Faith in the Fire #2 (Studies in Daniel)
Text: Daniel 2
‘God is no good-luck charm’.
Would you agree with that statement?
Before we consider that a little more from scripture I would like to read an observation
by a man who had been preaching for over 3 decades:
‘I have served in the ministry thirty years, almost thirty-one. I have come to
understand that there are two kinds of faith. One says if and the other says though. One
says: ‘if everything goes well, if my life is prosperous, if I’m happy, if no one I love
dies, if I’m successful, then I will believe in God and say my prayers and go to the
church and give what I can afford.’ The other says though: though the cause of evil
prosper, though I sweat in Gethsemane, though I must drink my cup at Calvary—nevertheless,
precisely then, I will trust the Lord who made me. So Job cries: ‘Though he slay me, yet
will I trust Him.’’ 1
Back to the idea of God being no good-luck charm.
If moving in faith with God was an automatic to good happening:
there are some things that need to be explained.
For instance how come the apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove a
thorn and the answer was no? (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Maybe a bigger one:
Jesus of Nazareth who always lived in faith, asked the Father for an easier path and
instead received none. (See Matthew 26:39)
In a few weeks I am heading up north to help celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday.
What is interesting with her and others who came from the West at the same time, is when
they talk about their lives in a very positive way their conversation is on things you
couldn’t think were positive:
--World War 1, The depression, especiallyy out there, World War2 and blizzards with no heat
in the house, deep poverty and having almost nothing to eat.
I was thinking about her and I can remember when Grandpa went as a missionary to India
in 1973 & 1974 how she was 60 years old and maintaining the farm while he was off
preaching.
I want to ask her some questions this time around, ‘what does the love of God mean to
you?’
I expect the answer as to why her conversation is on the difficulties of life but with
a positive twist is due to the fact that the strength of character and faith was
developed in those times.
When I bring up the idea that God is no good-luck charm, in our studies of Daniel,
there is a tempting idea to bang around but we must be on guard. We shouldn’t make their
faith too easy for them to possess.
Let me explain, if having faith in God under duress was simple for them because they
just kind of ‘knew’ things would work out for the best, the same should be for us.
But, there is a reason Jesus sweated drops like blood, a reason Paul despaired for
his life.
If God was a good luck charm we could give easily, engage in ministry because it was
automatic that something in kind would happen back to us.
Luke 6:38- this is not the motive for giving! (This makes using God as a good-luck
charm: I do good, because good will happen back)
Luke 6:35- this is the motive for giving! (Not expecting anything in return, being
like God)
When we go to the men and women of faith in the Bible, the reason for their faith was
not as easy as we might be tempted to believe at first.
As we saw last week with Daniel, in a hostile environment, where many of his fellow
Israelites had been killed by the Babylonians, he resolved in his heart not to be defiled,
to remain holy and no where does it say, he was guaranteed that God would come through for
him.
Let us ask then, why should anyone act in faith if there is no guarantee?
Why stick your neck out if God for sure isn’t going to come through?
Perhaps the best answer is found in John 6:68 after Jesus said some things that were
really hard for his followers to accept he asked them if they would leave him and Peter
responds with: to whom shall we go?
For men like Daniel and for us today, though we have no guarantee that life here will
be fine or we’ll get over our sickness or receive financial ease:
How can we abandon our faith?
When we live the good life, we may believe, but when we don’t, we must believe.
Back to Daniel then, Daniel resolved in his heart to keep his integrity before God.
That no matter what happens, I won’t go against God. I will remain pure. In so doing,
Daniel offers us some lessons on how to live as people of faith in a culture that at times
is so opposed to faith. He taught without even speaking, and survived. Sometimes the
pressure is placed on people of faith that if they don’t stick out there is something
wrong. Now, I don’t disagree that there needs to be some differences between people of
faith and those who run contrary to God but I want my differences to be important ones.
In chapter 2 though, Daniel brings us another lesson about living in a culture that
is foreign to faith and how to influence.
At times, the North American thought is we have to be vocal about every issue to make
a difference. But our culture today is often asking the same question Pharaoh asked
Moses & Aaron: who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?
I do not know the Lord. (Exodus 5:2)
We need to live lives of purity or integrity and look for opportunities to explain to
an unknowing world who the Lord is.
So, Daniel chapter 2…..
The importance of this chapter is not just in telling the future, but its importance is
for everyone everywhere who despite living in faith is facing extreme pressure to give up
the faith.
Antiochus Epiphanes is a very important biblical figure. He is the central figure of
the latter parts of Daniel. He was a Syrian king who ruled over the land of the Jews
near the middle of the 2nd century BC.
What he was known for however was brutal crimes against those who kept God’s Law.
‘Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law was
condemned to death by royal decree. So they used their power against Israel, against those
who were caught, each month, in the cities. On the 25th day of each month they
sacrificed on the altar erected over the altar of holocausts. Women who had their
children circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree…their families also and
those who had circumcised them were killed. But many in Israel were determined and
resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to
be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible
affliction was upon Israel.’ 1 Maccabees 1:57-62
How could this little band who rallied around the Law of their Fathers keep going in
faith with such destruction on them?
How can we continue to believe when everything in our life tells us it’s not getting us
anywhere?
To whom shall we go?
Daniel answers that for us in chapter 2…
Remember now that Daniel has kept his integrity, he resolved in his heart to keep pure and
was not going to waiver on this. Also, important to keep in mind, the Babylonians burned
down the temple of Daniel’s God and stole Daniel’s God’s treasures. In light of Israel’s
sins we can understand this, but what would faithful Israelites have concluded?
Why did they have to be captured or killed?
The thing to consider here is that even though God’s people have been destroyed or nearly
destroyed, God is still in control. What we have witnessed in chapter 1 is that this God
is a deliverer from death. (1:10—he gave Daniel favour in the chief’s eyes)
2:1-11- Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that really bothers him and he really wants to put his
magicians and the like to the test!
Vs.5- tell me the dream or be torn limb from limb. They want to know the dream first, the
king wouldn’t tell them. The king then concludes that since they can’t, they have just
been lying all this time that they said they could interpret dreams and the men reply that
only the gods could do this! (vs.11)
2:12-16- The king just doesn’t accept this but breaks out in a great rage and declares that
all wise men are to be destroyed. That’s it, kill them all. This dream must be something
important. Notice who this decree includes?
Daniel & the three friends. The same guys who a chapter earlier, made such a bold stand
for faith & purity. Now, they are going to be killed!
Notice Daniel goes with prudence & discretion to Arioch and we’re informed, they didn’t
even know why they were going to be killed.
You know we ask that all important question sometimes: why?
Things happen to us, we’re trying to do right, we’re living by faith, we put God first and
then bam!
Some king wants to kill us. Or, the government passes a law that hurts our faith. At
times, we blame the people of faith:
this is our fault.
Daniel says, I’ll show the king the interpretation.
How do you reconstruct a dream?
Were these men wrong that men can do it?
No, simply put men don’t, God does!
Now, is God a good luck charm?
Is this a slam dunk?
Vs.17-24- if it is such a slam dunk, why does he do this?
He brings his buddies in and asks them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning
this mystery. Here it is, it is not that God is a slam dunk to give us what we want, but
in the issue of faith:
who shall we go to but the One who is Lord of heaven and earth?
Who shall we go to but the One who gives us the words of life?
God does respond to their prayer and notice Daniel’s praise:
No personal pride!
It is because of God!
Two things:
- Power or Might!
God is in control. Even though Babylon looks so strong, even though the forces of evil
seem to control our laws and our culture, God is in control. He controls history’s
events, even things unpredictable. Remember, Daniel survived after Babylon was destroyed.
He appoints and removes Kings, He rules over the world, He cares for His people.
- Wisdom!
All the human wisdom could not save from death. We glow with pride over our wisdom—the
amount we have only comes from God (James 1:5). God reveals things to us, God grants us
knowledge.
Daniel prays: you have now made known to me what we asked of you.
Vs.25-30- here it is now: in chapter 1 Daniel simply lived his life in simplicity and
holiness. Now, it’s your time to speak, now is your time to speak concerning the reality
of your God. Vs.27-29- no man could do this O king! But there is a God in heaven…
This God is greater than all other gods that men may seek, as for me:
there is nothing in me that this has come but only because of the God of heaven.
‘forbid it lord that I should boast save in the death of Christ my Lord’
vs.31-45- the great dream:
31-35- the dream is a statue of material:
head of gold, chest & arms of silver, middle & thighs of bronze and legs of iron and then
feet of iron & clay.
Finally a stone cut by no human hand destroys the statue and grows into a great mountain.
Imagine Nebuchadnezzar hearing Daniel retell his dream: now the interpretation.
36-45a- you Neb. Are the head of gold. Listen to Daniel, the God of heaven has given you
the kingdom with power, might & glory.
Again, reminded of Jesus—John 19:11- any power given only by God.
From Neb’s view point, all other kingdoms would be inferior in how they exercised
authority.
The next sections of the statue all represent future kingdoms:
Medo-Persian, Grecian ect.
In the days of those kings however, you notice the iron mixed with clay:
element of strength & weakness.
The stone crushes those kingdoms. What is the stone?
The origin is not of the world (cut without human hand)
The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. That shall not be
left to another people: the people of God will rule.
The image is a man made of metal. Each of these however is an empire that is mighty but
opposed to God. Babylon set the tone but what were these mighty empires who in their
pride lifted themselves up against God & His people?
Just a statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron & clay.
The message is clear: God has not lost His control or power.
Despite your own failures & weakness, the God of Israel remains as powerful as He was in
the days of Moses and His love remains as steadfast to His people as in the days of
David.
Daniel declares to Neb. That a great God has told you this.
Vs.46-49- Neb’s response:
Your God is God of gods & Lord of kings. Even over my gods. Neb was going to kill these
4 young men but now instead gives them places of honour and bows down before Daniel.
Man’s great might in its highest estate is nothing compared to the might of God’s kingdom.
What about us today?
- Living with people who don’t share our beliefs can be difficult but it is not
impossible. We need to examine again how Daniel managed to maintain his integrity and then
waited for the opportunity to declare the reality of God to the King. The temptation for
us is to become the King of our culture where we will be more effective by becoming the
light of the world. How did Jesus manage to get invited to parties?
- We must keep our faith because He is the Lord of heaven and earth. That all other
empires rise and fall, but His fills the earth and lasts forever. He may not respond the
way we want Him to, but to whom else can we go?
- John 4:25- I know the Messiah is coming…things will be made right. Daniel shows
Nebuchadnezzar that ‘the belief of the prophets was true. There is One whom all things
in heaven and earth obey; who makes use of instruments on which may be traced here and
there the flaws of human imperfection; and who guides the course of history by ways which
not even the wisest can wholly know, to ends which not even the most inspired can wholly
see, until they are suddenly displayed in all their glorious perfection.’2
Daniel would tell us all when tempted to give up on God:
keep the faith—He is in control, He still reigns and He still cares.
‘When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall
fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God how great
thou art.’
The King reigns and all else will turn to dust.
Come as we stand and sing…
1. Quoted from Philip Yancey, Reaching for the Invisible God (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2000) p.49,50
2. This is taken from a lecture on Inspiration, W. Sanday (London: Longmans, Green, and
Co., 1896) Bampton Lectures from 1893, Lecture IV, p.220
Back to lessons page.
Back to home page.