Quiet Time Coaching Episode 474 | New Thing Series — Part 29 | “Daniel’s Exile” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I’m Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s exile.

“In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power,” (Daniel 1:1-2 NRSV)

“Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3-4 NRSV)

“The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (Daniel 1:7 NRSV)

Daniel is referred to by his contemporary Ezekiel (Ezek 14:12-14) who compares him to Noah & Job. Quite an accolade!

“if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 14:13-14 NIV11)

Daniel’s exile

  • Daniel is a thousand miles from home.
  • He has been removed from his family, his society, his culture and his religion.
  • His liberty is curtailed, he is a persecuted minority.
  • He has a new language to learn and doesn’t know his way round.
  • He has been given a name and a job he didn’t ask for
  • His convictions are tested.

For Reflection
When we follow Jesus we come home. But, we are not finally home — yet. In some ways our exile is ended. In other ways it continues but with a different context. We are no longer distant from God. We are in his kingdom and do not belong to the kingdom of the world any longer.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.” (1 Peter 1:1-2 NRSV)

parepidēmos: pilgrim, refugee, residing in a country not one’s own, a sojourner, stranger,

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.”(1 Peter 2:11-12 NRSV)

Why not take some time today to ask God to give you security even while you are in exile? Ask him to make give you a Daniel-style confidence.

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

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*(https://lisaappelo.com/lessons-from-rahab-in-lineage-of-jesus/) Lisa Appello

“Carpe Diem” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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