Lessons from Daniel: Living in Babylon

 

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If you are not familiar with Daniel, read the first three chapters of the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

In the first three books of Daniel, we learn (from an ancient historical account) how to function as Christ followers in a modern world--a world that does not see or acknowledge Jesus Christ as lord and king. We also see how Daniel's commitment to authentic discipleship built a foundation that kept him stable and secure when facing unjust persecution, mistreatment, and possible execution.

Lesson 1: If you live in Babylon (the place of godlessness, the place that worships and elevates power, privilege, and the love of money), acknowledge the truth of where you are. If you can leave, go. If you must stay, brace yourself. What does bracing yourself look like? Live where you must, but do not become what you see or what surrounds you. How did Daniel accomplish this? 

Daniel did not forget where he was. He did not call good "evil". He did not call evil "good." He did not consume the food and drink (the substance and entertainment) of Babylon. He did not adopt the thinking, perspective, or cultural norms of Babylon. Daniel did not lose his spiritual identity while living in a foreign land. Daniel remembered Babylon was not his true home. Daniel remembered he had no true or permanent connection to Babylon.

Lesson 2: Crisis and conflict are inescapable in Babylon. When the king of Babylon threatened to kill all of  his seers and diviners, those seers and diviners dragged Daniel into the crisis, attempting to use him as a diversion to save their lives. In response, Daniel turned to the "God of Heaven" for insight and direction. While living in Babylon, Daniel did not believe God had abandoned him. Daniel understood the gods of another world could not save him.

Lesson 3: In Babylon's centers of power, envy and hatred are real, are dangerous, and are where you may least expect. If you want to be kept and preserved by God, you must do things God's way. When Daniel was unjustly condemned to execution, he always had the choice of denying God and making a temporary escape. The king told Daniel to bow down to a golden image, or face death in the pit of lions. Because of his experience and personal history with God, Daniel chose to face execution rather than step away from God. Daniel trusted God's character more than he feared the power of the haters. Read chapter three of Daniel, sometimes referred to as the story of "Daniel in the Lion's Den." This den is more accurately described as a pit. Ancient Near Eastern rulers kept lions because hunting lions was considered a "sport of kings." Consider the modern high-priced "trophy hunting" excursions that were popular not very long ago.

Yes, it was a miracle Daniel wasn't eaten by the (very likely) somewhat hungry lions. The even greater miracle was Daniel's integrity: maintained through displacement, loss of his homeland and  loss of his true name. Preserved by God through crisis, conflict, through the envy of others, through a failed execution, and much more, Daniel's life leaves us some very real and practical lessons.

Which lessons from Daniel's life will you learn and apply?

What is your personal history with God?