The Daniel Model: Posturing Ourselves in Exile

1. The Daniel Model:Posturing Ourselves in Exile

2. Biblical Model (OT) of Liberty • Old Testament Model of Liberty • Liberty under the Law of God (Exodus 20) • Negative law (limited government) – Ge. 9:1-6 • Religious and Civil Liberty (two tables) • Liberty and literacy peak around 1100 BC • Hebrew letters with sounds – an alphabet! • Literacy of Israelites borrowed by other nations • The United Tribes of Israel (one, few, many) • Israel’s impact on nations (2nd Chr. 17:9-10)

3. Biblical Model (NT) of Liberty • New Testament Model of Liberty • Work of the gospel in the individual (Ro. 8) • Grace – the law of liberty – self-government • Obedience to God has no conflict with law • Restoration of liberty in family / church (Ro. 12) • Family and Church “practice” liberty • Model for transforming culture – serve and bless • Liberty protected by civil government (Ro. 13) • Civil officials are ministers of God’s justice • Civil Government protects God-given rights

4. Egyptian Empire Hittites; Phoenicians; Phrygians; Amorites; Arameans Old Kingdom – Pyramids Middle Kingdom – Hyksos (Semitic Race) New Kingdom – Decline of Egypt The Divine Right of Kings Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed Israel’s Golden Age 1012-959 BC Hammurabi’s Code The Formation of Israel Theocratic Republic The Exodus and the Law Ice Age closes: sea levels rise Israel asks for a King Prime Minister of Egypt The Third Thousand Years – LibertyIsrael’s Theocratic Republic (pride) (power) Abraham Joseph Moses Gideon Samuel Saul David 1897 BC 1775 BC 1491 1300 1060 1050 1010 BC Israel’s form of government from 1450-1050 became the historic model for Republics that protected liberty under the rule of law

5. Israel’s Captivity – 1050 to 950 (Genesis 3:6; 1st John 2:15-17) • Steps of Decline – God’s people, then culture • Pride – mixing godly and ungodly (invincible) • Power – centralize and rule from the top down • compromise of moral standards (Solomon) • division of northern ten tribes; southern two tribes • Pleasure – a soft culture that revels in amusement • when pleasure rules, a nation is ready to fall • Northern (722) then Southern (586) captured

6. A Description of Babylon New Babylon rules the earth for 88 years Nabopolassar co-rules with his son till 606 BC His son married Amytis; daughter of a Mede He erected hanging gardens for his wife The city was 14 miles square The walls were 56 miles, 300 ft high, 35 wide The Euphrates River flowed through the city A Ziggurat to Marduk and 180 Ishtar altars King removed captives from their homeland, erased their history and re-trained them

7. Babylon - home of one of the seven wonders of the world

8. Assyrian Empire (power) Babylonian Empire (pride) Persian Empire (LAW of Medes & Persians) Greek Empire (pleasure) Assyrian captivity of Israel 722 BC Babylonian captivity of Judah 586 BC Daniel disciples Cyrus Alexander the Great 336-323 B C Daniel stands Israel Divided Destruction of Nineveh Nineveh repents Revival & Reform Restoration and Promise The Fourth Thousand Years – CaptivityThe Historic Context of Daniel (pleasure) Solomon Jonah Nahum Josiah Jeremiah Daniel Malachi 950 BC 760 625 609 606 609-538 538-444 BC…………..

9. Daniel Model (chapter 1) • Daniel (age 13-16) • Daniel and his friends are captured, given pagan names and three years of training • Captivity is the judgment of God for our good! • Understand that God moves through remnants • Determine not to be defiled (avoid bitterness) • Accept testing at the highest possible standard • Truly love and bless your captors, willing to lose your own life to save theirs • The promise of serving a long time (71 years)

10. Daniel Model (chapters 2-4) • Daniel (age 17-58) • Practice intercessory prayer – for survival • Seek wisdom and discernment, not power • Let others promote you – don’t push • Utilize the multitude of counselors • Righteous separation is insulation (vs. self-righteous isolation) and prepares you “to give an answer for your faith” • The furnace of affliction only burns what binds you and brings you into the Presence of the King • Build relationships so that you can say the hard things when necessary to be prophetic

11. The Daniel Model (chapters 5-6) • Daniel (ages 59-84…) • Daniel serves four Monarchs for 25 years! • Embrace God’s timing for concerted action • Let others call you forth – don’t push your way in • Understand the leaven principle - incrementalism • Introduce self-government and accountability • Endure persecution for (ekklesia) Prayer • Trust God though suffering under corrupt laws • Let your legacy speak for itself (Persian rule) • The Daniel Model prepares for the liberty model!

12. The Babylonian Empire Nabopolassar / NEBUCHADNEZZAREvil-MeroduchNeriglisserLaborosoardelNabonediusBelshazzar Daniel interprets the Handwriting on the wall Daniel taken captive at 13 609 BC Daniel interprets the king’s dream Decree of Cyrus for Jews to return Josiah’s revival & reforms Daniel interprets dream of the King’s judgement for pride Jeremiah warns of 70 year captivity Daniel in the lion’s den Daniel tutors Cyrus from Isaiah Daniel’s friends refuse to bow Judah taken captive The Babylonian EmpireDaniel’s humility in an “An Empire of Pride” Josiah Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel’s visions 636-609 609 606 595 586 570-563 539 538 BC Before he dies, Daniel establishes the “School of the Magi” where subsequent generations study God’s promise of a coming Messiah

13. The Legacy of Daniel: School of the Magi “there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.” – Matthew 2:1