the King’s table as unclean. It was common practice to offer the first portion of wine to an idol and the food would have included ceremonially unclean animals.

For us today it seem strange that someone would risk their life over such a thing particularly when the New Testament (1 Corinthians 8:4) makes it clear that idols have no power. However, to Daniel this was a majorly important heart decision. He would have known that His people had got themselves into big trouble with God by not obeying Gods ways. They were meant to be a Holy people (Holy literally means in the Hebrew language: “Being set apart for a special purpose”). He decided that he was going to be Holy by living according to God’s ways rather than the ways of the Babylonians. He was a fantastic example of the way in which God had intended His people to live.

His obedience and faith in God are inspirational. We can learn much by studying this book and we can achieve many things for God’s kingdom by deciding to life a Holy life. My prayer is that our church will be inspired and changed by the Spirit of God this summer to be “a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9). Let’s not miss it like God’s old testament people. Instead let us be all we can for God, so that His rule may extend in our lives and the lives of those around us.

 

Cross Reference to other books

See 2 Kings 23:36-24:7 ;  2 Chronicles 36:5-8

Jeremiah 29:1-23

Leviticus 11

Questions to think on (Please think and post comments on the blog)

1.    Jeremiah gives Daniel and the other exiles a message from God which is to “settle down” (Jeremiah 29:5)  He asks them to be part of the community like Christians today are to be. Often we feel tension between this and the idea of being Set apart for God (i.e. being a Holy people.)  Please say your experiences of this tension.

2.    Suggest practical ways in our culture today of ways in which we can make a stand for God whilst being part of the culture.

3.    How can we help and encourage each other to live a Holy life (i.e. be Set apart) for God?

4.    What do you think the outcome will be if we, as Christians, do not live a Holy life?

5.    If like most of us you find it hard to live a Holy life then read 2 Peter 1:3-11 and meditate upon it. In what ways does this scripture help?

Make a Stand in An Alien World

Introduction
The book of Daniel is a book of prophecy. There are various types of literature in the bible and it is important to understand the type when you are reading them. Prophecy mostly consists of words given to a prophet, by God, which are then subsequently written down. Often, as in the case of Daniel, story is also included. It is important to understand the times during which the prophecy is written. This helps explains the text and the significance of the words written. “Plucking” verses from prophetic books without understanding the background can result in some strange interpretations of the bible. The following gives a little background.

Background to Daniel
The book starts at the end of the nation of Judah. God had moved his people to the promised land which is the area around the current nation state of Israel. Miracles had been performed (such as the walls of Jericho falling down) to get the people into the land. They had faced many difficulties but fundamentally they reject the rule of God in their lives. God sends prophets to them and great leaders (such as David) but the people are divided in their hearts to God. They worship God and other gods. Then God divides their land into Judah & Israel. Due to their unfaithfulness God allows Israel to be destroyed by the Assyrians. Judah remains faithful for a time but its heart also becomes too divided. God then brings judgement on Judah in the form of the latest world super power the Babylonians.

The book of Daniel starts with Judah being taught a lesson by the Babylonians. Their best young men are taken into captivity.