People who say “Yes” to God: Daniel
Rev Rachel Treweek, Archdeacon of Northolt
Daniel 5 v.13-end
Mark 6v.1-13
(A prophet is never welcome in his own home v.4!) I’m not sure what that says for Danny! He’s obviously been here at home among you for a while – both as a visitor when he began coming here on holidays and then more recently since he’s come to live here. And yet in another way this is far from home. And by being here and a long way from his home of origin in the Seychelles, Danny is certainly not a prophet in his own home – he’s a very long way from home. And in saying that, Danny, I hope that your prophetic voice is very welcome here!
And for the next ten minutes or so I’d like to explore a little more of what it might means for us as followers of Christ to be prophetic for those around us.
I know you’ve been doing a series here on saying ‘yes’ to God. That’s a very apt theme today as we celebrate Danny saying ‘yes’ to God. And we deliberately chose an OT reading from the book of Daniel so that we could look at Danny’s namesake and see what we might learn –
And so this morning, I want to explore what we can learn about being prophetic people for God, from the prophetic character Daniel,.
Daniel said ‘yes’ to God. And if you know the story, you’ll know that Daniel was one of the Israelites taken into exile in Babylon. About 600 years before Christ was born, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, eventually besieged Jerusalem and many of the Israelite people were taken into exile. Daniel was just one of those. But along with others, Daniel was singled out for special education and favour. We’re told in chapter one, that such men had a good physical appearance and were also seen as mentally capable – wise, and able. And they were to be taught and educated in preparation for being in the Royal court. This was prob about re-training Israel’s potential leaders in the ways of Babylon. The intention was prob to weaken Israel’s potential leaders and shape their minds in the ways of Babylon so that Israel would never grow to be strong and powerful again. Daniel and his fellow Israelite trainees were even given new names – pagan names - and so Daniel is renamed Belteshazzar after the name of a false god. But Daniel has said ‘yes’ to the one true God and he refuses to adopt the ways of the Babylonians wherever it would mean compromising his faithfulness to God. Daniel’s faithfulness to God remains steadfast.
God gives Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams and during his time at King Nebuchadnezzar’s court he is called upon to interpret some disturbing dreams of the king. And we join the story today in the period after King N has died and been succeed by his son, King Belshazzar. The King has just held a huge feast – an enormous party. And during the party, and under the influence of lots of alcohol, the king requested that the gold and silver vessels once in the Temple of Jerusalem, should be brought out and they use them to drink yet more. And as they do they praise the gods of silver and gold and bronze and iron and wood – the gods of substances. And immediately something very strange and terrifying happens: a hand appears and writes on the wall – divine graffiti! Except no one could understand it. The king is naturally terrified and summons all the wise men of Babylon, and he promises that whoever can read this and interpret it will be elevated to grand status – he’ll be dressed in purple with a gold chain and be ranked 3rd in the kingdom.
Well the Queen hears this and knows about Daniel – how he interpreted dreams and solved problems during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. So Daniel is summoned to King Belshazzar and given the same deal… if you can read the writing on the wall and interpret its meaning then you will be dressed in purple with a gold chain round your neck and be ranked 3rd in the kingdom.
And Daniel basically says ‘hang’ your rewards, that’s not the reason I’ll tell you what the writing means. And Daniel tells Belshazzar about his father in no uncertain terms: (v.18-21) and then Daniel dares to speak some home truths to King Belshazzar: v. 22-23.
And THEN he interprets the writing on the wall: v. 24-28
Daniel is prophetic, and in being so, he spoke some hard truths. He didn’t deceive the King or try to put spin on it e.g. (You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting .. but that’s probably because others didn’t advise you well, And of course, you had a very difficult childhood under your father, and in fact Your kingdom’s going to be given to the Medes and Persians but that might be no bad thing: you’ve probably done everyone a favour …really…”)
Daniel tells it as it is – no more, no less.
I suspect Daniel greatly disliked King Belshazzar. He must have detested the way he lived his life, led the people, indulged himself, lived for his own pleasure and refused to acknowledge the sovereign God. And yet there’s no evidence that Daniel was adding all his own personal drum beats to the interpretation of the writing. He doesn’t say you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting – just look at the way you’ve been living it up, just look at the injustice, it serves you right, and people have suffered because of you. It’s hardly surprising your kingdom is going to be given to the Medes and Persians, I could see that coming..”
No. Daniel seemingly keeps his personal anger and hurt out of it all. He tells it as it is – no more, no less.
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Churches can be dreadful places for people to bang their own drum. Churches can be dreadful places for people to vent their own opinions, criticise others and trample over everyone else’s views. I’m sure that never happens here!
Equally, churches can be places where people simply say ‘yes’ and never challenge or question I’m sure that never happens here!
So at one end of the spectrum there are those Christians too fond of banging their own personal drums, And at the other end of the spectrum are the Christians who simply want an easy life and so they’ll go along with the crowd.
Daniel was neither of those things.
As pple who want to say ‘yes’ to God, how do we learn to live prophetic lives with those around us? How do we learn what to say ‘yes’ to, and what to say ‘no’ to? When to challenge and when to conform?
And this isn’t just about our church life. How about the places where we spend our week Monday to Saturday? How do we live prophetic lives knowing when to be ‘other’ and when to conform?
Well I believe it has to begin in a place of listening. Listening to God and listening to ourselves. Daniel listened to God.
I was with a group of Christians the other day who couldn't agree on things. In fact they all held strongly to their own points of view and at times were quite vociferous towards people who had a different opinion from them. There had been lots of talking – lots of words. And I encouraged them to go away and replace all the time they spent in talking about the issues, in listening. Simply being still with God – not telling God things, not even trying to wrestle with everything in prayer – but simply being still – allowing the HS to speak, to reveal, to shed light on the truth. It’s not easy.
None of us has a monopoly on truth – we only ever see the situation from our own perspective, and if we want to be prophetic people in our world, then we need to be people who have the courage to listen – to others and to God.
As the general synod meets this weekend, I wander how much talking there will be and how much listening there will be – to each other, and in silence to God.
That’s the first point to underline: Daniel clearly listened to God.
Secondly, I’d like to think that Daniel knew what motivated him. Daniel’s motivation was his faithfulness to God. Daniel speaks hard words and puts his neck on the block because he wanted to go on saying ‘Yes’ to God and be faithful to God.
How about us? When we speak out in opposition, or when we don’t – when we conform and agree, -what is motivating us – here in our minds (head) and here in our hearts? Even when we believe we’re living and speaking as prophetic people for God - living God’s truth, speaking God’s truth - it’s actually very important to have the courage to look inside and ask what is truly motivating me?: When I speak out and challenge or disagree, Why? Is it really because I’m staying faithful to god or is it more about my dislike of the other person? Is it because I need to be recognised? Or because I need to be the victim? Is it because I need to be powerful? Or perhaps I’m just very ambitious.. Is my faithfulness to God truly my motivation??
OR when I agree with others, why? Is it because of my faithfulness to God or is it because I need the approval of others? Am I motivated by a need to succeed or a fear of failure? Or perhaps I’m motivated by a need to be needed?
Daniel was not motivated by the desire for recognition – He wasn’t seduced by the rewards of purple robes, gold and increased status. Ironically he got them, but it wasn’t his motivation.
And, Daniel wasn’t motivated by a need for approval – he wasn’t going to keep quiet or put a nice spin on the mysterious writing because he didn’t want to rock the boat.
Daniel was motivated by a desire to please God and be faithful to God AND to see others walk that path too.
The prophetic life of one who says ‘yes’ to God is characterised by courage to listen and courage to look within, recog mixed motives and choose to be motivated by a desire to serve God.
But as we look at Daniel, perhaps we should pause and revisit the phrase with which we began ‘A prophet is never welcome in his own home’. Daniel was the outsider and sometimes it’s easier for the person on the outside to see things in a different way and shed light on the truth:
I hope that Danny here has had the opportunity to reflect with you and the PCC on his perception of life here at St Mellitus. He may well have insights that he can bring from a place of difference.
I wonder how you welcome the viewpoints of newcomers? Who are the people on the PCC? Have you got old timers and new comers? Do you actively seek out the opinions of Christians who are ‘other’ than you? Different from you? It might help you in knowing what God is asking you to say ‘yes’ to.
One thing I’m acutely aware of, being new in Willesden, is that I only have a limited period to see things freshly. Soon I will be part of the way we do things, the way things are, but at the moment because I've just joined the Area and all the churches are new – I’m trying to learn and understand – and I’m in that place where I’m allowed to challenge and ask questions. But I need to ensure I listen - to others and to God. I also need to keep examining what motivates me. Faithfulness to God and the growth of his kingdom must be my starting point.
I don’t know where you will spend your week Monday to Saturday. But if you choose to start this week saying ‘yes’ to God, how will you be a prophetic presence for God in the places where you find yourself this week?
1. How will you ensure that you listen to God this week?
2. What will be motivating you in the way you act and speak in all the places where you find yourself this week? Will you be motivated by ambition? Fear? Perfection? A need to be needed or a need to be the victim? Or will you be motivated by a desire for God and a desire for the hallmarks of God’s kingdom in your life and the lives of others?
As we celebrate Danny’s ministry here today, as we celebrate his saying ‘yes’ to God, him being a prophetic presence among us, it’s a good opportunity for each of us to ask ourselves if we’re willing to ‘yes’ to God at the start of a new week – and to allow our lives to be a prophetic presence to those around us…even perhaps in our homes as well as beyond them.