Word of Salvation – October 2015

 

Speaking Truth To Power

Text: Daniel 2 – By Rev. Pieter Tuit

 

Eating vegies is always a good thing to do. However, as we heard last time, it is not the application that we should take home from Daniel chapter one. The so-called Daniel diet may be the best thing you can do for your physical health and well-being. However, Daniel was not written to teach us, living in the 21st Century, that we can thrive on the Daniel diet.

What made Daniel and his friends thrive was by being obedient to God’s will for their lives and well-being. They knew what Sunday school children would learn and sing about in the 20th and 21st Century. Trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

We also learned the last time that even though Daniel is a model and an example for us we should not try to be like Daniel. Instead, the book of Daniel, and the stories about God’s dealings with Daniel, are there to help us become more Christlike.

Daniel lived in a particular time in the history of revelation and redemption. This should be kept in mind. We must be careful that we do not jump too quickly from Daniel and his context to our world today.

In Daniel two we see Daniel continue what he did in Chapter one, and that is speaking truth to power. More specifically, Daniel spoke God’s truth to the political power of his age. The political power of Daniel’s time in Chapter two was king Nebuchadnezar.

King Nebuchadnezar was the one who had brought Daniel, his friends and many others into exile. Nebuchadnezar was the one who had conquered Jerusalem and had destroyed the city and also the temple, the place where God was worshiped and where sacrifices were offered. Nebuchadnezar was the most powerful man in the world at that time.

Nebuchadnezar was not a God fearing man. He headed the nation of Babylon which was an idolatrous nation, it was a godless nation. Yes, in Scripture Babylon became the symbol of a political, social, cultural, religious, economic and religious entity that totally opposed God and his ways. We see this especially come to the forefront in the Book of Revelation.

It was to this country, to this culture, to this political system that God’s people were brought. This was in punishment for their sin, disobedience and idolatry. In this sense Nebuchadnezzar was used by God to punish his people. We see this more often in Scripture, God using nations and kings that opposed him and his ways to punish his people when they were idolatrous and opposed his ways.

God had also told them through the prophet Jeremiah that they were not to be a problem in Babylon. Instead the people of God were to make a life for themselves in Babylon. They were to be a blessing to Babylon for the 70 years they would have to be in captivity. They were not to listen to the false prophets who were given them false hope. It was in this context that people like Daniel, Ezrah, Esther and Nehemiah were to speak truth to the political powers of their time.

During WW 2 many Reformed church members in the Netherlands actively opposed the Nazi regime of Hitler and his government. Some of them were your parents and grand parents. Many paid dearly for their opposition. However, there were also very conservative Reformed people who did not agree with this. They saw Hitler’s occupation of the Netherlands as a judgment of God upon ungodly Holland. For them, to be involved in the underground, would be opposing God himself and not just the Nazi government. They did not become traitors, but just waited until God would show favour again to Holland and would liberate it.

Before we delve deeper into Chapter two allow me to say a few words about what Scripture teaches about speaking God’s truth to political power. As we do so we see that this is a very interesting and multi-facetted topic. What we note right away is that Scripture does not show just one way about speaking to political power.

We have the example of Joseph in Genesis. He managed to live positively as a very high government official in the courts of power in Egypt. God blessed him and Egypt was blessed by God through Moses and Egypt blessed the people of God.

We see the opposite with Moses. Moses also spoke truth to power. However his truth hit hard. We see that Moses blessed Israel but certainly not Egypt. Through Moses we see the other part of God’s promise to Abraham come to fulfilment, ”Whoever curses you, I will curse.”

We also have the example of Elijah in the time of King Ahab and his wife Queen Jezebel. It was a time of gross idolatry and disobedience on behalf of God’s people. We hear Elijah speaking God’s truth to the political and at the same time religious power of King Ahab and it was a word of judgment. It certainly did not make him make friends with Ahab and Jezebel who tried to kill him.

I have already mentioned Daniel, Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah who spoke truth to power within the context of exile. We also have the example of the prophet Nathan who spoke God’s truth to the power of King David after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had murdered her husband Uriah. Prophets like Jeremiah and others did the same.

In the New Testament we have the example of Jesus and how he spoke God’s truth to the religious and political powers of his time. This was one reason why they killed him.We hear him tell his followers that there can be price to pay for speaking truth to power. This price can be persecution and even martyrdom. In other words they would not be treated like Daniel and his friends. In the Book of Acts we see how the apostles dealt with it and how some of them were treated.

In Romans 13 Paul teaches the church to be obedient to the governing authorities and even to be subject to them, including the ungodly Roman empire. In Revelation we hear of the emergence of a global political power that totally opposes God and his ways and silences anyone who tries to speak truth to power.

Scripture itself therefore shows that there is not just one model for speaking truth to political power. It is one thing to speak truth to power in a democratic, yet secular country like Australia. It is another thing for Christians in North Korea. How do Christians living in the newly proclaimed caliphate in Northern Syria and Iraq speak truth to power knowing that even without speaking their lives are in danger?

The basic challenge for all Christians at all times and in most situations is how to avoid assimilation as well as separation. Christians must avoid assimilating to such an extent so that there is no distinct Christian witness anymore. At the same time they must avoid separation so that they can be salt and light. But each context makes this a different challenge. The challenge of avoiding assimilation as well as separation is one thing for us here one the NW Coast. It is a different challenge for Christian students at our secular Australian universities. It is a different challenge for Christian in Iraq and Syria than for Christians living in North America and Australia.

With this in mind let’s get finally back to Daniel. He, within the context of his time knew the balance between assimilation and separation. Because of that he could be a blessing to the nations he served as well as to God’s people.

In Daniel two we hear Daniel speak truth to power in the person of Nebuchadnezzar who had a dream. To make a long story short only Daniel, because of divine revelation, was able to interpret the dream. None of the others wise men of the Babylonian empire knew how to do it. The world of Daniel knew a lot. It was not a stupid world just like our world today is not a stupid world. At the same time the world of Daniel did not know everything, just like our world today does not know everything. Daniel could provide an answer because God and God’s word was part of his horizon. This does not make Christians smarter than the intellectuals of the world. However, when properly used Christians can provide that heavenly wisdom that the world so much needs but so often rejects to tis on detriment.

Daniel’s song of praise in verse 20 shows Daniel’s response to God revealing to him the dream and its meaning. It is actually a beautiful song about the sovereignty and wisdom of God. Daniel acknowledges that wisdom and power belong to God. He confesses that this God of Israel rules over all. This includes Babylon and also Nebuchadnezzar. He gives thanks to God for revealing to him the dream and its meaning.

Daniel’s song stands in sharp contrast to what Nebuchadnezzar thought about himself and the source of his power. Nebuchadnezzar saw himself basically as a god and the source of all wisdom and power. Had Daniel sang this psalm of praise to Nebuchadnezzar he would have been very happy. Congregation, I believe Daniel’s song of praise show how important it is for Christians today to have the right understanding of the relationship between earthly power and authority and God’s power and authority. In a secular democracy people may believe that power comes from the people and is of and for the people. Christians, as they are grateful for living in a democracy yet do so acknowledging that power and authority comes from God and is accountable to God. God will hold every democratically and also undemocratically elected government to account. God will hold every one who casts a political vote to account.

Daniel makes it clear to the king that he, Daniel is not the source of the meaning of the dream. In a clear and beautiful way the young man Daniel gives the honour and glory to God. He says to the king that there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries and he proceeds to tell the king what his dream was and it’s meaning.

He informs Nebuchadnezzar about that awesome statue. This statue had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of a mixture of clay and iron. This stupendous statue was completely and totally destroyed by a rock not cut out by human hands. This rock became a mountain that filled the earth.

Daniel explained to the king that the authority he had was not his own but was from God. He, Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. After him other kings and kingdoms would come.

These kingdoms would not be as great and powerful as Babylon. Actually they were dangerous things to say to Nebuchadnezzar. The king was gently reminded that there was a power over him and much greater than him. The king was also reminded that even though his kingdom was great and glorious it would be replaced by other ones.

However more importantly Daniel told the king that in the midst of the coming and going of these earthly kingdoms God would set up his own kingdom. This kingdom would defeat all the other kingdoms. This kingdom would never end. This kingdom would fill the whole earth.

Interestingly, even though Nebuchadnezzar had just been informed about the limitations to his great power, he responded very positively to Daniel and even gave glory to God. He rewarded Daniel and made him something like a prime minister. The king also appointed Daniel’s friends to positions of high authority.

The meaning of the dream was clear for Nebuchadnezzar. But, what is the message and the meaning of the dream for us. We living in the 21st century. We who have seen the empires of ancient times, like the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roam empires come and go. We who have seen modern empires come and go. Who remembers the empire dreams of a Napoleon? Some of us have live through the so called thousand year reign of the Nazi empire. Some of us have lived through the rise and fall of the Soviet empire. We have lived through the demise of the British empire. Today we talk about the ascendancy of China, India, the national stirrings in Russia under Putin. Aussie politicians must deal with the question of how to navigate our won international relationships between all those present powers. We wonder how the global might of the USA fits into all this. The ruler of the new caliphate established in Northern Iraq and Syria recently called on Muslims worldwide to accept his authority.

The meaning of this dream has occupied Christians throughout the centuries. Many tried to figure out what kingdoms or empires these different body parts pointed to. Some, like the Seventh Day Adventists tried to predict the future though this. Some have tried to determine when the second coming will be believing that at that time Jesus will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem.

This is not the way to go about it. The basic message to Nebuchadnezzar was that he was not all powerful and that he did not have all authority. Yes, the basic message to him was that even though he had a head of gold, his feet were of clay. The basic message to him was that there is a power at work in this word much greater than him and all the other kingdoms that are still to come. This power, this kingdom will eventually fill the whole earth and that, not for a time but for ever and ever.

This is also the basic message to us today in our own tumultuous times. Kingdoms, republics, world powers, come and go. The kingdom of God that has come to earth in Jesus Christ will not go away. This kingdom of righteousness and peace in the Holy Spirit will last forever. This kingdom is evident wherever sinners repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, become members of Christ’s church and through that, citizens of his kingdom. This kingdom grows not through the exercise of military might but through the preaching of the gospel. This kingdom grows through the words of preachers and through the words of Christians who testify about the Lord Jesus Christ. The reality of the presence of this kingdom is evident through deeds of love and mercy.

This kingdom started with 12 disciples. Now one third of the world’s population claims to have some kind of connection with the church that is at the centre of this kingdom. There are time when the military, political and cultural powers of this world see stronger than the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are times when the position of Christians amidst all the powers of this world is precarious and speaking to the powers of this world is very difficult, sometimes nearly impossible and can even come at a great price. Here again the Book of Revelation gives us a sober, yet also hopeful reminder of this.

At the same time the promise of Scripture will be fulfilled. At the second coming the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ and he will reign forever. At the second coming all those who have wielded power and influence will have to give an account to him who is king of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The question for us is to what extent do our lives mirror the image of the dream of Nebuchdnezzar. Outwardly it looks like gold or silver. However, it stands on feet of clay and cannot stand before the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. If that is the case the gospel this evening exhorts us again to base our life on that rock solid foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, his atoning work and his glorious resurrection. Remember the parable and the children’s song the wise man build his house upon the rich and the foo5lish man build his house on the sand.