Learning from Daniel‒ (1) Live as a sojournerLearning from Daniel‒ (1) Live as a sojourner

Laindon Bible Class

5th February 2014

Daniel 2

New series on DanielNew series on Daniel

1. Live as a sojourner

2. Committing our ways to God

3. Observing the signs of the times

Daniel 3

Our approachOur approach

• What is a sojourner?

• How does Daniel show himself to be a

sojourner?

• Why is it important to be one?

• How should we go about it ourselves?

Daniel 4

What is a sojourner? (1)What is a sojourner? (1)

• Hebrew OT:1481 rWgl* guwr: to sojourn, to abide, to dwell in, to dwell with, to remain, to inhabit, to be a stranger, to be continuing, surely

• Greek NT: 3941 pa/roiko$ paroikos: from NT:3844 and NT:3624; having a home near, i.e. (as noun) a by-dweller (alien resident): KJV - foreigner, sojourn, stranger.

Daniel 5

What is a sojourner? (2)What is a sojourner? (2)

• First mentioned in connection with Abraham (Genesis 12 :9-10)

• Also used of Lot by the inhabitants of Sodom (Genesis 19:9-10)

• Joseph’s brethren used the word concerning their entry into Egypt (Genesis 47:3-4)

• Used in the law concerning strangers

Daniel 6

What is a sojourner? (3)What is a sojourner? (3)

• Confirmed by the Psalmist and Stephen (Psalm 105:23-24 & Acts 7:6-7)

• Held out as an example of faith by Paul (Hebrews 11:8-10)

• The opposite of being in God’s rest (Hebrews 4:8-11)

• We are on a journey to God’s rest (Ephesians 5:1-2, 6-8)

Daniel 7

What is a sojourner? (4)What is a sojourner? (4)

GOD’S

REST

Daniel 8

What is a sojourner? (5)What is a sojourner? (5)

“Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers [sojourners].” Exodus 6:1-4

Daniel 9

Daniel as a sojourner (1)Daniel as a sojourner (1)

• Daniel (“God is my judge”) was born around 620BC in Judah during the reign of Josiah

• Was carried away captive to Babylon as a young man around 606/605BC during the reign of Jehoiakim

• He had a prophetic ministry of about 70 years• He lived until the reign of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1),

at least into his 90’s

Daniel 10

Daniel as a sojourner (2)Daniel as a sojourner (2)

• Daniel and his three friends are brought into Babylon (Daniel 1:1-7)

• He separates himself from the polluted food of the King’s table (:8-20)

• He placed the matter of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream before God (2:12-23)

• Nebuchadnezzar knew Daniel was different (4:8-9)

Daniel 11

Daniel as a sojourner (3)Daniel as a sojourner (3)

• What Daniel was prepared to do:– stand out as different from the crowd– give God the glory in all that he did– risk persecution for his faith– if necessary put his life on the line

• Why? Because he focussed on God’s coming Kingdom, not the here and now!

The sojourner looks beyondThe sojourner looks beyond

Daniel 12

God’s Future Kingdom

Here and now

“For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” Philemon 3:20

Daniel 13

Why is it important?Why is it important?

• The principle of sojourning applies to us too (Hebrews 13:12-14)

• We sojourn until the new city comes (Revelation 21:1-4)

• A new temple built by God through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1-4)

• Looking for that day when we are no longer sojourners (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Daniel 14

Our destinationOur destination

“In my Father's house are many mansions [dwelling places]: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” John 14:2-7

Daniel 15

How should we go about it?How should we go about it?

• Do not serve ourselves but God (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:2)

• Do not pursue personal possessions (Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19)

• Do everything to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17)

• Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:8-21)

Daniel 16

The reward of the sojournerThe reward of the sojourner

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise”

Hebrews 6:10-15