Most of my life, I have looked at Daniel primarily as a book of prophecy, with enough historical facts thrown in to make it credible.

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1 The Backstory A few months ago, a book title caught my attention Thriving in Babylon by Larry Osborn. I downloaded the book to my ipad and found it a fascinating study of the Book of Daniel, from a perspective I had never considered. That book is what started me thinking about this series and why it would be important to us. I borrowed the name for this series, Thriving in Babylon, as we explore how Daniel (and his friends) was able to thrive spiritually in the Godless culture of that ancient city. Daniel as Prophecy The book of Daniel is one of the little books of the Bible, as far as length is concerned. It s only 12 chapters. It s considered important because of its prophetic nature. Most of my life, I have looked at Daniel primarily as a book of prophecy, with enough historical facts thrown in to make it credible. Those of us who have been in the church for a while are familiar with the detailed charts showing how Daniel accurately predicted the time of Jesus advent, pinpointing His crucifixion, and understanding when God s mission team spread beyond the Jewish nation. We have seen the pictures of the interesting and horrible beasts and can see how everything is going to end. As we explore the fulfilled prophecies we should be amazed at their intricate details. They should give us a deeper appreciation of who God is and His trustworthiness. But, we have to be careful when we look at the prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled. Every few years another person comes around claiming to have unlocked the secret to understanding them and some bold predictions are made and then lost sight of as things change and a newer fad comes around. I m not saying we should not think about and study the prophecies of the future, only that we need to approach them carefully. Most prophecies are clearer looking back on them than looking forward to them. Daniel is an important book of prophecy but it is much more. Daniel as Adventure We have also approached the book of Daniel as an adventure story. Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 1 10

2 We have held Daniel and his friends up as examples of how we should live in this world and they are good examples; staying true to God in difficult circumstances. But, many times we then use the stories to imply that as long as we do the right thing, God won t let anything bad happen to us He ll line things up so we can comfortably follow our convictions and then rescue us from the furnace and the lions. The truth is, when it comes to comfortably following convictions and rescue from fiery furnaces and hungry lions; Daniel and his friends are not examples of God s standard response, they are exceptions. When you look down through the ages at God s people, you most often see them being mistreated or killed because they are doing the right thing they are following God. Most of the time God chooses to be with His people in their trials instead of rescuing them from their trials. If there was anyone who ever did the right things, it was Jesus and later the apostles. All of them were tortured and killed except John who lived through the torture. Jesus actually promised us, as His followers, that we would experience trouble! These are not promises we often recite they are not as comforting as some of the others, but they do reflect the truth. Just before His death, Jesus said: If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? A slave is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. (John 15:18-20, NLT) A little later that evening, He concluded His comments with this: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NLT) Many years later, the Apostle Peter wrote: Dear friends, don t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering. (1 Peter 4:12-13, NLT) And James, the brother of Jesus, wrote: When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4, NLT) Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 2 10

3 We will explore this topic a bit more in the weeks to come. So how should be approach the book of Daniel? Daniel as an Example Daniel does contain some of most important prophecies of the Old Testament, prophecies that help us understand God s plan through the ages and form the foundation for understanding the events and prophecies of the New Testament. They should be studied carefully. It also has its share of exciting stories and adventure it does show God in action as He moves in and through a pagan nation. It helps us to know that God is ultimately in control even when everything might seem otherwise. But, there is an important message we often seem to miss. Daniel gives us an example of how to live a Godly life in an ungodly society. Our society seems to be going crazy and not in a good way. Sin is celebrated and glorified. Christians, who were once respected and seen as an important, unifying force in our communities, are now considered by many to be the enemy; the source of bigotry and hate. And unfortunately, many Christians have acted the part. Babylon, if anything, was even worse. In fact, throughout the Bible, from early in Genesis all the way through Revelation, Babylon represents everything that is in opposition to God and will be destroyed in the end. (See Genesis and Revelation 14:6-13, 16:19, 17:1-5, 18:1-11, 21) Especially for those of us living now, near the end of this world s history; the lessons we see in Daniel s life can make a huge difference. How he lived his life in that Godless culture, is relevant today, as we try to live for God in our culture. Daniel Thriving in Babylon Our series will take several weeks with some other special programs between. We will basically take it one story at a time, which usually means one chapter. We will try to understand what type of battles are worth fighting and what battles are best avoided. We will examine when to stand firm and when to compromise. We will see what real commitment and trust look like. We will examine what it looks like to have God s purpose being worked out in our culture and in our lives. Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 3 10

4 We will look at some of the broad strokes of Prophecy. And, I believe we will come away with a greater appreciation of God s presence and direction in our lives. Daniel on God s Control One thing we need to notice before we close today is Daniel s basic premise. He doesn t waste any time getting right to the point. In the first two verses, we see the basic principle that guided his life: During the third year of King Jehoiakim s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Here in verse one, Daniel laid out the incident that started the events found throughout his book. In verse two, he pulls back the curtain so we can look behind the scenes: The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. (Daniel 1:1-2, NLT) Daniel believed that ultimately God was in control of whoever was in control He always has, and He always will. This doesn t mean we are robots with no freedom of choice. We have complete freedom of choice and our choices will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of people under our influence. It means that God is the master of taking whatever happens and working with it in a way that His plan will always come through in the end. Daniel took to heart the words Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) These are words we will come back to several times in this series. These are words we ought to live by as well. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 4 10

5 Notes The inspiration for this sermon series began with the book, Thriving in Babylon, by Larry Osborn. In it, he explores in depth what it means to live a Godly life in an ungodly society based on Daniel s life and experience in Babylon. To purchase a copy of this book, click here. To purchase an itunes copy, click here. To purchase a Kindle copy, click here. And, to purchase a Nook copy, click here. Most everything you find in this color is a hyperlink that will lead you to more complete references, different translations, or pertinent websites. The following commentaries were useful in researching this sermon series. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4 The Theology of Work Project Commentary Scripture References Proverbs 3:5-12 (NLT): Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. 11 My child, don t reject the LORD s discipline, and don t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:5-12, NLT) Isaiah 39:1-8 (NLT): Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, What did those men want? Where were they from? Hezekiah replied, They came from the distant land of Babylon. Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 5 10

6 4 What did they see in your palace? asked Isaiah. They saw everything, Hezekiah replied. I showed them everything I own all my royal treasuries. 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Listen to this message from the LORD of Heaven s Armies: 6 The time is coming when everything in your palace all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7 Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon s king. 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, This message you have given me from the LORD is good. For the king was thinking, At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime. (Isaiah 39:1-9, NLT) Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NLT): This is what the LORD of Heaven s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:4-7, NLT) Daniel 1:1-2 (NLT): During the third year of King Jehoiakim s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. (Daniel 1:1-2, NLT) Mathew 6:25-34 (NLT): That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 6 10

7 31 So don t worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So don t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34, NLT) John 15:18-21 (NLT): If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? A slave is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. (John 15:18-21, NLT) John 16:33 (NLT): I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NLT) James 1:2-4 (NLT): Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4, NLT) James 1:13-15 (NLT): And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15, NLT) 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NLT): All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 7 10

8 strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9, NLT) 1 Peter 4:12-19 (NLT): Dear friends, don t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God s Good News? 18 And also, If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners? 19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. (1 Peter 4:12-19, NLT) 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NLT): So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11, NLT) Theology of Work Commentary (click here) Introduction to Daniel: How can you follow God and thrive in the secular world at the same time? Almost every workplace Christian faces this question daily, and many find the answer so difficult they are tempted to give up. Daniel, the central character of the Book of Daniel, faces the Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 8 10

9 question under extreme circumstances. Exiled from Jerusalem when God s people are conquered by the Babylonian empire, he must live out his life in an environment very hostile to the Most High God. Yet circumstances bring him to a position of high opportunity in the service of the Babylonian king. Should he withdraw from the corrupt and profane Babylonian government and seek a life pleasing to God in an enclave among other Jews? Should he relegate his faith to a private, personal sphere, perhaps praying to God in his closet, while living the life of Babylonian power and influence indistinguishably from those around him? Daniel chooses neither. Instead he embarks on a promising career while remaining publicly devoted to God. The story of how he navigates these treacherous waters is both guidebook and case study for today s workplace Christians. (Introduction to Daniel) The Big Picture of the Book of Daniel: The Book of Daniel can be perplexing. It begins straightforwardly enough, with Daniel and his companions facing pressure to assimilate to the pleasures and vices of the Babylonian royal court. But the narrative becomes increasingly strange as dreams, visions and prophecies come into the picture. At the halfway point (chapter 7), the book becomes unmistakably apocalyptic, portending the rise and fall of future kings and kingdoms, using imagery of bizarre events and creatures. The apocalyptic genre is notoriously difficult to interpret, yet this material does contribute a few points to our understanding of work. In any case, Daniel, like Revelation the other book-length apocalypse in the Bible provides much valuable material relevant to work, and it is worth trying to make sense of it for a theology of work. As it happens, the Book of Daniel offers a ready-made framework for unpacking its meaning in the workplace. That framework is a nested parallelism structure (in technical terms, a chiasm ). This structure consists of multiple themes, introduced in the order ABC, then revisited in reverse order, forming a structure like this: Theme A, Part 1 Theme B, Part 1 Theme C, Part 1 Theme C, Part 2 Theme B, Part 2 Theme A, Part 2 To help the reader keep track of which theme is which, the writer highlights parallel elements in both Parts of each theme. For example, Theme A in Daniel consists of a vision in Part 1 and a parallel vision in Part 2, while Theme B has sufferings in part 1 and more sufferings in part 2. Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 9 10

10 This structure is common in many books of the Bible. In Daniel, the Part 1 of each theme is relatively straightforward. Part 2 of each theme is more difficult, but referring back to the corresponding Part 1 makes it easier to make sense of the more difficult passages. In Daniel, chapter one is an introduction, and then the nested parallels begin: Theme A: Vision of the future overthrow of pagan kingdoms and their replacement by God s rule (chapter 2) Theme B: Sufferings, yet rewards, for faithful witnesses to God in the meantime (chapter 3) Theme C: Humbling/overthrow of the pagan king (chapter 4) Theme C: Humbling/overthrow of the pagan king (chapter 5) Theme B: Sufferings, yet rewards, for faithful witnesses to God in the meantime (chapter 6) Theme A: Vision of the future overthrow of pagan kingdoms and their replacement by God s rule (chapters 7-12) This structure makes the big picture of Daniel clear. God is coming to overthrow the corrupt and arrogant pagan kingdoms where God s people are living in exile. Although his people are suffering now, their faithful suffering is one of the chief means by which God s power moves. This gives them a surprising ability to thrive now, a bright hope for the future, and a meaningful role to play in both present survival and future promise. We will explore the implications and applications that this big picture has for Christians in today s workplaces. To do so, we will examine how each of the six movements outlined above are orchestrated into the overall theme. (The Big Picture of the Book of Daniel) Thriving in Babylon, Introduction Page 10 10