Making a stand for the Lord
Date 12 10 01 Text Daniel 1 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
I want us to look this evening at the Book of Daniel and at the first chapter. The most famous incident in the whole book is Daniel in the lions’ den. It’s a story many of us know from when we were very young.
In the den, in the den, fears could not alarm him,
God had shut the lions’ mouths so they could not harm him.
That incident comes in Chapter 6. It occurs during the time of Darius the Mede when Daniel was an old man. That fact is sometimes forgotten. He didn’t gain the courage to make the stand he made overnight. No, it all started many years before when he was a teenager. The background is found in Daniel 1, a brief and straightforward chapter that sets the scene for the rest of the book. It is a wonderful chapter full of good things to say, especially to those who are young and new students in particular. It has lessons for all of us, however, things we all ought to know.
1. Learn something about the Providence of God
The book begins by explaining to us how Daniel and his three friends who also feature in the book came to be in the land of Babylon. There are three things to note:
1. Realise that all events are under God’s control
First, we have some historical detail. God had brought the Jews up out of Egypt where they’d been in slavery and settled them in the Land of Canaan. Following the reigns of David and Solomon there had been a split between the 10 northern tribes and Judah in the south. Eventually, for their sins, Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria in 722 BC, leaving only Judah. However, In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, the leader of the super power of the day Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia {Shinar} and put in the treasure-house of his god. The Jews had thought this could never happen. But it did. Not because things had spun out of God’s control but because the people had put their faith in the Temple instead of in God himself and so, after many warnings, he chastised them. It was he who brought this terrible judgement on them.
It is important to note that phrase in verse 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand. One of the lessons of the Book of Daniel is that everything that happens in this world happens because God decides. We often refer to it as his Providence. All things that happen, whether good or bad, happen by his holy will. Man is responsible for his actions but God is in control. This is a great comfort to the believer. We are not in the hands of men or in the grip of fate but in the hands of Almighty God. American theologian B B Warfield once used an illustration to bring it home. It is the story of a Dutch boy who was told repeatedly by his father not to go near the windmill because it was dangerous. One day he was near the windmill, nevertheless, and suddenly he felt himself being raised into the air and felt something battering him. He thinks to himself ‘Oh no, I’m caught in the windmill’s arm. No hope for me.’ However, it turns out that it is not the windmill but his father who has caught hold of him and started to give him a smack for his disobedience. What a relief!
It is especially comforting to remember that in this present crisis. We often don’t know why things happen but we do know thatGod is in control.
2. Recognise that what happens in the cosmic realm often has repercussions for individuals.
From 605-582 BC in four phases Nebuchadnezzar completed his subjugation of Judah. Being a wise ruler he recognised that as his empire grew it would not be possible to keep all his new subjects under control by force alone. He needed to convert them to Babylonian ideas and ways of thinking so that they could play their part in future government. Nebuchadnezzar was especially eager to capture the minds of the young and gifted among those whom he had conquered. The poorer people could stay just where they were. We read in 3 how he ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, (Head of the civil service) to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility. This is how Daniel and his three friends ended up as exiles in Babylon therefore. They would only have been around 14 at the time but, young as they were, the developments in the macrocosm of near eastern politics was having a direct and radical bearing on their every day lives.
It is important to recognise this. I read an interesting article this week tracing some of the affects of this current crisis. For example we know that sales of gas masks are up but also CDs and possibly engagement rings. Sales of the Bible and the Koran are also up. This is one reason why when we pray we want to pray not only about the smaller things – healing from sickness, accommodation, jobs, success in exams, blessing on meetings, harmony in the fellowship, etc, but also about greater things such as the decisions of governments, nationwide revival and the worldwide spread of the gospel. National and international events inevitably affect the lives of individuals – government decisions about grants, etc, and developments in different academic disciplines affect individual students; or think of activities of terrorist groups and developments in weapons technology and the way they affect us.
3. We must recognise that God may well ordain that we spend part of our lives in scenes very different to those we know and love, especially if we have gifts.
Imagine these young boys. They were (4) young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king’s palace – Israel’s elite, the cream of that society, the nobility of their day. They had expected, perhaps, to live out their days as very privileged leaders in Israel with all the advantages of wealth and religion. But now they find themselves far from home in Babylon of all places! Homesickness, fear of the unknown, bewilderment at the sudden change – all these feelings must have come over them. Some of us can identify.
I certainly can – I honestly thought I would spend my days in Wales where I was born and grew up but I’ve been living in England for 20 years now, nearly half my life. Some of you have lived in London for a much shorter time. Don’t be surprised if, in God’s providence, you end up settling here. On the other hand, some of you were born and bred here. You know no different. Do not assume that you will spend the rest of your life here. The needs here are great but I would particularly urge on you the needs elsewhere. There are places crying out for the gospel. Who will go? Are we willing to leave behind us familiar places and familiar faces and learn a new language and new ways for the sake of the gospel? Parents – are we willing to let them go if that is God’s will?
2. Learn something about how to make a stand for the Lord in this world
1. The world wants you to conform, especially if you are young.
In verse 4b we are told that the reason why Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians {Chaldeans}. The king wanted to indoctrinate them in all the learning of his Empire. Up until that time the four had lived in Israel and spoken Hebrew. All that they wore or ate or said or thought was shaped by their Hebrew background. But now they were removed to a different place and had to learn a different language (Aramaic), wear different clothes and learn about different subjects. In some ways they were rather pampered – no squalid bedsits for them, no beans on toast and pot noodle! No (5) The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were not to worry about anything but their studies. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
In verse 6 we are told that Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These are good Hebrew names – two with an el (God) component and two with iah or Jah based on God’s own covenant name. God has judged, Yahweh has been gracious, Who is like God and Yahweh has helped. But they were not to be known by these names in Babylon. Rather (7) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar (Keeper of the hidden treasures of Bel); to Hananiah, Shadrach (something about Marduk); to Mishael, Meshach (something about a mother goddess); and to Azariah, Abednego (Servant of Nebo). It is clear that the Babylonians were very eager to acculturise them in every way to the Babylonian culture. They had been deliberately chosen not only for their undoubtedly good qualities but also because they were young and impressionable. Nebuchadnezzar was desperate to form their minds to be sympathetic to Babylon and a great asset to her – which they were, although not in the way he had intended it.
No doubt the four friends were perfectly aware of what was happening to them. Yes, in some ways it was a wonderful opportunity, a marvellous chance. Yet, no doubt they knew they were on dangerous ground. The world is constantly trying to squeeze believers into its mould. It especially likes to work on the young as there is more hope there and if they are successful the results will last longer. It likes especially to take those who are bright and get them to conform to worldly ways of thinking. Now, Daniel and his friends did not take the view that going to college in Babylon was in itself evil. They were happy to learn the Aramaic language, its literature and its science for that matter – even where it ran counter to Scripture. They did not agree with all they were taught, of course, but they made use of the knowledge they gained nonetheless. If you study in a state school or university, you will inevitably find things taught that run counter to the Bible. The sin is not in finding out about these things but in believing them. Do realise what the world is aiming at. This is why some believers choose to begin with home education – a tough choice but eminently sensible.
2. Nevertheless we must make a firm stand for the Lord in the pagan world.
The focus of this passage, however, is on the stand that Daniel and his friends took at this time. They drew a line in the sand and said ‘No further’ and having made that decision they stuck with it. Note several things:
- Choose your ground carefully. Verse 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. The problem was not wine as such or the fact that they could not be sure the food was kosher. It is much more likely that these young Israelites were painfully aware that in that pagan city every piece of meat they saw, especially what was on the king’s table, would have first been offered to an idol. They knew that the very reason the Israelites had been thrown out of the Promised Land was their inveterate idolatry. How could they then, there as exiles in a strange land, have anything to do with idols? As with all Jews from this time they were completely done with idolatry. It would never have the place in Israel’s life that for so long it had held. Idolatry was over and they wanted nothing to do with it. Learning a foreign tongue including the names of countless idols; learning about beliefs that ran counter to Scripture; even being beckoned by names of false gods – all this they let pass. But eating food offered to idols. On that point they took their stand. We all have to choose where we will make our stand. I would suggest that you do not do it by saying ‘I will never read a book or listen to a piece of music by anyone who is not a Christian’ or ‘I will never let anyone swear in my presence’ or ‘I will never ever let alcohol pass my lips’. Rather we need to see where the real issues are today and make our stand. ‘Where are they?’ you say. Well, I don’t think there are any simple answers. But a stand has to be made. Christians who belong to denominations have to say ‘If they do this or that I will resign – eg approve of women preachers or accept homosexuality’. You can’t just keep shifting your ground. Christian students must settle in their minds what they are willing to do or not to do before the time comes. It is the same in all our lives. Are you willing to work on a Sunday? If so when and why? What are you going to do about invitations to pubs or parties, the office raffle, blue jokes, etc. There was a woman in my home church, a commercial artist, who lost any number of commissions because she refused to portray nudity. Would you do the same? If not why not?
- Be firm but courteous. Notice too how Daniel went about this. It says and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way. There was no confrontationalism. Daniel and his friends didn’t say ‘There’s now way we will eat that stuff anymore’ or ‘If we have to eat any more we’ll down pens.’ No he simply asked the man in charge to give them permission not to eat this defiling food any more. ‘A little politeness never hurt anyone’ is the saying and we ought to remember it. I think sometimes we get a little nervous and uptight about things and say things that are not helpful. Instead of just saying ‘My child won’t be able to come to the party next Sunday’ we are tempted to add something may be like ‘You shouldn’t be having it then anyway’. I remember hearing the story of the great John Elias crossing on the ferry from Bangor to Anglesey. Although others realised who was on board, the ferryman did not and he cursed and swore profusely. Some were surprised that Elias said nothing to him. However, when they reached the other side Elias did speak quietly to him about it and, so it was said, he was never heard to swear again. Tact and courtesy are so important we need to practice them, especially when we take a stand on something. They may hate us for our stand but let it be for that not because we are obnoxious people.
- Expect opposition. 9, 10 Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your age? The king would then have my head because of you. The official was understandably cautious. He had already taken a shine to Daniel. God had made sympathetic to Daniel – no doubt that was because of the way Daniel conducted himself. Nevertheless he was not about to put himself at risk by agreeing to Daniel’s request. As courteous as we are there will often be opposition when we decide to take a stand. Pressure will be brought to bear on us to toe the world’s line. We watched recently Chariots of Fire the film about Eric Lidell and his remarkable Olympic win in Paris in the 1920s. Originally he had been due to compete in the 100 metres but pulled out when he found the heats were in a Sunday. There is a scene in the film where the Prince of Wales himself tries to persuade him to run. Whether it happened quite like that I don’t know – but that was the sort of pressure he was under. Yet he made his stand and God blessed him.
- Be reasonable and tactful. At this point Daniel does not blow his top or issue ultimata, etc. Rather he is reasonable and tactful. He understands the position that Ashpenaz is in and so he says (11-14) to the guard whom the chief official (Ashpenaz) had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, Please test your servants for 10 days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see. Verse 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for 10 days. What could be fairer than that? Surely no harm could be done on either side. There would be some who would have said that Daniel was a great compromiser for making such a suggestion but surely not. By his reasoned and tactful approach he won his point even when it looked almost lost.
- Be self-denying. Of course, living on a strictly vegetarian diet involved, no doubt, some self-denial on the friends part but it was small price to pay for such an important principle. We also must be willing to practice self-denial.
3. Be assured that the Lord will honour those who honour him
In verse 15 we read At the end of the 10 days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Of course, knowing what we do know, it is no surprise that the friends looked more healthy than their fellow students but at that time it was not such a foregone conclusion. The point is, however, that we can be sure that just as God honoured those who honoured him all those years ago so he will honour those who honour him today. Again, it may be fictitious but in the Chariots of fire film just before Liddell runs in the 400 metres an American gives him a piece of paper with that text on it – Those who honour me, I will honour 1 Samuel 2:30. Perhaps Daniel knew it and thought about it too. God is no man’s debtor and if we make a stand for him we can be sure that he will bless us.
3. Learn the principle that we must first be faithful in a little if we are ever to be faithful in much
1. All wisdom is God given
In at least three places in this chapter God’s controlling of all events is underlined – verses 2 and 9 and then in 17 we have To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. How did they get through their courses? And how did they do so well? Simple it was God’s work. He gave them this knowledge. We may not believe it but in all knowledge, from arithmetic to zoology, from architecture to Zulu, if we are going to get anywhere in any subject we have to receive it from God. He is the one who gives us our native talents and he is the one who enables to use those gifts in a way that enables us to learn. Without his help, we can do nothing. Interestingly there is the additional note that Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. This anticipates what we find in the rest of the book. Daniel’s clearly spiritual gifts were also very much God’s gifts. The point though is that all of these gifts come from the Lord.
2. At times, even the ungodly cannot help but recognise the wisdom of the faithful
And so after three years they had to sit their finals. As used to be the case at one time (and still is sometimes) their exam was viva voce 18-20 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. They were not just honours graduates, not just magna cum laude as the Americans say, not just top of the class, but streets ahead of the others. Why? All because of the goodness of God. Without that early stand who knows what might have happened to these four. Even Nebuchadnezzar could see that they were amazing students.
3. Early success can mean lasting future influence
The chapter ends with the note that Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. After Nebuchadnezzar came a series of some four kings and then Cyrus who came to power in 538. Thus during the period 605-538, a period of over 60 years, Daniel was there in Babylon maintaining a faithful witness. He is the one constant. Probably none of that would have been possible had he stumbled at the first fence. How important that we begin well and go on well to God’s glo
