Citizens of Heaven

Summer Sermon Series on Daniel # 1

Jeremiah 29:4-14

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Daniel 1:1-18

In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and he placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

3 Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility: 4 young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. 6 Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. 7 The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine, so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the palace master. 10 The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your age, you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” 14 So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. 16 So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.

18 At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, 19 and the king spoke with them. Among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they were stationed in the king’s court. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Sermon 1: Citizens of Heaven

As we enter this summer, we’ll explore the Book of Daniel. Daniel’s narrative is more than vivid stories; it’s a testament to faith amid exile. Themes include courage, divine sovereignty, and hope, all of which point to Christ and His eternal kingdom. The Babylonian exile highlights God’s judgment and faithfulness, as foretold in Deuteronomy 28’s warnings and predicted by Isaiah (Isaiah 39:1-8). Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesy about the events happening in the world around Daniel and his friends. Daniel’s steadfast loyalty to God, as demonstrated by his defiance of royal rations, wisdom in dreams, and his encounter in a lion’s den, shows readers of his story how to live faithfully even while walking in a foreign land. This summer, we will explore Daniel’s powerful story and its timeless truths.

The Babylonian exile, as described in 2 Kings 24-25 and 2 Chronicles 36, sets the backdrop for what happened to Daniel and the other affluent nobility of Judah. In these narratives, we see that Judah's persistent unfaithfulness led to the fulfillment of the warnings in Deuteronomy 28:36-37. As Babylon rose to power, it served as the instrument of divine correction, foreseen in Isaiah 39:6-7. Within the context of our lesson today, we focus on Daniel, a young man taken captive from the land of Judah.

The first chapter of Daniel vividly illustrates God’s sovereignty over nations and empires, revealing His ultimate control even amidst the rise and fall of worldly powers. This truth is echoed in passages like Psalm 2:1-4, “Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.” The psalmist depicts God laughing at the futile ambitions of earthly rulers, asserting the supremacy of His creation. Daniel’s resolve not to defile himself, as seen in verse 8, mirrors the integrity of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39:9), when he declines the advances of Potiphar’s wife, and the courage of Esther and Mordecai in Persia (Esther 4:14), when Esther decides to save her people from genocide. Collectively, in these passages, we see a reflection of what Daniel had decided in his mind to do. The call to remain faithful in the face of trials and to trust in God's sovereign purpose shows us that Daniel was not alone. Like Joseph, Esther, and others, such as Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Daniel had God with him. No matter what the empires of the world set out to do.

Also, like Joseph, God grants Daniel the divine gift of interpreting dreams and visions. In Daniel 2 and 7, his ability to decipher mysteries will underscore the role of God’s Spirit in illuminating truths, as further echoed in Ephesians 1:17-18, where Paul speaks of the Spirit granting wisdom and revelation to know God better. Throughout the Bible, God uses chosen individuals to unveil His plans and purposes, both in ancient times and in the lives of believers today.

Daniel is one of the best-known prophets. We are taught his stories as children, and we often overlook him in light of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. However, Daniel is different from the other major prophets. Daniel serves as an archetype figure of the coming messiah, showcasing a life of unwavering faithfulness and service even in the face of persecution. His role as a mediator and faithful servant prefigures Christ, the ultimate Servant, as described in Isaiah 53. This connection to God, placed in the highest levels of Nebuchadnezzar’s court, would have held significant meaning for the Jewish people in exile, offering a framework through which they could later recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. Just as Daniel remained steadfast and obedient under immense pressure, Christ too embodied perfect faithfulness, even in His ultimate submission to the will of the Father, as seen in Matthew 26:39, where Jesus prays, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42 KJV) These parallels not only underscore the continuity of God’s redemptive plan but also provide a profound theological foundation for understanding how the Old Testament scriptures point to the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. This is why Jesus said I came to fulfill the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).

Chapter 1 of Daniel stands out from the rest of the book. It serves as an introduction, but it also serves as a prophecy and promise of God’s unwavering faith in his people. It is essential to recognize that Babylon did not defeat Jerusalem as it had defeated the Assyrians. Verse 2 tells us that God used Nebuchadnezzar as a tool and “gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power.” This establishes the theology of God’s sovereignty, a theme that will be repeated throughout the subsequent stories. No wonder the psalmist depicts God laughing at the world's empires. All who believe in God’s sovereignty and seek God in their daily lives will prosper, even while in exile. No one in the Book of Daniel exemplifies this faithfulness than our hero Daniel himself.

Daniel 1:21 serves as a significant marker as it ends the first chapter. It frames the beginning of the story, Daniel's abduction by the Babylonians, with the eventual fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire under King Cyrus, who liberated the Jews and allowed them to return home to rebuild their homeland. This assurance that Daniel will not only survive Babylon but also see its eventual downfall invites us to reflect on the enduring call to be faithful to God, in the midst of whatever life may throw at us, whether we face opposition in a hostile culture or navigate personal challenges in our own lives. Like Daniel, we are called to stand firm in our commitment to God, trusting in His sovereign and eternal plan.

Daniel’s story offers more than historical insight; it carries a profound message of hope rooted in God’s ultimate authority over the kingdoms of this world. While human empires may rise and fall, God’s kingdom remains unshakable and everlasting—a foundation that calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing our strength and courage are anchored in the promises of the One Eternal God.

As Christians and heirs to God’s promise found in Jesus Christ, we are reminded that we are not citizens of this world, but of heaven. Just as Daniel lived as a resident alien in Babylon, faithfully serving God while being set apart from the culture around him, we too are called to live as ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom, reflecting His light in a world often shrouded in darkness. This promise, this assurance, should inspire us to trust in His sovereignty, knowing that our lives are part of His eternal plan, and our ultimate home is with our Lord.

Moreover, Daniel’s life, set four hundred years before Jesus’ birth, underscores the unity of Scripture, showing us how biblical themes resound across time and point us to Christ. The theological threads, woven throughout the Bible, remind us that Daniel’s narrative is not just ancient history—it is a living testimony that speaks to our lives today, encouraging us to stand firm in our commitment to God, to live courageously under His lordship, and to embrace our true identity Christians, because no matter where we live, we are citizens of heaven.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Bibliography

NRSVue [Book]. - Washington, D.C.: National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, 2021.

The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books [Book] / ed. Meeks Wayne A. [et al.]. - New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993.

The New Testament and the Book of Psalms, King James Version 1611 [Book]. - New York: American Bible Society.

The Preacher's Commentary, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther [Book] / auth. Roberts, Mark/ed. Ogilvie Lloyd J.. - Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1993. - ePub Edition: pp. 6698-6758.

The Prophets: Two Volumes in One [Book] / auth. Heschel Abraham J. - Philadelphia: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.