This sermon, “Trusting God in Difficult Times Part 1“, from the Book of Daniel, is based on the experience of the Jews who were exiled in Babylon in 605 BC. From their experience, we learn valuable lessons about living and serving in Babylon, but not being of Babylon.
Trusting God in difficult times is based on the fact that
God first reveals His will to His people
then He acts on the same
Trusting God in difficult times
God is in control even in Babylon
God is in control of every event in the world and in your life. That’s why Nebuchadnezzar was God’s able servant. He was used by God to judge His people, Judah (the Southern kingdom). God exiled Judah to Babylon according to His law/word.
Therefore, you have to be ready for God’s word. For God reveals His will, through His word, before He executes the same. In other words, He reveals before He implements/acts. That is, divine revelation precedes divine action.
Since God doesn’t do something before He reveals the same to us, then you have to be open to receive His word. That’s why the Bible records that God gave Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (in 587/586 BC). That is, God, judged (punished) His people as per His prior word (Deuteronomy 28:36-37 and 30:1-3).
He exiled/transplanted His people from Judah to Babylon because of their sin. And Nebuchadnezzar was God’s chosen and abled servant concerning the same.
Despite being slow to anger, God’s patience had run out. He had warned His people, but the warnings (reminders) had fallen on deaf ears (Jeremiah 25:8-11).
Babylonisation is part and parcel of living in Babylon
Therefore, for Nebuchadnezzar to rule (administrate) over the foreign lands he had conquered, he had to use some of the people captured from the same lands. He had to use an Israelite to rule over his fellow Israelites in Judah.
But before he could use them in his service, he had to select/recruit and train some of the Israelites he had captured for 3 years. That is, he had to Babylonise them or they had to be Babylonised (taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans) [communication] [study of foreign languages].
When you report to work for a new employer after recruitment, you are normally taken through orientation. The periods for these programs vary from employer to employer.
According to HR experts, the purpose of new employee orientation is to welcome new employees to the organization, communicate important policy and culture information, and introduce employees to their new place of work. It is a form of indoctrination or brainwashing. And I have had my fair share of being in such programs.
This is what Nebuchadnezzar did. He recruited the very best of the captives from Judah[ Ministry Leadership Principle: Identifying and Inviting Team Members], and trained them for 3 years to enter into his service. Thus, Daniel records that they were recruited from among the “royalty and nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace”.
Babylonise without assimilating (Be in Babylon but not of Babylon)
After that, they were to be trained so that they could get into the service of the king. In other words, they were to be oriented/assimilated into the Babylonian culture (lifestyle).
But Babylon represents anything that is in opposition to God (Genesis 10:8-10, 11:1-9) or your faith in God. It can therefore refer to many organizations or situations that are not limited to a new job, marriage (relationship), school, place, religion/church/ministry, etc. A new environment (place) or season (time).
Therefore, Babylonisation is not the issue. Despite the same targeting your mind (Romans 12:1-2), assimilating/assimilation is the real issue. Therefore, do not defile yourself in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-14).
Therefore, Babylonise and pray for the welfare of Babylon. Don’t be deceived by false prophets and diviners. Stay faithful/devoted to God because that is the essence of trusting God in difficult times. Maintain your purity.
Make resolutions based on who God is and what He has said. Resolutions based on solid ground are powerful – when you move, God moves and when you are moving, God will be moving (backing you up). And do not follow what you know is wrong (2 Chronicles 36:14-16).
And when you’re standing your ground (staying faithful to God), do it with respect and honor. God will give you favor and compassion in the eyes of the Babylonians [no need for violent protest].
