A Little History First:
The Kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms in 930BC. Israel to the North and Judah to the South. It was in the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon son. The Kingdom of Israel fell in 722BC. The Kingdom of Judah fell in 586 BC. To the Babylonians.
“By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the LORD ‘ S song In a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it To its very foundation.” O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us. How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.” Psalms 137:1-9 NASB Their inheritance was taken away from them because of their disobedience. Daniel 1:2. The Lord Gave….
1) The land was a gift to the people of Israel and a place of rest from the wilderness. Land always signifies a place of belonging, protection, prosperity, peace and overall well being.
2) The people of God suffer with the Nations He brings into Judgement. I wonder if the judgement of God upon a nation has anything to do with the apathy of the church. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke-Irish statesman
3) We have to give up to go up, let go to grow. We cannot look to our past to define and plan our future. Phil 3. In other words we have to let go in one hand to reach and obtain the next.
4) Daniel 1:8 We cannot become like the world to change it. I believe we misrepresent the scripture, I became all things to..“to those who are without law, as without law, though Paul not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 Daniel and company didn’t allow themselves to be defiled or influenced by the world they lived in.
5) Daniel 1:18. There is always a time of testing before Kingdom promotion Matthew 4. Temptation of Christ. Testing allows Father and us to identify to whom we are allegiant.
6) Disciplining ourselves in the presence of God nurtures discernment and discretion. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NASB
7) The presence of The Holy Spirit in our lives will put us before the authorities. “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 NASB
8) The power of Praying together is a weapon against the designs of the enemy. It is interesting to note that these men were praying before adversity. It did not “catch them off guard.” They were prepared. Example. Peter and Paul in Jail.
9) We worship the only True God and Him alone. Even in adversity. He stands with us in the fire. I will never leave you or forsake you.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 NASB
10) He purifies us, breaks our bonds and gives us testimony in the fire.
11) The unrighteousness will see God and be saved.
These were Ordinary people living extra Ordinary lives because of their relationship with the Father. That life is available to us today.