By Pastor Stephen Hess –
On Sunday May 31st we will begin a new journey as we kick off a sermon series on the Book of Daniel. This book takes its name from the prophet Daniel who lived during the sixth century B.C. while God’s people were living in exile in the land of Babylon. The book records the events of Daniel’s life and the visions that he saw during the time of his exile.
With its ancient history and apocalyptic visions, the Book of Daniel might seem foreign and strange to many modern readers. However, this book is extremely relevant to our lives today. One of the main reasons it is relevant to us is that according to Scripture, we too are exiles. When the apostle Peter wrote to the church he described God’s people as exiles and said to them: “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile” (1 Pet. 1:17). Peter’s words make clear that God’s children are a people in exile. Unlike the people in Daniel’s day, we have not been physically removed from our homeland and forced to live in a foreign country. However, we are exiles in the sense that while we live on this earth, we are living in a kingdom that is not our own. We are citizens of God’s kingdom, but we live in the kingdoms of this world. God’s people look forward to the day when we will no longer be exiles but will live in his kingdom eternally.
Living as exiles is not easy, and it brings up many difficult questions: How does one live faithfully while in exile? What does it look like to honor God while living in a foreign land filled with pagan influences and idolatry? How is God at work through the kings and kingdoms of this world? What should God’s people think when history seems to be getting worse and worse rather than better and better? How should we respond to persecution? These questions and many others are the kinds of questions people were asking in Daniel’s day, and that we still wrestle with today.
In the midst of these questions, the Book of Daniel proclaims several triumphant truths. First, God is sovereign over the course of world history. As Daniel 2:21 says, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” Every king and kingdom in this world is under the control of God’s sovereign hand. This can give God’s people encouragement when the world seems like it is spiraling into chaos and ungodliness.
Second, it is possible for God’s people to live faithfully while in exile. Scripture makes clear that “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). The Bible also makes clear that we live in a world that is filled with idolatry, immorality, and false teaching, and where believers face constant temptations to compromise their faith. Yet Daniel and his friends give us an encouraging picture of what it looks like to remain committed to God in a culture of compromise.
Third, God’s kingdom will triumph over all other kingdoms in the end. In this world, kingdoms will rise and fall, and kings will come and go. The Book of Daniel makes clear that regardless of how powerful and intimidating they might be, the kings and kingdoms of this world will all one day pass away. On that day there will only be one kingdom left: God’s kingdom. In the words of Daniel, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:14).
We live in confusing times, but be encouraged: God is sovereign and his kingdom will triumph! I hope you will join us on Sunday mornings as we begin this exciting journey through the Book of Daniel.