Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 45

Faithful Living in a Faithless World

The Book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian captivity. Daniel was a teenager when he was deported out of his homeland in Jerusalem in 605 B.C. He was among the first group of exiles. The invading Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem and finally destroyed it and the Temple in 586 B.C.

That began 70 years of God’s chastening hand upon His wayward people who had sinned against Him by going a whoring after idols for centuries. The Northern Kingdom had already been destroyed in 722 B.C. The worship of God has become a mockery to Him. They had only “a form of godliness” and God is not mocked. He saw through their hypocrisy. Because God loved His people, He chastised them.

Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But God did give Israel a second chance after 70 years of captivity. During the time of the Persian Empire, God moved the heart of Cyrus for the remnant to return home. Temple worship was restored under Nehemiah, Ezra, Haggai and Zechariah.

The time leading to the second destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by the invading Roman army was much more severe. Israel did not recover but came together again as a nation only on 14 May 1948. There is no longer Temple worship in Israel today. Temple worship in Israel will only be fully restored in the Millennium at the second coming of Christ.

God instituted worship when Israel came out of Egypt into the wilderness with the construction of the Tabernacle described in the Book of Exodus.

The people covenanted with God that they would walk with Him. God led them to possess the Promised Land through Joshua, Moses’ successor, who gave them the pertinent formula for spiritual prosperity.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 When Israel followed after God wholeheartedly, they became a strong nation. But when they were seduced to go after other gods, Israel declined.

It was God who gave Judah into the hand of the invading Babylonian under the leadership of king Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was deported to Babylon in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah.

Daniel lived in a time when the Word of God was not honoured in the land. Jehoiakim burned the Scriptures (Jeremiah 36:23). But Daniel was different. Though young, he was a man of faith. He showed us how godly youths can make a difference in an ungodly world. He lived righteously all his life. He knew and honoured the living and true God of Israel.

The name Daniel means, “God is my judge” or “judge of God.” Daniel lived up to the name by which he was called. He lived a godly, upright life in a crooked world. God approved him by calling him a man greatly beloved (Daniel 10:19). Daniel fully exemplified one who lived in the world but was not of the world.

The book of Daniel is most relevant for our generation. Daniel showed us how we can maintain a consistent Christian testimony in a hostile world, how Christians should live as salt and light in a sin-ridden world.

The world is always threatening to totally erase God’s people from the face of the earth. But God always has His remnant that courageously stands with Him. God manifest His life through His faithful remnant that is humble and would love Him above all.

Daniel exemplified such a man. He was part of a believing minority in a largely pagan culture. As the world sought to tear down our faith, our Christian values and our identity, we must be like a Daniel. He held on to his precious identity as a child of God to reflect the glory and testimony of the living and true God.

As subjects of Babylon, the king sought to systematically brain-washed them to serve the Babylonian Empire. Daniel and his friends were forcibly indoctrinated so that they would become officers of their new master. Daniel made up his mind in advance he would be loyal to his God. He made a commitment in his heart to spiritual purity. It was a step of separation unto holiness.

May God help His people to be committed to faithful living in a faithless world. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee