God rules! That is the big message of the book of Daniel. Daniel and his friend serve great kings in the worlds eyes, great empires in the worlds eyes and yet Daniel outlasts them all. Why? Because he is not some flunky who attached himself to a king or a court and sought to gain favour. But Daniel serves the God who he knows rules the world, who hold history in his hands.
As I've been studying Daniel I find that an amazing challenge. I know in my head that is what the Bible teaches and that it is true. But what about in the way I live, does that show? Daniel can live as he does, living for God, in an alien pressured and pagan environment because he knows that truth as more than just a theological truth but as a living breathing reality.
It means he can stand for God when under threat, when facing persecution because God is sovereign and Daniel can put his trust in his God for the outcome.
But Daniel also gives us a view of the world that we need, it is found in the apocalyptic visions in the second half of the book and it is a reminder that we sometimes limit our living to the world pulled over our eyes to blind us. When in reality we as the people of God are engaged in a spiritual battle and therefore need spiritual weapons.
My prayer is that these two truths inform my mind and heart and transform my service of God while he continues to give me breath.
Showing posts with label History lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History lessons. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Monday, 3 December 2007
Learning the lessons of history
I have got to do some teaching on Daniel 5 tomorrow for a group who are attending a course called getting to grips with the Bible. It is an amazing passage of contrasts between the living active God and idols, between a wise queen and a foolish king, among others.
But the thing that has really struck me is the failure of Belshazzar to learn the lessons of history. As Daniel explains the writing on the wall in verse 18 he begins by emphasizing the sovereignty of the very one that Belshazzar began the evening mocking. Daniel then gives (18-21) a history lesson on the life of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's ancestor. But the emphasis is on God not Nebuchadnezzar: “the most high gave…he gave him…he was deposed…he was driven…until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign…” The lesson of Nebuchadnezzar's life that he finally acknowledge was that God rules not Nebuchadnezzar.
And then Daniel turns to Belshazzar who is held accountable; (22-23) the accusations begin “But you…” highlighting another contract between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. There follows the charge sheet against Belshazzar the repeated use of “you…” emphasizes the personal nature of the accusations God has against Belshazzar.
It is a sobering thought and as Hegel said “the only thing we learn from history is that we have learned nothing from history” That is an apt summary of Belshazzar, but as I have read I wonder if it us too. Have I learnt the lessons from my own history, that God saves and works all things for our good? Has the church learnt the lessons from history?
But the thing that has really struck me is the failure of Belshazzar to learn the lessons of history. As Daniel explains the writing on the wall in verse 18 he begins by emphasizing the sovereignty of the very one that Belshazzar began the evening mocking. Daniel then gives (18-21) a history lesson on the life of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's ancestor. But the emphasis is on God not Nebuchadnezzar: “the most high gave…he gave him…he was deposed…he was driven…until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign…” The lesson of Nebuchadnezzar's life that he finally acknowledge was that God rules not Nebuchadnezzar.
And then Daniel turns to Belshazzar who is held accountable; (22-23) the accusations begin “But you…” highlighting another contract between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. There follows the charge sheet against Belshazzar the repeated use of “you…” emphasizes the personal nature of the accusations God has against Belshazzar.
It is a sobering thought and as Hegel said “the only thing we learn from history is that we have learned nothing from history” That is an apt summary of Belshazzar, but as I have read I wonder if it us too. Have I learnt the lessons from my own history, that God saves and works all things for our good? Has the church learnt the lessons from history?
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