A Dangerous Journey with God

A Dangerous Journey with God

‘To Eat or Not to Eat’ – based on Daniel 1:1-17

An old Farmer and a Pastor were having a conversation one day. “Do you belong to the Christian family?” the Pastor asked. “No, they live two farms down,” replied the Farmer. “No, no friend - I mean are you lost?” “Lost?” said the Farmer, “I've lived here for over thirty years!” “OK...” said the Pastor, “I'm not sure you understand me - are you ready for the Judgment Day?” “When is it?” said the Farmer. “Well, it could be today or it could be tomorrow,” said the Minister, getting quite exasperated. “Well,” said the Farmer, “find out for sure and let me know - I'm sure my wife will want to go both days!” 

Divine Judgment...retribution...complete desolation...a nation destroyed...God's people killed and scattered...these hard words were fitting of what was left when King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 605 B.C. Daniel 1:4 tells us the horrific news, '...and the Lord gave Jehoiakim King of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar) hand with some of the articles of the house of God.' Why would God do that? Why would He allow Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan, self-absorbed King of Babylon, to rubbish and ruin His people and plunder them into exile in Babylon? Tough questions to navigate - it gets even tougher in the narrative of Daniel's story. A series of ‘tests’ will now be placed upon Daniel’s wearied shoulders. Over the next few weeks we will contemplate each of these tests.

The first test was about the King’s ‘assimilation plan’, which included Daniel’s food. It all seems harmless enough, King Nebuchadnezzar thinks he has the finest food in the world and he wants to share it with his new ‘prisoners’, including the exiled Jewish captives. The problem is that Daniel and his three friends know that the food has been dedicated to idols in a pagan worship service called a ‘dullu’ (a ritual). The statues of ‘gods’ were dressed and ornamented. Worshippers brought their food (allocated by priests) to each ‘god’ and gave it in thanks and sacrifice. Upon the completion of this ritual, the food was consumed by the worshipper in a ‘celebration’. We can see from this description why Daniel would have had a problem with the food.

At the outset Daniel had ‘...purposed in his heart not to defile himself’ (Dan. 1:8) by eating the King’s food. This decision took great courage as Nebuchadnezzar was very powerful and the chief of the Eunuchs was very fearful. So, a 10 day private test was agreed upon between the Eunuch and Daniel’s tribe. Daniel and his friends would eat vegetables and drink water for the 10 days. At the end of this time they would appear before the King with his presiding, objective eye to ‘let the chips fall’. If the result was not favorable, two consequences would rest on Daniel’s head. First, he would subject himself to eating the King’s defiled food. Second, he would face the wrath of the King with all of its consequences. This all seems quite risky for Daniel, but he approaches it with a level of confidence.  How? Why? We may be tempted to think that Daniel is handling all this pressure alone in foreign Babylon - but our text reminds us that it is God Himself presiding over all these affairs, even the details. It was God who gave Daniel’s King and nation into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (Dan. 1:2); It was God who gave them favor in the sight of the Chief Eunuch (Dan. 1:9); It was God who gave them the knowledge and wisdom they needed as they stood before the King (Dan. 1:17). Daniel knows God – God knows Daniel. Daniel knows that this journey into exile, fraught with evident danger, is not a journey he is walking alone. Daniel has experienced the power and presence of God as he shuns the King’s food, refusing to ‘cave’ to pressure and expediency. The personal power of God is now directly experienced by the ‘fattening’ of a few vegetables and a lot of prayer. Dangerous, yes…but it’s ‘with God’ and that makes the difference. The Psalmist said it this way, ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...you are with me...’ (Ps. 23:4). This same God goes with you...

Starting on June 3rd, 2012 at 10:30AM, at Winnetka Bible Church, we will start a new sermon series from the book of Daniel called, 'A Dangerous Journey with God'.  Together, we will explore this fascinating story of God's surprising work through a desolate time. The subtitle of our series is 'Experiencing Daniel's God'. It is my hope that as we take this 'journey into exile' with Daniel, we will learn more of the God whom Daniel loved and served. Consider joining us.  

Joining the journey,

Keith Doyle - Lead Pastor, Winnetka Bible Church