![]() Looking at history, you can see many times God has used even wicked nations to accomplish his purposes. ![]() They were unknowing, and unwilling, instruments in His hands. It is clear that God’s sovereign hand was behind their rise and fall. Right before the seventy-year exile was up, they were miraculously defeated and conquered in one night. Their rise was rapid, and their downfall was equally quick. But somehow, they suddenly rose to prominence and took over much of the known world. ![]() They were just a small group of people with little influence and a small kingdom. When you look at the history of Babylon, it is easy to see God’s sovereign hand. God’s answer was that He would use Babylon for this purpose and one day, they too would experience judgment. Wasn’t Judah, though still sinful, better than Babylon? The prophet Habakkuk was confused about how God, who is infinitely holy, could use an evil kingdom like Babylon to punish Judah (Habakkuk 1-2). Reflect: Why, after experiencing God’s discipline in their history so often, did they still rebel?Ģ. Though they were given a clear choice between the two paths (Deuteronomy 28), with the destination of each foretold, they still chose rebellion. He also warned them about the results of disobedience. God had promised Israel great blessings and prosperity if they were faithful. Although His judgment was severe, He still never forgot His promises to David and always preserved a remnant of the nation and a remnant who was faithful to himself. God planned to use 70 years of captivity to bring the people to their knees and turn them back to Himself. The prophets were ignored, scoffed, or even thrown into prison and cut in two. In recent years, these warnings reached a fever pitch. Repeated warnings – For decades, prophets had been warning Judah that God would punish her for her gross sins and rebellion against the Lord. Hebrews 12:1 – For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.ġ. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.Įzekiel 14:20, 28:3 – Daniel was mentioned by Ezekiel as being extraordinarily wise and righteous. Isaiah 39:6-7 –Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. What does the exile teach us about God’s character?Ģ Kings 24-25 – These chapters give the history of three Babylonian assaults against Jerusalem.What did Nebuchadnezzar do after he defeated Jerusalem? Why?.What do you know about the empire of Babylon?.The verdict: These men were wiser than all the rest of Babylon (17-21) I. The subjects: young men with no blemish (3-4) This incredible work of apocalyptic literature offers a glimpse of God’s plan to restore his people and remain faithful to them no matter the circumstances.Daniel 1 Key Principle – Stand uncompromisingly on the truth even in the face of intense pressure to give in to the world’s way. What does it look like to be faithful in the midst of exile? The book of Daniel offers a surprising and relevant answer. Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus uses this title to refer to himself, activating the prophetic hyperlinks of the Hebrew Scriptures and pointing to his identity as the long awaited Jewish Messiah. His visions offer guidance for faithfulness and hope of a future where evil hearts and rulers will one day come under the authority of the one true God.ĭaniel’s visions also introduce us to the " Son of Man," a Messiah figure who will come to restore Israel to their God and bring about a new Jerusalem. Daniel remains faithful to the God of Israel, while maintaining influence in the surrounding culture of Babylon. Learn More Daniel’s prophetic visions offer hope that God will bring all nations under his rule.ĭaniel’s visions are packed with apocalyptic imagery, offering hope to Israelites living in exile under Babylonian rule.
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