Sermons

In one of the Old Testaments best-known stories, Daniel is thrown into the Lions Den.  We are reminded that the bible is God’s story, so while Daniel is a man from whom lessons may be drawn for our life, the story is ultimately about God.  We see that God is king over history, over empires and that he sets up kings and removes them as he pleases.  The kingdom of God will stand forever. And with Daniel in the forefront, we see that though there are difficulties and trials which will continue to the end of time, God’s children who are faithful will be raised with him in his final kingdom.  This chapter opens up for us as we compare The kingdoms of Babylon and Persia, Daniel and the Satraps, Daniel and Darius and finally Daniel and Jesus.

As Belshazzar mocks God & fails to learn the lessons of his ancestors, he is brought under the swift judgement of God.  In this message, we remember that God is sovereign over all and requires that all people stand before him in judgement.  Only those who live by faith in Jesus will stand in the judgement.  We see Belshazzar taking part in ‘Feasting, Frolics and Foolishness’ there is ‘Fear of the Lord’ and then, ‘Finality’ as we see that all must stand before God.  Christians can have great confidence to stand in the judgement because of Jesus, yet this must not lead to selfishness when we know many others will not.  TRuly we need to learn to number our days to get a heart of wisdom – Ps 90:12.

Continuing in Daniel we see because of his pride that Nebuchadnezzar is brought low by God so that being restored he would then exalt God.  In the same way, people today need to be brought low to the point where they will turn to God.  We look at The problem of Pride, how it has ultimately been dealt with by Jesus but also how it continues to affect us.  We see Jesus, who was entirely without pride and his life given for us should put our pride to death.

Daniel was brutally frank in explaining the dream to the king. The time remaining for the king was relatively short, his empire which was the head of gold would be replaced by another with would be the chest and arms of silver, which would also be replaced and so on. All these empires would replace each other, influencing each other but they would all be smashed by the coming kingdom of God. I am curious that the appearance of the statue was that of a man! Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and the successive ones are what can only be described as the best that man can do! That in contrast to what man cannot do. The stone that was cut out, but not by human hands (v. 34). The best of man verses the best of God. At the end of the day there is no competition. God’s kingdom will last but mankind’s kingdoms will never last. History will always be full of regimes, empires, kingdoms that will never last!

What strikes me is this… Daniel would have been someone in Judah, he was a nobleman’s young son – perhaps even a prince. When the city of Jerusalem fell he found himself a captive to the Babylonians and would have had an 800 kilometre walk to Babylon. There, his fortunes started to revive and he was granted a position at Nebuchadnezzar’s prestigious university. By the grace of God he negotiated one dangerous hurdle when he refused to defile himself by eating the king’s food. However, through no fault of his own he and his friends end up under a death sentence. Daniel and his friends turn to God and God grants him the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and suddenly he is elevated to be governor of the Province of Babylon as well as made the Principle of the University of Babylon. An amazing position for someone so young.

So, where do Christians draw a line in the sand? The answer is this! It is not when people make fun of you or even tease you for your faith! It isn’t even when you are persecuted for your faith! Daniel and his friends faced the humiliation of names that were changed! What Daniel refused to do was be defiled! Daniel would have no part in any blasphemous word or any blasphemous act that took place in ancient Babylon. He would have no part in the belittling of his God!