God’s Sovereignty | Daniel 1:1-2
God Does What Needs to Be Done So That His Will Be Done
God Is Sovereign - God Is Faithful- Hope Is Certain
“The Book of Daniel shows us how to Stand Firm without Standing Still- and how to Live Faithfully in a Land that is Not Our Home”
Daniel 1:1-2
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
The Author
The Structure
The Purpose
Born Into A Royal Family- He was Physically Attractive and Mentally Sharp (Dan.1:3-4)
Known for His Righteousness (Ezek. 14:14) and His Wisdom (Ezek. 28.3)
Lived at Least Until the 3rd of Cyrus- 536 B.C. (Dan. 10:1)
Matthew 24:15
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Daniel Was God’s Messenger - With God’s Message to Reveal God’s Truth
The Author
The Structure
The Purpose
The Torah (Law or Instruction)
The Nevi’im (Prophets)
The Ketuvim (Writings)
Written in The 6th Century B.C.
Chapters 1-6 Record Historical Incidents in Daniel’s Life
Chapters 7-12 Record Prophetic Visions Given to Daniel
Written in 2 Languages- Hebrew (Dan. 1:1-2:4 and Dan. 8-12) and Aramaic (Dan. 2:5-7:28)
God’s Plan for The Gentile Nations (Dan. 2:4-7:28)
The Effects of The Gentiles on The Nation of Israel (Dan. 1:1-2 and Chapters 8-12)
The Author
The Structure
The Purpose
God Is Sovereign - God Is Faithful- Hope Is Certain
God Does What Needs to Be Done So That His Will Be Done
Daniel 1:1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
Daniel 1:2a
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.
God Does What Needs to Be Done So That His Will Be Done
Daniel 1:2a
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.
2 Chronicles 36:5
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.
Jeremiah 27:6
Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
Daniel 1:2a
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.
Daniel 1:2b
And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Zechariah 5:11
He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”
Daniel 1:2b
And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Daniel 1:2
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Acts 2:22-23
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[a] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God Does What Needs to Be Done So That His Will Be Done because
God Is Sovereign - God Is Faithful- Hope Is Certain
Prayer Guide
Adoration – Approach God with a heart full of praise for the glories of His person and work:
I lift up my heart to God in the heavens. You alone are the great I AM, the one true God. Lord, You work all things according to the counsel of Your will and accomplish Your purposes. (Pause to adore God)
Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:
Lamentations 3:41
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3
remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Isaiah 46:9–10
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Ephesians 1:11
Confession – Confess the many ways you have rebelled against Him and violated His laws:
Father, I have sinned against You. I am guilty of opposing You and doing evil in Your sight. (Pause to confess to God any specific sins that come to mind)
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
Luke 15:18
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.
2 Chronicles 36:5
Thanksgiving – Give thanks to God for the mercies He has shown you:
Lord, I rejoice that Jesus was manifested so that He might destroy the works of the devil. Let all that is within me bless Your name and not forget all Your benefits. You have poured out blessings on me according to Your mercies and the abundance of Your steadfast love. (Pause to give thanks to God for specific blessings)
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
Psalm 103:1–2
I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
Isaiah 63:7
Supplication – Pray earnestly for the many things you constantly need from God’s gracious hand (refer to sermon notes for specific supplications):
Lord, You have given us many exceedingly great and precious promises. Enable me to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith. Father, will You help me to trust You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways submit to You.
by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:4
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6–7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5–6
(Reflection):
Reflect on your current circumstances. What does God want you to learn from this season? What does He want you to do in this season?
Remember that God is sovereign, faithful, and that hope is certain.
Churchwide Weekly Prayer Focus: Pastors & GBC marriages