daniel in exile. upper story—god is in charge and is merciful lower story—god is continually...
TRANSCRIPT
Upper Story—God is in charge and is
merciful
Lower Story—God is continually
bringing people to Himself
I. The Babylonians took exiles to Babylon as early as 605 B.C.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted the elite, bright and
young.
Walking single file to Babylon—Bronze chains.
The elite of society.
4 youths without blemish, of good appearance
Emotion:
Daniel, Hanniah, Mishael and Azariah
Belteshazzer, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
These four teen boys were strangers in a strange land.
Daniel 1:3–4 (ESV) 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, 4
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.
Application: 1 Peter 1:1 (NLT) — 1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle
of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who
are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
1 Peter 2:11 (NLT) Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary
residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires
that wage war against your very souls.
Right Diet - Daniel 1
Refuse the Babylonian diet and
offer a creative alternative.
Healthier and wiser than all the
others.
Blessed by God as they live as
strangers in Babylon.
Application:Food we eat. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit What other “diet” does our culture offer?
Padding the expense account? Gossip in the neighbor? We must refuse to eat the world’s diet.
Nebuchadnezzar’s officials are jealous of Daniel’s 3 friends and seek to trap them in a crime.Daniel’s 3 friends refuse to worship an idolDaniel 3:17–18 (ESV) — 17 If this be so, our God
whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Thrown into a fiery furnaceNebuchadnezzar gives glory to the God of Israel.
Right Praying-Right Focus Daniel 6
Daniel refuses to pray to Darius-thrown into
a pit of lions.
Darius’s officials are jealous
Daniel, as his habit is, opens his window
toward Jerusalem and prays to God.
Daniel is spared by God after he spends a
night in the lions’ pit because he disobeyed
Darius’ edict.