Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Daniel Intro
Transcript
- 0:00Let me invite you to take out your copy of God's Word and turn to the book of Daniel.
- 0:09There is no shame this morning in turning to your table of contents.
- 0:14You'll find it between Ezekiel and Hosea.
- 0:20While you're getting the artist to share a funny thought I had with you this morning,
- 0:24sometimes the room is so quiet and it's amazing.
- 0:28You go like, man, all these kids are in the room and it's so very quiet in here.
- 0:31And sometimes the babies are so chatty.
- 0:32And I think, I think, when you start paying attention,
- 0:35because when they walk in, I think they look at each other like,
- 0:37if you'll speak up, I'll speak up.
- 0:39Like, we'll show them who's in charge.
- 0:44Seems to be one of those mornings.
- 0:45They're on the same rhythm this morning, aren't they?
- 0:49Before I begin speaking about the book of Daniel,
- 0:51I just want to remind you there's a few of them left out there.
- 0:54I think 10 or so of these ESV scripture journals.
- 0:56This is something we've been doing for a little while,
- 0:59back when we started the book of Hebrews.
- 1:01Great little resource.
- 1:02It's got the text on one side and notes,
- 1:05the spot for notes on the other.
- 1:06So if you'd like to pick one of these up out there in the book nook,
- 1:08if they run out, they're not expensive.
- 1:10I think Amazon has them for six bucks.
- 1:12We've got them out there for five,
- 1:13so we're saving you a little.
- 1:14But feel free to take one,
- 1:16even if you don't have money today to pay for it.
- 1:18You can owe us.
- 1:19It'll be just fine.
- 1:20We will trust you.
- 1:21So if you'd like to grab one of those,
- 1:22I want to encourage you to grab that out there in the hallway in the book nook.
- 1:27Today, I'm simply going to preach a Daniel overview sermon.
- 1:32I'm going to labor to give you a brief summary of the book of Daniel
- 1:36as we are set to begin our study of it starting next Lord's Day.
- 1:40We'll spend 10-ish weeks in the text.
- 1:44I'll first give you a quick flyover of the entire book,
- 1:47and then we will consider the three most prominent themes of the work.
- 1:52So even as you have the book open in front of you,
- 1:54I'm going to reference it at a number of times,
- 1:57and I would encourage you to flip to those spots and see that text yourself.
- 2:01But just keep in mind we're big picture, high flyover this morning.
- 2:07So Daniel consists of 12 chapters,
- 2:10and it is widely agreed that Daniel is its author.
- 2:13It's not even really up for debate.
- 2:16The first six chapters of it are historical narrative
- 2:20and consist of six accounts, six different stories,
- 2:24one for each chapter.
- 2:26This is probably the part of Daniel you're most familiar with.
- 2:30The final six chapters are predominantly visions that Daniel has about the future.
- 2:36It is helpful that this work is largely, not entirely,
- 2:39but largely written in chronological order.
- 2:43The entire work takes place during the exile of the Jewish people
- 2:48after the Babylonian sacking of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC.
- 2:54The first four chapters occur during the reign of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.
- 3:00In chapter one, we learn of the famous story of the four young Hebrew boys
- 3:05who refused to eat the defiled food of their captors
- 3:08and end up prospering both in health and in position
- 3:12because of their faithfulness.
- 3:15In chapter two, king Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that he wants interpreted,
- 3:20but to ensure that none of his wise men can fabricate the interpretation,
- 3:25he insists that they tell him both the content of his dream
- 3:28and the interpretation.
- 3:30And their response to that is,
- 3:31that's impossible.
- 3:32How could we know?
- 3:34So they're unable to do so,
- 3:36but God makes Daniel able to do so.
- 3:40In chapter three, we have the famous story
- 3:42of the king's great idol that Daniel's friends refuse to worship.
- 3:48So Nebuchadnezzar throws them into the fiery furnace,
- 3:50but God is merciful to them and they survive.
- 3:55Chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar writes a letter to his whole empire
- 3:58praising God in response to what happened in chapter three,
- 4:03but then it seems across a bit of time,
- 4:05he becomes very proud
- 4:07and God through an illness humbles the king.
- 4:12In chapter five,
- 4:15Belshazzar, who is Nebuchadnezzar's son,
- 4:17is now king
- 4:18and we are told of a riotous feast he holds for pagan gods.
- 4:23In fact, they take vessels that were taken out of the temple in Jerusalem
- 4:27and they're drinking wine.
- 4:29They're getting drunk out of those vessels,
- 4:31which were meant for the worship of God.
- 4:33And so a hand appears and writes on a wall,
- 4:36a language nobody understands.
- 4:37And Daniel is called upon to interpret the writing.
- 4:42He tells the king that he has been weighed in the balance
- 4:45and found wanting.
- 4:47And that night, Belshazzar is slain.
- 4:51Chapter six contains the most famous story from Daniel.
- 4:55Daniel, Darius the Mede is now king
- 4:57and he issues an edict that he alone is to be prayed to.
- 5:03Daniel continues to pray to the Hebrew God,
- 5:05to our God,
- 5:06and he's therefore thrown into a den of lions.
- 5:11Interestingly, this is toward the end of Daniel's life.
- 5:14He's likely about 80.
- 5:16I don't know that many of us have seen a story Bible
- 5:18with a picture of Daniel in his 80s
- 5:20in the lion's den.
- 5:23And then you likely know that God mercifully spares his life
- 5:28from those lions.
- 5:31Chapters seven and eight contain visions Daniel has
- 5:34during the reign of King Belshazzar
- 5:35about the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms.
- 5:39So it's prophetic,
- 5:41but that prophecy has been fulfilled.
- 5:44Chapter nine is a record of a long prayer
- 5:48prayed by Daniel during the reign of Darius.
- 5:51Possibly one of those very prayers he was praying
- 5:53when he's taken captive and thrown into the lion's den.
- 5:58And then chapters 10, 11, and 12
- 6:01are the most challenging chapters of the book.
- 6:03And they present another vision of Daniel's
- 6:05about the end of this age.
- 6:08So they're prophetic,
- 6:09but yet to be fulfilled,
- 6:12most will argue.
- 6:13So this is a big and broad overview
- 6:17of the entire book.
- 6:19This morning, I want to present to you
- 6:21the three major themes of the book of Daniel, right?
- 6:23So we're setting up framework for ourselves.
- 6:26If you're a guest this morning
- 6:27and you're from out of town,
- 6:28I apologize that you won't be able to hear
- 6:29the rest of what we'll be doing.
- 6:31But certainly for those of you
- 6:32who are here regularly,
- 6:34take some good notes.
- 6:35Have these themes in your mind
- 6:36as we study the rest of this work.
- 6:39So those three major themes are,
- 6:40number one, the rise and fall of man.
- 6:46Number two, the immovable sovereignty of God.
- 6:53And number three, the resilient faith of Daniel
- 6:58and his friends in a hostile culture.
- 7:01The resilient faith of Daniel and his friends
- 7:04in a hostile culture.
- 7:07So the first theme, the rise and fall of man.
- 7:11A careful study of Daniel, which we intend to do,
- 7:14will teach us that God raises up men
- 7:17and God brings men low.
- 7:20The story of Daniel is set in the context
- 7:23of a Babylonian renaissance.
- 7:26Under King Nebuchadnezzar's reign,
- 7:28the Babylonian empire flourished
- 7:30after a thousand year decline.
- 7:32He had really turned the empire around.
- 7:36Country after country fell to its military might
- 7:39and it reached its largest size during this time.
- 7:43In the region, there was just a domino.
- 7:45They just conquered and conquered and conquered.
- 7:49And Nebuchadnezzar is not just famous
- 7:51for the stories that we find in Daniel,
- 7:54but much was written about him
- 7:56in an extra-biblical literature.
- 7:58So in my note writing this week,
- 8:01I often have to teach pages,
- 8:04the names, Bible names.
- 8:06Pages already knew the name Nebuchadnezzar.
- 8:08I did not have to teach it that
- 8:10so it would not spell check it any longer.
- 8:13Like lots of extra-biblical literature
- 8:16writes of this historic character, Nebuchadnezzar.
- 8:19He was a big deal in his time.
- 8:22And he was not only concerned with military might,
- 8:25but also cultural renewal.
- 8:28He was zealous to make the city of Babylon great,
- 8:31and he did.
- 8:32It was massive.
- 8:35The Greek historian Herodotus said,
- 8:37in addition to its enormous size,
- 8:39it surpasses in splendor any city of the known world.
- 8:45The city had large gates and avenues,
- 8:47a new palace,
- 8:49and as many as 50 temples built to false gods.
- 8:54This is the days of the hanging gardens of Babylon,
- 8:58if you know your ancient wonders of the world.
- 9:02We get a picture of Nebuchadnezzar's pride in the city
- 9:05in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 30,
- 9:07where he says,
- 9:08is not this great Babylon,
- 9:11which I have built by my mighty power
- 9:13as a royal residence
- 9:15and for the glory of my majesty.
- 9:19But Nebuchadnezzar's life came to an end.
- 9:22He did all of this,
- 9:24and it came to an end.
- 9:25And the city itself also is a memory.
- 9:29He is a distant memory,
- 9:31and the splendor of Babylon is no more.
- 9:35His reign was followed by another,
- 9:37and another,
- 9:39and so on.
- 9:41Kings are raised up by our God,
- 9:43and they are brought low by our God,
- 9:46as it is with all men.
- 9:49So we obviously,
- 9:50none of us have positions of power
- 9:52like Nebuchadnezzar
- 9:53or any of the kings that followed him.
- 9:55But in the same way,
- 9:56we are brought high,
- 9:57we are promoted,
- 9:58and we are brought low.
- 9:59We are humbled by God.
- 10:03Nebuchadnezzar himself has a dream
- 10:05in chapter 2
- 10:06of a man made up of different materials.
- 10:09And when the man is struck by a rock,
- 10:11it cannot withstand the blow,
- 10:14but it crumbles.
- 10:15It's utterly destroyed
- 10:16by this rock that strikes it.
- 10:19In the last days,
- 10:20all the kingdoms of this world
- 10:22will be as nothing
- 10:23when God establishes
- 10:25his everlasting kingdom.
- 10:29Daniel chapter 2
- 10:31and verse 44.
- 10:33Daniel,
- 10:33in his interpretation
- 10:34of the dream,
- 10:35says,
- 10:36And in the days
- 10:36of those kings,
- 10:38the God of heaven
- 10:39will set up a kingdom
- 10:40that shall never be destroyed,
- 10:42nor shall the kingdom
- 10:43be left to another people.
- 10:45It shall break in pieces
- 10:47all these kingdoms
- 10:48and bring them to an end,
- 10:50and it shall stand forever.
- 10:53The visions of chapter 7 and 8
- 10:57reinforce this,
- 10:58as we will observe
- 10:59four beasts in chapter 7
- 11:01and a ram and a goat
- 11:02in chapter 8,
- 11:04all which represent kingdoms
- 11:05that will rise and fall.
- 11:08We now can look back on that
- 11:09and see that they rose
- 11:11and they fell.
- 11:14Beloved,
- 11:15we ought never be too proud
- 11:17of our achievements.
- 11:18We must not become entranced
- 11:21by some idea
- 11:22of our might,
- 11:23for it is God
- 11:25who raises up
- 11:25and God
- 11:26who brings low.
- 11:29Daniel and his friends,
- 11:31as conquered captives,
- 11:33find much success
- 11:35in this foreign land.
- 11:36We'll see that repeatedly
- 11:37throughout the text.
- 11:40But not,
- 11:41Daniel records
- 11:42that he didn't accomplish it.
- 11:43It was nothing
- 11:44that he did.
- 11:45Daniel chapter 1
- 11:46in verse 17,
- 11:48we hear,
- 11:49as for these four youths,
- 11:52God gave them learning
- 11:53and skill
- 11:55in all literature
- 11:56and wisdom,
- 11:57and Daniel
- 11:58had understanding
- 11:59in all visions
- 12:00and dreams.
- 12:02He understood
- 12:03the means
- 12:04by which he was promoted
- 12:06as being means
- 12:07that were given to them
- 12:08by God.
- 12:11This book will,
- 12:12or at least
- 12:13it ought to,
- 12:14teach us
- 12:14about the fragile nature
- 12:16of the power
- 12:17of man.
- 12:19But,
- 12:20what a wonderful thing
- 12:21in response,
- 12:23it will also teach us
- 12:24about a power
- 12:25that stands
- 12:26in contrast
- 12:28to the rise
- 12:29and the fall
- 12:29of man.
- 12:31And that power
- 12:32is,
- 12:33number two,
- 12:34the immovable
- 12:35sovereignty
- 12:36of God.
- 12:39This is a very good thing,
- 12:40beloved,
- 12:41when we recognize
- 12:42how little control
- 12:43we have,
- 12:44and we also realize
- 12:46who is in control.
- 12:50You are right
- 12:51to feel anxious
- 12:52in this age
- 12:53when you recognize
- 12:53that you have
- 12:54very little control.
- 12:56control.
- 12:57But,
- 12:58you have a reason
- 13:00to be faithful
- 13:01to the end
- 13:01when you realize
- 13:02that God
- 13:03is in control.
- 13:05It's not a single thing
- 13:07in this world
- 13:08that escapes
- 13:09his grasp.
- 13:10He is an absolute,
- 13:12immovable
- 13:13sovereign.
- 13:15This book teaches us
- 13:16that.
- 13:17The God of Daniel,
- 13:18our God,
- 13:20is unchanging,
- 13:21and he never ceases
- 13:22to rule
- 13:22over his creation.
- 13:24It is his.
- 13:25He declares mine
- 13:26over it.
- 13:28After God reveals
- 13:29the content
- 13:29and meaning
- 13:30of Nebuchadnezzar's
- 13:31dream to Daniel
- 13:32in chapter 2,
- 13:33Daniel prays this,
- 13:34beginning in verse 20.
- 13:37Blessed be the name
- 13:38of God
- 13:39forever and ever,
- 13:41to whom belong
- 13:42wisdom and might.
- 13:45He changes times
- 13:46and seasons.
- 13:47He removes kings
- 13:48and sets up kings.
- 13:50He gives wisdom
- 13:51to the wise
- 13:52and knowledge
- 13:53to those
- 13:53who have understanding.
- 13:55He reveals deep
- 13:56and hidden things.
- 13:58He knows
- 13:58what is in the darkness
- 13:59and the light
- 14:00dwells with him.
- 14:02To you,
- 14:03O God of my fathers,
- 14:04I give thanks
- 14:05and praise,
- 14:06for you have given me
- 14:06wisdom and might,
- 14:08and I have now
- 14:09made known to me
- 14:10what we asked of you,
- 14:12for you have made known
- 14:12to us
- 14:13the king's matter.
- 14:16Daniel begins
- 14:16his prayer
- 14:17specifically
- 14:18praising God
- 14:19for his eternal
- 14:20sovereignty
- 14:21over the kings
- 14:23of the earth.
- 14:24Right?
- 14:24He mentions
- 14:25also seasons.
- 14:27He's the dispeller
- 14:28of wisdom
- 14:29and of understanding.
- 14:32The interpretation
- 14:33of the dream
- 14:34showed that not only
- 14:35would earthly kingdoms
- 14:36come and go,
- 14:38but that they would
- 14:38come and go
- 14:39by the hand
- 14:41of God.
- 14:42Daniel chapter 2
- 14:44and verse 34,
- 14:45and you can also
- 14:45see this in verse
- 14:4645,
- 14:48Daniel says
- 14:49to Nebuchadnezzar,
- 14:50as you looked,
- 14:52a stone was cut out
- 14:53by no human hand.
- 14:57It was the hand
- 14:57of God
- 14:58that cut the stone
- 14:59out in his dream,
- 15:01and it struck
- 15:02the image
- 15:03on its feet
- 15:03of iron and clay
- 15:04and broke them
- 15:05in pieces.
- 15:08After Daniel
- 15:09tells the king
- 15:10the interpretation
- 15:10of his dream,
- 15:12Nebuchadnezzar
- 15:13falls before Daniel
- 15:14and says to Daniel
- 15:15in chapter 2
- 15:16and verse 47,
- 15:18truly your God
- 15:20is God of gods
- 15:21and Lord
- 15:22of kings,
- 15:24reigning over
- 15:25all the powers.
- 15:29In chapter 5,
- 15:30we will observe
- 15:31King Balthazar
- 15:32calling upon Daniel
- 15:33to interpret
- 15:33the handwriting
- 15:34on the wall.
- 15:36Daniel tells him
- 15:37in chapter 5
- 15:38verse 18 and following,
- 15:40O king,
- 15:41the most high God
- 15:42gave Nebuchadnezzar
- 15:43your father
- 15:43kingship
- 15:44and greatness
- 15:45and glory
- 15:46and majesty.
- 15:48God gave it
- 15:49to him.
- 15:50Verse 19,
- 15:51And because of
- 15:51the greatness
- 15:52that he gave him,
- 15:53all peoples,
- 15:54nations,
- 15:54and languages
- 15:55trembled
- 15:56and feared
- 15:56before him.
- 15:58Whom he would
- 15:58he killed
- 15:59and whom he would
- 16:00he kept alive.
- 16:01Whom he would
- 16:01he raised up
- 16:02and whom he would
- 16:03he humbled.
- 16:05But when his,
- 16:06Nebuchadnezzar's,
- 16:06heart was lifted up
- 16:07and his spirit
- 16:08was hardened
- 16:08so that he dealt
- 16:09proudly,
- 16:10he was brought
- 16:11down from
- 16:12his kingly throne
- 16:13and his glory
- 16:14was taken
- 16:15from him.
- 16:17He was driven
- 16:18from among
- 16:18the children
- 16:19of mankind
- 16:19and his mind
- 16:20was made
- 16:21like that
- 16:21of a beast
- 16:22and his dwelling
- 16:23was with the wild
- 16:24donkeys.
- 16:25He was fed
- 16:25grass like an ox
- 16:27and his body
- 16:27was wet
- 16:28with the dew
- 16:28of heaven
- 16:29until he knew
- 16:30that the most high
- 16:31God rules
- 16:32the kingdom
- 16:33of mankind
- 16:33and sets over
- 16:35it whom
- 16:36he will.
- 16:38God taught
- 16:39Nebuchadnezzar,
- 16:40and Daniel's
- 16:40here telling
- 16:41this to his
- 16:41son Belthjar,
- 16:43right?
- 16:43By humbling
- 16:44him,
- 16:45making him
- 16:45mad,
- 16:46he went
- 16:46and lived
- 16:46like an
- 16:47animal
- 16:47for a while
- 16:48for God
- 16:48to say
- 16:48to him,
- 16:49you were
- 16:50the king
- 16:51because I
- 16:52made you
- 16:52the king
- 16:53and just
- 16:54like I
- 16:54made you
- 16:54the king
- 16:55I can
- 16:55make you
- 16:55like a
- 16:56dumb
- 16:56ox
- 16:57and when
- 16:58he realized
- 16:59this,
- 16:59he was
- 17:00restored
- 17:00once again
- 17:01to be
- 17:02the king.
- 17:04King Darius
- 17:05too would
- 17:05eventually
- 17:06confess
- 17:06the sovereignty
- 17:07of God.
- 17:08after the
- 17:09observance
- 17:10of Daniel's
- 17:11faithfulness
- 17:11and God's
- 17:12deliverance
- 17:13of Daniel
- 17:13from a
- 17:13knight
- 17:14in the
- 17:14lion's
- 17:15den,
- 17:16Darius
- 17:16proclaims
- 17:17in Daniel
- 17:17chapter 6
- 17:18and verse
- 17:1926,
- 17:20I make
- 17:21a decree
- 17:21that in
- 17:23all my
- 17:23royal dominion
- 17:24people are
- 17:25to tremble
- 17:25and fear
- 17:26before the
- 17:27God of
- 17:27Daniel
- 17:28for he
- 17:29is the
- 17:29living
- 17:30God
- 17:30enduring
- 17:31forever.
- 17:32His
- 17:33kingdom
- 17:33shall
- 17:33never be
- 17:34destroyed
- 17:35and his
- 17:35dominion
- 17:36shall
- 17:36be
- 17:36to the
- 17:37end.
- 17:38So here
- 17:39the king
- 17:39saying
- 17:40my
- 17:40royal
- 17:41dominion
- 17:41in my
- 17:42royal
- 17:42dominion
- 17:42in my
- 17:43reign
- 17:43we
- 17:43will
- 17:44worship
- 17:45this
- 17:46God
- 17:46because
- 17:46his
- 17:47reign
- 17:48will
- 17:48never
- 17:49come
- 17:50to an
- 17:50end.
- 17:51Because
- 17:52of the
- 17:53immovable
- 17:53sovereignty
- 17:54of God
- 17:55the book
- 17:57of Daniel
- 17:57teaches us
- 17:58that he
- 17:59will bring
- 17:59the earthly
- 17:59kingdoms
- 18:00to an
- 18:00end
- 18:01and
- 18:01establish
- 18:02his
- 18:02kingdom
- 18:03forever.
- 18:04I love
- 18:05this.
- 18:05I love
- 18:06this vision
- 18:07in chapter
- 18:087.
- 18:09It is
- 18:09good.
- 18:09I'm
- 18:10eager
- 18:10to get
- 18:11to
- 18:11Daniel
- 18:11chapter
- 18:127
- 18:13beginning
- 18:13in
- 18:14verse
- 18:149.
- 18:15If you'll
- 18:15turn there
- 18:15you'll
- 18:16want to
- 18:16see this
- 18:16so if
- 18:17you'll
- 18:17turn
- 18:17there.
- 18:18We'll
- 18:18talk about
- 18:19it
- 18:19very
- 18:19briefly
- 18:19but I
- 18:19want
- 18:19to
- 18:19read
- 18:20it.
- 18:21Daniel
- 18:21chapter
- 18:217
- 18:22beginning
- 18:22in
- 18:22verse
- 18:229.
- 18:24Daniel
- 18:24says
- 18:25!
- 18:55!
- 18:57So here he is
- 19:12ruling over
- 19:13lifting up
- 19:14casting
- 19:14down
- 19:15verse 13
- 19:16I saw
- 19:18in the
- 19:18night
- 19:18visions
- 19:19and
- 19:19behold
- 19:20with
- 19:21the
- 19:21clouds
- 19:21of
- 19:21heaven
- 19:22there
- 19:22came
- 19:22one
- 19:23like
- 19:23a
- 19:24son
- 19:24of
- 19:24man
- 19:25and
- 19:26he
- 19:26came
- 19:26to
- 19:26the
- 19:26ancient
- 19:26of
- 19:27days
- 19:27and
- 19:27was
- 19:27presented
- 19:28before
- 19:28him
- 19:28and
- 19:29to
- 19:29him
- 19:29was
- 19:30given
- 19:30dominion
- 19:31and
- 19:31glory
- 19:32and
- 19:32a
- 19:32kingdom
- 19:33that
- 19:34all
- 19:34peoples
- 19:34nations
- 19:35and
- 19:35languages
- 19:36should
- 19:36serve
- 19:36him
- 19:37his
- 19:38dominion
- 19:38is
- 19:39an
- 19:39everlasting
- 19:40dominion
- 19:40which
- 19:41shall
- 19:41not
- 19:42pass
- 19:42away
- 19:43and
- 19:43his
- 19:43kingdom
- 19:44one
- 19:44that
- 19:45shall
- 19:45not
- 19:45be
- 19:46destroyed
- 19:47if
- 19:49you're
- 19:49familiar
- 19:49with
- 19:50the
- 19:50book
- 19:50of
- 19:50Daniel
- 19:50you
- 19:51know
- 19:51who
- 19:52he's
- 19:52talking
- 19:53about
- 19:53if
- 19:53you
- 19:53are
- 19:53not
- 19:54who
- 19:55is
- 19:55this
- 19:56one
- 19:56like
- 19:57a
- 19:57son
- 19:58of
- 19:59man
- 19:59the
- 20:01Lord
- 20:01Jesus
- 20:01Christ
- 20:02that's
- 20:03who
- 20:03this
- 20:03vision
- 20:04is
- 20:04of
- 20:04God
- 20:05the
- 20:05son
- 20:06coming
- 20:06to
- 20:06God
- 20:07the
- 20:08father
- 20:08as
- 20:10you're
- 20:10reading
- 20:10your
- 20:10new
- 20:10testament
- 20:11this
- 20:11phrase
- 20:12may
- 20:12be
- 20:12familiar
- 20:13to
- 20:13you
- 20:13places
- 20:14like
- 20:14Mark
- 20:14chapter
- 20:1510
- 20:15verse
- 20:1545
- 20:16Jesus
- 20:16says
- 20:16for
- 20:17even
- 20:18the
- 20:18son
- 20:19of
- 20:19man
- 20:19came
- 20:20not
- 20:20to
- 20:21be
- 20:21served
- 20:21but
- 20:21to
- 20:21serve
- 20:21and
- 20:22to
- 20:22give
- 20:22his
- 20:22life
- 20:23as
- 20:23a
- 20:23ransom
- 20:24for
- 20:25many
- 20:25right
- 20:25he
- 20:26means
- 20:26for
- 20:26his
- 20:26listeners
- 20:27to
- 20:27go
- 20:27whoa
- 20:28wait
- 20:28this
- 20:29is
- 20:30the
- 20:30one
- 20:30you're
- 20:31the
- 20:31one
- 20:31like
- 20:31a
- 20:32son
- 20:32of
- 20:32man
- 20:32who
- 20:33comes
- 20:33and
- 20:34sets
- 20:34up
- 20:34a
- 20:34kingdom
- 20:35that
- 20:35reigns
- 20:36forever
- 20:37!
- 20:44was sent
- 20:44by
- 20:45God
- 20:45the
- 20:45father
- 20:45in
- 20:46human
- 20:46flesh
- 20:47like
- 20:47a
- 20:47son
- 20:48of
- 20:48man
- 20:48to
- 20:50fulfill
- 20:50the
- 20:50righteous
- 20:51requirement
- 20:52of
- 20:52the
- 20:53law
- 20:53that
- 20:53we
- 20:54spoke
- 20:55about
- 20:55this
- 20:56morning
- 20:56in
- 20:57the
- 20:57catechism
- 20:57to
- 20:58die
- 20:58the
- 20:59death
- 20:59that
- 20:59all
- 21:00transgressors
- 21:01of
- 21:01the
- 21:01law
- 21:02deserve
- 21:02so that
- 21:04by faith
- 21:04in him
- 21:05we might
- 21:05become
- 21:05citizens
- 21:06of a
- 21:06kingdom
- 21:06that
- 21:06will
- 21:07never
- 21:07fade
- 21:07but
- 21:08it'll
- 21:08last
- 21:08forever
- 21:09and
- 21:09ever
- 21:10with
- 21:10Jesus
- 21:11as
- 21:12its
- 21:12ruler
- 21:12this
- 21:14future
- 21:14reality
- 21:15this
- 21:15sure
- 21:16and
- 21:16future
- 21:17reality
- 21:17purchased
- 21:19by the
- 21:19life
- 21:19death
- 21:20and
- 21:20resurrection
- 21:20of
- 21:20Jesus
- 21:21Christ
- 21:21is
- 21:22great
- 21:23reason
- 21:23for
- 21:23us
- 21:24as
- 21:24we
- 21:24await
- 21:24that
- 21:24final
- 21:25day
- 21:26to
- 21:26have
- 21:27resilient
- 21:28faith
- 21:29to
- 21:30recognize
- 21:30that
- 21:31we
- 21:31are
- 21:31not
- 21:31of
- 21:32this
- 21:32world
- 21:32while
- 21:33we
- 21:33are
- 21:33still
- 21:34in
- 21:34it
- 21:34so
- 21:35thirdly
- 21:36we're
- 21:37going
- 21:37to
- 21:37note
- 21:38the
- 21:38theme
- 21:38of
- 21:38the
- 21:38resilient
- 21:39faith
- 21:39of
- 21:40Daniel
- 21:40and
- 21:41his
- 21:41friends
- 21:41in
- 21:42a
- 21:42hostile
- 21:43culture
- 21:44finally
- 21:46let's
- 21:46look
- 21:46briefly
- 21:47at
- 21:48the
- 21:48lives
- 21:49of
- 21:49Daniel
- 21:49Hananiah
- 21:51Mishael
- 21:52and
- 21:53Azariah
- 21:53those
- 21:54are
- 21:54their
- 21:54Hebrew
- 21:54names
- 21:55these
- 21:56young
- 21:57men
- 21:57were
- 21:57captured
- 21:57in
- 21:58the
- 21:58taking
- 21:58of
- 21:59Jerusalem
- 22:00they
- 22:01had
- 22:01been
- 22:01of
- 22:01high
- 22:01position
- 22:02in
- 22:02Israel
- 22:03but
- 22:03were
- 22:03now
- 22:03slaves
- 22:04in
- 22:04a
- 22:04foreign
- 22:04land
- 22:05and
- 22:05they
- 22:05were
- 22:05being
- 22:05asked
- 22:06to
- 22:06betray
- 22:06their
- 22:06God
- 22:07for
- 22:07the
- 22:08sake
- 22:08of
- 22:09other
- 22:09gods
- 22:09there's
- 22:10lots
- 22:10of
- 22:10cultural
- 22:11pressure
- 22:12on
- 22:12them
- 22:12to
- 22:13turn
- 22:13their
- 22:13backs
- 22:14on
- 22:14the
- 22:15Hebrew
- 22:15God
- 22:16we
- 22:17will
- 22:18spend
- 22:18the
- 22:18next
- 22:18seven
- 22:19weeks
- 22:19considering
- 22:19the
- 22:19details
- 22:20of
- 22:20these
- 22:21stories
- 22:21are so
- 22:22much
- 22:22good
- 22:22to be
- 22:23unpacked
- 22:24out of
- 22:24them
- 22:24so I
- 22:25will
- 22:25just give
- 22:25you one
- 22:26example
- 22:26this
- 22:27morning
- 22:27in
- 22:28chapter
- 22:29in
- 22:28chapter
- 22:29three
- 22:29Daniel's
- 22:30friends
- 22:30are
- 22:30asked
- 22:30to
- 22:30bow
- 22:31their
- 22:31knees
- 22:31to
- 22:32a
- 22:32massive
- 22:32golden
- 22:33image
- 22:33built
- 22:34by
- 22:34Nebuchadnezzar
- 22:35they refuse
- 22:36to do
- 22:37so
- 22:37I think
- 22:37you're
- 22:38familiar
- 22:38with
- 22:38the
- 22:38story
- 22:39and
- 22:39so
- 22:39this
- 22:40report
- 22:40comes
- 22:40to
- 22:41the
- 22:41king
- 22:41these
- 22:42three
- 22:42will
- 22:42not
- 22:43do
- 22:43it
- 22:43and
- 22:45he
- 22:45brings
- 22:45them
- 22:45before
- 22:46him
- 22:46so
- 22:47they're
- 22:47before
- 22:47this
- 22:47Nebuchadnezzar
- 22:48this
- 22:48great
- 22:49and
- 22:49grand
- 22:49mighty
- 22:51king
- 22:51Daniel
- 22:51chapter
- 22:51!
- 22:513
- 22:52beginning
- 22:52in
- 22:52verse
- 22:5314
- 22:53we
- 22:54read
- 22:54then
- 22:55Nebuchadnezzar
- 22:56in
- 22:56furious
- 22:57rage
- 22:58commanded
- 22:59that
- 23:00Shadrach
- 23:00Meshach
- 23:01and
- 23:02Abednego
- 23:02these
- 23:03were the
- 23:03names
- 23:03given
- 23:04to
- 23:04them
- 23:04change
- 23:04their
- 23:05names
- 23:05as
- 23:05they
- 23:05went
- 23:06to
- 23:06be
- 23:06slaves
- 23:06in
- 23:06Babylon
- 23:07be
- 23:08brought
- 23:08so
- 23:09they
- 23:10brought
- 23:10these
- 23:10men
- 23:10before
- 23:10the
- 23:11king
- 23:11Nebuchadnezzar
- 23:12answered
- 23:13and said
- 23:13to
- 23:14them
- 23:14is
- 23:15it
- 23:15true
- 23:15oh
- 23:15Shadrach
- 23:16Meshach
- 23:16and
- 23:16Abednego
- 23:17that
- 23:18you
- 23:18do
- 23:18not
- 23:18serve
- 23:18my
- 23:19gods
- 23:19or
- 23:19worship
- 23:19the
- 23:20golden
- 23:20image
- 23:20that
- 23:20I
- 23:21have
- 23:21set
- 23:21up
- 23:22now
- 23:23if
- 23:23you
- 23:23are
- 23:23ready
- 23:23when
- 23:24you
- 23:24hear
- 23:24the
- 23:24sound
- 23:24of
- 23:25the
- 23:25horn
- 23:25pipe
- 23:25lyre
- 23:26trigon
- 23:26harp
- 23:27bagpipe
- 23:27and
- 23:28every
- 23:28kind
- 23:28of
- 23:28music
- 23:28to
- 23:29fall
- 23:29down
- 23:30and
- 23:30worship
- 23:30the
- 23:30image
- 23:31that
- 23:31I
- 23:31have
- 23:31made
- 23:32well
- 23:32and
- 23:33good
- 23:34but
- 23:34if
- 23:35you
- 23:35do
- 23:35not
- 23:35worship
- 23:35you
- 23:36shall
- 23:36immediately
- 23:37be
- 23:37cast
- 23:37into
- 23:38a
- 23:38burning
- 23:38fiery
- 23:39furnace
- 23:40and
- 23:41who
- 23:41is
- 23:41the
- 23:42God
- 23:42who
- 23:42would
- 23:42deliver
- 23:42you
- 23:43out
- 23:43of
- 23:49as
- 23:49a
- 23:49God
- 23:50who
- 23:50is
- 23:50a
- 23:50God
- 23:50who
- 23:50would
- 23:50oppose
- 23:51King
- 23:52Nebuchadnezzar
- 23:54verse
- 23:5516
- 23:56Shadrach
- 23:56Meshach
- 23:57and
- 23:57Abednego
- 23:58answered
- 23:58and said
- 23:59to the
- 23:59king
- 23:59oh
- 24:00Nebuchadnezzar
- 24:01we have
- 24:02no need
- 24:03to answer
- 24:04you
- 24:04in this
- 24:05matter
- 24:05no need
- 24:08to answer
- 24:09in the
- 24:10face of
- 24:11this
- 24:11king
- 24:11I
- 24:11don't
- 24:11think
- 24:12we
- 24:12have
- 24:12a
- 24:12lot
- 24:12of
- 24:12context
- 24:13for
- 24:13what's
- 24:13happening
- 24:14here
- 24:14the
- 24:14fact
- 24:15that
- 24:15they're
- 24:15even
- 24:15standing
- 24:16before
- 24:16the
- 24:16king
- 24:17was
- 24:17massively
- 24:18significant
- 24:19thing
- 24:20and
- 24:20he
- 24:20is
- 24:21furious
- 24:22at
- 24:23them
- 24:23this
- 24:24is
- 24:24the
- 24:24kind
- 24:24of
- 24:24off
- 24:25with
- 24:25their
- 24:25heads
- 24:26sort
- 24:26of
- 24:26situation
- 24:27and
- 24:28they
- 24:28say
- 24:28we
- 24:29have
- 24:29no
- 24:29need
- 24:30to
- 24:30answer
- 24:30you
- 24:31in
- 24:32the
- 24:32matter
- 24:32what
- 24:33moxie
- 24:34what
- 24:34faith
- 24:35but
- 24:37they
- 24:37go on
- 24:37to
- 24:37say
- 24:38if
- 24:38this
- 24:38be
- 24:38so
- 24:39our
- 24:40God
- 24:41whom
- 24:41we
- 24:41serve
- 24:42is
- 24:42able
- 24:42to
- 24:42deliver
- 24:43us
- 24:43from
- 24:43the
- 24:43burning
- 24:43fiery
- 24:44furnace
- 24:44and
- 24:45he
- 24:45will
- 24:45deliver
- 24:46us
- 24:46out
- 24:46of
- 24:46your
- 24:47hand
- 24:47oh
- 24:48king
- 24:49he
- 24:50is
- 24:51more
- 24:51mighty
- 24:52than
- 24:53you
- 24:54verse
- 24:5518
- 24:55but
- 24:56if
- 24:56not
- 24:57be
- 24:58it
- 24:58known
- 24:58to
- 24:58you
- 24:58oh
- 24:59king
- 24:59that
- 25:00we
- 25:00will
- 25:00not
- 25:00serve
- 25:01your
- 25:01gods
- 25:01or
- 25:01worship
- 25:02the
- 25:02golden
- 25:02image
- 25:02that
- 25:03you
- 25:03have
- 25:04set
- 25:05up
- 25:05!
- 25:35two
- 25:35ish
- 25:36months
- 25:36the
- 25:37rise
- 25:38and
- 25:38fall
- 25:38of
- 25:38man
- 25:38the
- 25:39immovable
- 25:40!
- 25:40sovereignty
- 25:41of
- 25:41God
- 25:41and
- 25:42the
- 25:42resilient
- 25:42faith
- 25:43of
- 25:43Daniel
- 25:43and
- 25:43his
- 25:44friends
- 25:44in
- 25:44a
- 25:44hostile
- 25:45culture
- 25:46and
- 25:47I
- 25:47hope
- 25:48that
- 25:48you
- 25:48will
- 25:48join
- 25:48me
- 25:48in
- 25:49eager
- 25:49expectation
- 25:49of
- 25:50what
- 25:50the
- 25:50Lord
- 25:50will
- 25:50teach
- 25:50us
- 25:51as
- 25:51we
- 25:51continue
- 25:52our
- 25:52study
- 25:52of
- 25:53this
- 25:53book
- 25:54oh
- 25:55that
- 25:55it
- 25:55would
- 25:55make
- 25:55us
- 25:56humble
- 25:56that
- 25:57it
- 25:57would
- 25:58make
- 25:58us
- 25:58confident
- 25:58in
- 25:59our
- 25:59unchangingly
- 26:00sovereign
- 26:00God
- 26:01and
- 26:02that
- 26:02it
- 26:02would
- 26:02help
- 26:02us
- 26:03to
- 26:03be
- 26:03faithful
- 26:03to
- 26:04the
- 26:04end
- 26:05after
- 26:06all
- 26:06beloved
- 26:06this
- 26:08is
- 26:08God's
- 26:08word
- 26:08to
- 26:08us
- 26:09written
- 26:10for
- 26:10his
- 26:10glory
- 26:11and
- 26:11our
- 26:11good
- 26:12so
- 26:13we
- 26:13would
- 26:13all
- 26:13do
- 26:13well
- 26:13to
- 26:13listen
- 26:14to
- 26:14it
- 26:14nor
- 26:14believe
- 26:15its
- 26:15promises
- 26:16and
- 26:17to
- 26:17obey
- 26:17its
- 26:18commands
- 26:18let's
- 26:19pray
- 26:19together