First part of three studies on what we can learn from the life of Daniel

1. Learning from Daniel
‒ (1) Live as a sojourner
Laindon Bible Class
5th February 2014

2. 1. Live as a sojourner
2. Committing our ways to God
3. Observing the signs of the times
Daniel
2

3. • 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
3

4. • 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
4

5. • 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
5

6. • 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
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7. G
O
D’
S
R
E
S
T
Daniel
7

8. “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
8

9. • 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
9

10. • 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
10

11. • 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!
Daniel
11

12. “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”
Philemon 3:20
Daniel
12

13. • 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
13

14. “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
14

15. • 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
15

16. “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
Daniel
16