Tag: Obedience

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He is Great: Daniel and the Lion’s Den

Summary of my sermon, based on Daniel 6:19-24. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on October 8, 2023.

As we delve into the Book of Daniel during the Babylonian Exile, it’s essential to recognize the relevance of Daniel’s story in the context of contemporary challenges. From conflicts in Israel to the increasing hostility against the Church, the nations seem to be raging against God and His people. Today, we’ll explore the story of Daniel and learn how to navigate hostility with integrity, drawing valuable lessons for our faith journey.

The Babylonian Exile marked a significant period in Israel’s history when the Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonian Empire around 618 BC. This event ended Israel’s sovereignty for nearly 2,500 years, until its reestablishment as the State of Israel in 1948. However, Israel’s existence remains far from secure, given ongoing conflicts with groups like Hamas.

The constant attacks on Israel and the excessive number of resolutions passed against it by the United Nations beg the question: Why is Israel the target of such intense hatred? Psalm 2:1–2 suggests an answer: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed.”

The significance of Israel in God’s plan and the world’s opposition to it raise crucial questions about the relationship between the Church and Israel, with two primary viewpoints: Supersessionism and Zionism. Regardless of one’s stance, it’s evident that both the Church and Israel are perceived as representatives of the God of the Bible and face increasing hostility.

Now, let’s explore the story of Daniel, who was among the Jewish captives taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. His exemplary life in captivity is a testament to faith and integrity.

Daniel’s Integrity
One of the key lessons from Daniel’s life is the importance of civil obedience and disobedience. Daniel obeyed Babylonian laws as long as they didn’t conflict with his faith. Romans 13:1 emphasizes the need to submit to governing authorities, recognizing that they are instituted by God. While Daniel exemplified obedience, he also demonstrated that civil disobedience may be necessary when laws contradict God’s command.

The story reveals how high officials targeted Daniel’s faith by exploiting his spiritual disciplines, especially prayer. Spiritual disciplines, such as reading the Bible and prayer, play a pivotal role in a believer’s life. Colossians 3:16 encourages us to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, highlighting the importance of these disciplines in maintaining our faith.

Daniel’s Character
Daniel’s character played a significant role in his positive relationship with King Darius. His integrity, kindness, and excellence made him well-liked even among his captors. This exemplifies the importance of upholding true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent values, as mentioned in Philippians 4:8, within a foreign culture. Daniel’s ability to do so while standing firm in his faith serves as a remarkable example.

In Galatians 5:22–23, we find the fruit of the Spirit, which includes qualities like love, kindness, and self-control. These qualities can guide us in maintaining our integrity and acting with grace, even when facing hostility.

The story of Daniel offers valuable lessons for navigating hostility with integrity. Daniel’s life of obedience, civil disobedience, spiritual disciplines, and exceptional character serve as an inspiration for believers in the face of contemporary challenges. As the world continues to rage against God’s people, we must remember to shine as lights in a crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:14–15) and to remain blessed when insulted for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:12–14).

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He is Greater: Esther

Summary of my sermon, based on Esther 4:12-17. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on October 1, 2023.

In Christian theology, there is a profound concept known as “Providence.” Though this term is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, its essence can be felt throughout Scripture. Providence encompasses God’s preservation, care, and governance over all creation to fulfill His divine purposes. It is vital to comprehend how God shapes and guides history. In this blog post, we will explore the relevance of Providence in the story of Esther.

To fully grasp the significance of Esther’s narrative, let’s first set the historical stage. After the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into the northern kingdom, Israel, and the southern kingdom, Judah. Israel and its northern neighbor, Syria, had complex relations, sometimes allies and other times antagonists. However, both kingdoms faced tumultuous times. Assyria conquered Syria and later Israel in 722 BC, while Judah managed to resist the Babylonians for twelve years before succumbing to their rule in 618 BC. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian Exile, as a significant portion of the Jewish population was forcibly deported to Babylon. The Babylonian Empire eventually fell to the Persian Empire, led by King Cyrus in 539 BC, allowing some Israelites to return. This blog post focuses on the period from 600 to 400 BC when Israel was under Babylonian and Persian rule, a time of great hardship.

Our story unfolds in the 430s BC, with King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) reigning in Persia. At this point, Jewish exiles were scattered throughout the Persian Kingdom, and among them was Esther and her uncle Mordecai, residing in the capital city of Susa.

King Ahasuerus, in his grand feast, summons his wife, Queen Vashti, to display her beauty, but she refuses. Consequently, Vashti is deposed as queen. In Chapter 2, the king initiates a beauty contest to choose a new queen. Esther, a Jewish orphan living in Susa and Mordecai’s cousin, emerges as the new queen, concealing her Jewish identity. Mordecai, stationed at the king’s gate, uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate the king. He informs Esther, who relays the information to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.

Chapter 3 introduces Haman, a powerful official in the Persian court, who demands that all bow down to him. Mordecai refuses, infuriating Haman. Inexplicably, Haman decides to take his anger out on all Jews, plotting their extermination throughout the Persian Empire by bribing King Ahasuerus with a substantial sum of silver. The king grants Haman the authority to issue a decree that will lead to the destruction of all Jews.

In the face of this dire situation, Mordecai’s response is one of deep mourning, as he dons sackcloth and ashes, a powerful public symbol of his grief. Esther hears of this and sends messengers to Mordecai to understand the situation. She is initially hesitant to act as Mordecai requests, as approaching the king without a summons is punishable by death.

Esther’s initial reluctance can be understood within the context of her youth and sheltered life. She is likely a teenager, inexperienced, and somewhat sheltered. Her response is indicative of her immaturity, as she sends Mordecai clothes when he is in mourning.

For Such a Time As This
Mordecai’s response to Esther’s fear is profound, as found in Esther 4:14: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This response highlights the concept of Providence – that Esther has a unique role to play in God’s sovereign plan.

The story of Esther ultimately ends on a positive note, with Esther stepping up to thwart Haman’s plot and save the Jewish people. The book of Esther, while not mentioning God explicitly, beautifully illustrates God’s providential work behind the scenes.

Strength in Weakness: The world often celebrates strength and power, but Christianity values weakness. In our weakness, God’s power can shine. As 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 states, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Trusting in God’s Providence: We should trust that God is at work in our lives, shaping events for His divine purpose. Philippians 2:13-16 encourages us to hold fast to the word of life.

The Cross of Christ: Romans 8:31-32 reminds us that God’s providence and care are demonstrated through the sacrifice of Christ for our salvation.

In conclusion, the story of Esther is a testament to the profound concept of Providence, where God’s sovereignty is at work even when He seems absent. Esther’s courage in the face of danger, despite her initial fear, demonstrates how God can use individuals in unexpected ways to fulfill His divine purpose.