WEBVTT

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 I only went off to summer camp once, like away, overnight.

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 It was a soccer camp.

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 I was in middle school.

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 I don't actually remember the details of it very much.

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 But I remember moving into the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, that's a mouthful, dormitories,

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 and finding myself sleeping on a bad mattress in a concrete shell of an empty dorm room for

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 that week.

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 I was there to learn soccer, and I'm sure I did learn a lot about it.

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 But one of my overwhelming memories of it was how disorienting and how unsettled I felt.

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 Because I had no idea who I was or what I was doing there in so many ways.

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 I was in a place where I had never been before.

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 And I remember I would go down and I would eat dinner at the cafeteria, and there were

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 other guys in the, you know, you'd eat with other guys and you'd sit around and like guys,

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 you just wouldn't talk and then you'd eat and then you'd be done.

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 And some of them would go off to do who knows what they would do during camp.

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 And I thought, I have no idea how to do this.

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 Or what am I supposed to do?

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 Or where do I go?

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 I was missing the familiar patterns of life, the familiar people around me, the familiar

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 activities that marked my life and my day.

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 And without these familiar identity markers, I didn't know who I was.

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 So usually I would retreat to some TV room where I couldn't really turn the lights on and

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 watch who knows what until I went to bed early and lonely.

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 The question of who we are is a large one.

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 And as we encounter the world that we live in, the question of how identity markers and

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 cultural patterns and forms shape us, how they affect how we understand ourselves is real.

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 It is not a bad thing, necessarily.

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 It is a neutral thing.

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 These identity markers can push us to either be good or can push us in good directions to

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 be more of who we truly are, or they can seek to conform us in different ways.

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 This is the beginning of the year.

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 Some of you have just moved to New Haven for school, for work.

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 You are particularly aware this morning of the disorientation that comes from change.

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 A new school, a new town, a new part of the country, new friends, new patterns, new responsibilities.

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 And with it come a whole mix of things, doesn't it?

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 On one hand, you're excited.

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 This is new.

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 There are new opportunities.

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 There are new people to meet.

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 There are new things to try.

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 There's freedom from the old patterns.

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 There are new things to try.

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 There are new things to try.

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 But probably there's also a bit of fear and bewilderment.

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 We want to grow in these opportunities, but we also want to feel like we belong and to feel

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 like we fit in.

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 And we don't quite know how to do that.

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 And we need to acknowledge that there's a darker side to these transitions as well.

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 There's a proverbial parable of the frog in the kettle.

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 If you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out.

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 It knows that that context is not good and that he will end up as soup if he stays in.

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 And so he jumps back out.

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 But if you put a frog in lukewarm water and you turn up the heat slowly, the frog will happily

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 go to the dinner table.

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 The danger of being assimilated into a culture without thinking, the danger of being shaped

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 by forces that you're not aware of, the danger of losing who you are in a desire to fit into

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 the context around you is real.

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 We love the comfort of fitting in, but we need to recognize this danger.

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 What does the Bible have to say to us about these things?

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 What is it about knowing God that can help shape and transform how we navigate our lives

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 in light of this?

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 We are beginning this fall a series on the book of Daniel.

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 Daniel is in the Old Testament.

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 You can start turning there if you want in your pew Bibles.

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 We're going to read it in a minute.

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 Page 737 in your pew Bible is where it is.

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 We're going to be looking at the first chapter today.

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 But when you look at the whole series of the whole book, the whole book is given to give

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 us an answer to that question of who are we and how are we to live in this world in light of who God is.

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 I don't want to give you the punchline yet.

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 We'll get there at the end of our sermon.

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 But that's why we're studying the book of Daniel this morning.

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 As we come here, I want to give you some history.

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 If you want to pull out your bulletin, if you look near the back, there's a chart, a historical chart.

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 It will give you a date on the column to your left.

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 On the left-hand side, there's a…

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 Am I doing that right?

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 Yes.

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 Left-hand column is the dates.

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 And then there's the kings of Judah, the prophets that you read in the Bible,

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 and then the rulership of the area that I called Mesopotamia, which is basically Israel, Syria, Palestine,

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 what is now Iraq, Lebanon, northern Saudi Arabia.

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 This is Mesopotamia.

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 And this is the world in which Daniel lived.

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 And what I want you to see is that in the history of the Bible and of God's people,

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 God had called the people to himself way back at the beginning, right?

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 And you read through Genesis, Exodus, and into the end of the Pentateuch, the first five,

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 you see God's people being freed from slavery and being brought to the brink of the promised land,

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 which was in Israel.

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 And then in Joshua and Judges and King Samuel and Kings and Chronicles,

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 you see the story of them taking the land and establishing,

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 God's people established themselves as a sociopolitical nation.

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 To worship God and to display his glory in the world.

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 And yet, what you then see is that they didn't do that very well.

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 In fact, they rebelled against God.

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 They did not trust him, nor obey him, nor honor him, nor worship him as he deserved.

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 And so, slowly, over time, the nation decayed.

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 In 722, the nation of Assyria came and invaded the northern part of Israel and conquered it.

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 And so, the great nation that God had established had then shrunk significantly.

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 And then as you look through, you see the southern kingdom hung on for another hundred plus years,

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 had some great kings like Hezekiah and Josiah that brought some needed reforms.

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 And yet, they were constantly threatened.

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 In the north, by the kingdom of Assyria.

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 In the south, by the kingdom of Egypt.

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 And in 612 BC, the Assyrians were defeated by the Babylonians.

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 A new power on the scene.

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 In 605, the Babylonians continued.

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 And they defeated the Egyptian army.

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 The Carchemish, which is actually a town north of where modern-day Israel is.

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 And so, Babylon came on the scene as the new power.

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 And during that time, as they pushed south after that victory, they came to Jerusalem.

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 And that leads us to our text this morning.

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 So, let's look together and read Daniel chapter 1.

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 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,

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 came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

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 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand with some of the vessels of the house of God.

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 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.

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 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel,

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 both of the royal family and of the nobility,

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 used without blemish of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom,

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 endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace,

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 to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

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 The king assigned them a daily portion of food that the king ate,

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 and of the wine that he drank.

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 They were to be educated for three years,

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 and at the end of that time,

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 they were to stand before the king.

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 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, of the tribe of Judah.

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 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names.

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 Daniel he called Belteshazzar.

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 Hananiah he called Shadrach.

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 Mishael he called Meshach.

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 And Azariah he called Abednego.

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 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food,

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 nor with the wine that he drank.

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 Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

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 And God gave to Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

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 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel,

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 I fear my lord the king who assigned your food and your drink,

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 for why should he see that you were in worse condition

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 than the youths who are of your own age?

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 So you would endanger my head with the king.

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 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel,

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 Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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 Test your servants for ten days.

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 Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

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 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food

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 be observed by you and deal with your servants according to what you see.

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 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.

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 At the end of the ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance

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 and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.

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 So the steward took away their food and wine and gave them,

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 and they were to,

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 the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.

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 As for these four youths,

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 God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom,

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 and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

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 At the end of the time when the king had commanded

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 that they should be brought in,

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 the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

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 And the king spoke with them,

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 and among all of them none was found like Daniel,

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 Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

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 Therefore they stood before the king,

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 and in every matter of wisdom and understanding

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 about which the king inquired of them,

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 he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters

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 that were in all his kingdom.

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 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, we thank you for this word.

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 Lord, we thank you for the story of these,

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 the lives of these, your servants.

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 Lord, as they faced new circumstances and challenging things,

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 Lord, you showed up with them.

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 God, we pray this morning as we hear this word

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 that you would challenge us, teach us, encourage us, Lord.

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 To know you and to trust in you and to follow you.

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 Lord, I pray you would use me and my words this morning.

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 I pray that your Holy Spirit would make clear to each of us

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 what you have to say.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 How do we face life when we are in exile?

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 This is the story.

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 These boys were taken away into exile.

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 Where does God meet us in those places

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 where we feel like we are in exile?

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 Let's explore the story of Daniel together.

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 There are three parts we want to look at

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 as we explore this this morning

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 and what it has for us.

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 First is, what is the crisis of exile?

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 The second one is, what is the opportunity of exile?

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 And the third is, the God with us in exile.

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 So that's what we're going to look at this morning.

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 First is the crisis of exile.

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 If you look back with me in verses 1 or 2,

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 in a very terse way, the writer says,

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 And so, the king Nebuchadnezzar of this foreign nation

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 that worshipped foreign gods

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 and had already threatened the nation of God before,

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 if you go back and you look at the story with Hezekiah,

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 they'd already been there.

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 They'd already thrown their warning signs

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 across the bow, so to speak.

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 They showed up.

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 And they besieged the city.

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 And the king was given into their hand.

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 It doesn't mean that he was necessarily

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 taken away for prisoner.

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 It's a bit tricky to figure out the history

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 of exactly what happened.

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 But clearly, he capitulated to their rule.

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 And they went into the house of God.

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 And they took special, special things

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 out of the house of God

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 and returned with them to,

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 it says Shinar, I believe, in verse 2.

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 Is that right?

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 Yes.

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 Shinar, remembering that Shinar is

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 back in the whole, in the beginning of Genesis

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 and the story of the Tower of Babel.

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 It was the place where humanity rebelled against God.

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 And so, he's reminding them that what happened was,

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 from the Israelite point of view,

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 these pagan brigands had broken into their house,

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 had overrun their city,

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 had gone into the temple of their God,

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 and had stolen stuff and taken it back

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 to this place that had no care for God,

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 and in fact, was the symbol of rebellion against Him.

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 And friends, if you were a Jew in that moment,

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 all the promises of God would suddenly seem suspect.

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 Where is God?

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 How could this happen?

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 What about the promises that He gave to Abraham

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 and Isaac and Jacob

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 that He would make this place His place

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 for His people forever where He would rule?

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 There is no analogy in our culture

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 because even if Washington, D.C. fell,

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 it is not the religious center of our country.

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 It is merely the political one.

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 There is no way for us to imagine

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 the depth of crisis that this created

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 in the hearts of a Jew.

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 Jerusalem, the city of God,

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 was violated by these pagans

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 who worshipped other gods.

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 How could this be?

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 Who are we?

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 What do we do now?

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 Are the questions that are going to be

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 the hearts of every Jew.

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 And of course, what we see here

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 is just the precursor.

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 When you see the history,

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 they came back in 597,

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 and then they came back again in 587, 586.

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 And when they finally came back,

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 they razed the city and destroyed the temple,

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.960
 took the king off into prison,

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:21.700
 removed all of the best people from the land.

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:24.319
 And Israel was no more.

00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:28.400
 What they feared,

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.059
 what they saw happening,

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.380
 actually did happen.

00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:33.799
 The worst of what they had thought would happen.

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.160
 And they were left wondering,

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.000
 where is God?

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.880
 I wonder if you're here today

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:43.079
 and you're facing a crisis like that.

00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.660
 Where is God?

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.759
 Maybe you've been uprooted from a place

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:49.500
 you thought you were going to be for a long time.

00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.640
 Maybe you've been brought here

00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:53.660
 to study, for school.

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:57.379
 But maybe your marriage has fallen apart.

00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:00.980
 And you're left with the wreckage of it.

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:03.759
 And wondering, where is God for me?

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:06.200
 Maybe your job,

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:08.500
 that looked like the dream job,

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.319
 has turned out to be a nightmare.

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.559
 Where is God in this?

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.920
 I want you to note verse 2.

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:23.660
 Eyes that have eyes to see

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.359
 need to notice these little things.

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:27.059
 When you're reading Old Testament narrative,

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.779
 you need to look for the little God sightings

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:32.160
 because it's the writer reminding you

00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.140
 that in fact he's behind the whole thing.

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.279
 Look with me in verse 2 again.

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.440
 And the Lord gave.

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.680
 This did not happen with God

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.740
 wringing his hands in heaven going,

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.139
 Oh no!

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:47.019
 How could this have happened?

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:55.259
 God actually gave Jerusalem

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:59.119
 and the king into the hands of these pagans.

00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:03.199
 God was not absent

00:19:03.199 --> 00:19:04.719
 and he was not far off.

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.839
 He was confusing, yes.

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.199
 He was bewildering, for sure.

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.799
 But he was not far off.

00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:14.699
 And as we continue to see the story,

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.059
 we'll see that this is true again and again.

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:20.739
 But this crisis of these circumstances

00:19:20.739 --> 00:19:24.839
 is then compounded by what happens next in the story.

00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:27.379
 Don't forget that the Old Testament writers,

00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:29.740
 as they wrote narrative, wrote beautiful stories.

00:19:30.260 --> 00:19:31.880
 This is just the setting part.

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:36.480
 Verses 3 through 7 is now the beginning of the action.

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:37.360
 Right?

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:39.820
 Having done this, Nebuchadnezzar went home.

00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:42.320
 He actually went home because his father had died

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:44.120
 and he was ascending to the throne

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:48.120
 in a particular, in the fullness of his power.

00:19:48.760 --> 00:19:50.780
 He had been the general as he did this

00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:52.320
 and he was going home to become the king.

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:54.200
 So he left town pretty quickly.

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:56.640
 And along the way,

00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:59.360
 he said to the chief eunuch,

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.259
 oh, by the way,

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.920
 I want you to bring some men.

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.559
 Look with me, 3 through 7.

00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:07.759
 Right?

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:10.200
 He said, bring some of the royal family,

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.420
 particularly youths.

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:12.580
 This would have been men.

00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:13.279
 Right?

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:16.220
 And they were, by his command,

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.960
 the cream of the crop.

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.519
 Look at what they were.

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.180
 They were from the right families,

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.139
 royal or nobility.

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:27.740
 They were the bold, the beautiful,

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:29.379
 the best, and the brightest.

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.379
 Right?

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.539
 They were good looking.

00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.879
 They were smart.

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.680
 They were competent.

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.420
 They were able to learn and to teach.

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:41.400
 They were able to receive the language of the Chaldeans.

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.859
 The Chaldeans was the tribe of people

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:46.799
 from which the Babylonian empire rose.

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:48.980
 So it was kind of like the tribe of Chaldeans

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.500
 became the Babylonian empire.

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:53.519
 In case you're wondering how those words interact,

00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:54.500
 that's why it's there.

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.599
 Basically, what the king is doing is saying,

00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:02.440
 we want to assimilate the best of them

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.399
 into our kingdom.

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:06.799
 We want them to be Babylonian,

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.399
 just like we are.

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.519
 We're going to take them in.

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:13.059
 And we have a program of assimilation.

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.700
 We're going to teach them.

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.720
 We're going to train them.

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:18.920
 The training in the writings of the Chaldeans

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:23.180
 would have included the Chaldean emphasis on magic

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:26.720
 and on divination and a number of their spiritual

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:31.720
 as well as political and religious worldviews.

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:35.220
 So they're getting trained completely

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:41.720
 in an alien worldview as good Jewish people.

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.440
 And not only that,

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:46.279
 but they're being taken as the best specimens

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:49.180
 and they're going to be given the...

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.900
 I was thinking about this.

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.660
 It's kind of like,

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.700
 if you remember in the beginning

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:54.299
 of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.720
 when Eustace goes in

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.480
 and do you remember who he meets?

00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:00.339
 He meets the white witch, right?

00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.660
 And what does she give him?

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.200
 Do you remember?

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.720
 Candy.

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.900
 Toffee, right?

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.480
 What was it?

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.160
 What was the word?

00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:12.480
 Yes.

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.360
 You guys remember.

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.180
 It's this...

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:16.880
 Gives them this special...

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.120
 Right?

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:19.519
 So this is what eating from the king's food

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.460
 I think was like.

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.380
 It's basically saying,

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.240
 hey, you know what?

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.799
 Not only do we bring you in

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.900
 and give you all this training,

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.380
 but man, you get some perks.

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.860
 You get the apartment.

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.079
 You get the car.

00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.460
 You get the, you know,

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.299
 club med.

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:34.019
 You get all of these perks

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:36.579
 for being assimilated

00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.839
 into the greatness

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.379
 of the Babylonian empire.

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.919
 Come and be a part of us.

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.720
 Oh, and by the way,

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:46.599
 we're even going to give you new names

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.599
 so that you fit in

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.019
 and everyone can say your name

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.859
 without stumbling over it.

00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.539
 We're going to give,

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:54.079
 take away your names.

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.700
 Each of your names that had,

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.740
 if you look at Old Testament names,

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.839
 always had,

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.220
 Jewish names almost always had

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.759
 either L or Yah

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:07.620
 or A, you see it in E-L or A-H

00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:09.140
 at the end of names often

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:11.920
 as because it's referring to God.

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:13.960
 They were people who belonged to God

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.579
 and so they had these names.

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.720
 And the Babylonians said,

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.799
 yeah, we're going to give you new names.

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:23.240
 Ones that don't tie you to your old God.

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.799
 Ones that don't,

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:27.720
 that take away yet another culture marker

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:29.380
 of who you were

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:31.640
 and who your God was

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:33.799
 and what your identity was.

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.559
 They didn't get to choose.

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:42.559
 This was not a foreign exchange program

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.539
 that they signed up for.

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.200
 They were slaves.

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.819
 They were forced to do this.

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.579
 They were forced to go

00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.900
 and they were forced to walk

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:56.299
 into this program of assimilation.

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:58.740
 And if you're reading the story,

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:01.779
 you're asking the question,

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:04.019
 how will they respond?

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:06.980
 What is going to happen to these boys?

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.720
 Are they going to be lost forever

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.079
 to the Babylonians?

00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:11.139
 Are they going to become

00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:13.940
 unrecognizable to us

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:16.099
 because they are going to become

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.619
 so Babylonian?

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:22.679
 Before we go on with the story,

00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:24.159
 I want to stop and pause

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.559
 and think about us for a minute

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:27.939
 because we need to place ourselves

00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.599
 in the broader biblical storyline

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.219
 for a minute.

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:34.259
 God created a world for us to live in

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.839
 in Genesis 1 and 2.

00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:37.439
 And in Genesis 3,

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.379
 in our rebellion,

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:38.899
 we said,

00:24:38.979 --> 00:24:39.719
 no, thank you.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:42.299
 And God sent us into exile.

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:45.619
 God sent us out into a world

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:48.019
 that no longer lived

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:50.079
 completely under his rule

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.460
 in obedience to all of his commands

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:55.240
 and reflecting the fullness of his glory

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.799
 as it had been intended.

00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.419
 With the fall,

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.980
 with the rebellion of man,

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.579
 the world then was also

00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:06.379
 in rebellion against God.

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.139
 And God sent his people out

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.960
 of the Garden of Eden,

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.579
 the place of fellowship with him

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.660
 and the place of perfection

00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:15.240
 and sent them out

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:17.059
 to live in exile.

00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.500
 Spiritual exile

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.519
 from our true spiritual home.

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.360
 And as you look through

00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.620
 the whole Old Testament,

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.240
 you see these themes

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.480
 again and again and again

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:31.079
 about how do we get home?

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.100
 How do we become God's people again?

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.600
 How do we get there

00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:36.940
 without answer?

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:39.200
 And it's only when we get

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.140
 to the New Testament

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:42.980
 where we read Paul

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.060
 writing to the Philippians

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:46.440
 reminding the believers in Christ

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:49.000
 that their citizenship is in heaven.

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:51.000
 Or Peter,

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.980
 in the passage it was read earlier,

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.700
 reminding the believers

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:56.380
 as they're facing persecution

00:25:56.380 --> 00:26:00.680
 in a fierce Roman season

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:04.259
 of oppression against the church.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:07.519
 Peter reminds them

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:09.640
 that they're God's people

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:12.039
 called by his grace and mercy

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:16.140
 living as exiles and strangers

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.379
 in this world.

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:21.940
 Knowing that through faith in Christ,

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:25.400
 now this world is not our home.

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:27.200
 The home that we long for

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.720
 is the home that is yet to come.

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.759
 When God remakes this world

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.720
 and renews it to be fully

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.559
 for his glory.

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.980
 When heaven and earth

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.640
 will actually be brought together.

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.819
 This is the big storyline

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.779
 of the Bible.

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.579
 And so we need to recognize

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.200
 that we,

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.879
 just like these young men,

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.539
 live in exile.

00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.480
 And the question is,

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.599
 how do we respond?

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:54.500
 How do we respond to a world

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:56.640
 that just like the Babylonians,

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.759
 although maybe not so explicitly

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.040
 or overtly,

00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.259
 we live in a world

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.560
 that seeks to train

00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:06.020
 and to shape us

00:27:06.020 --> 00:27:08.040
 in particular ways.

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.620
 If you were in school,

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.040
 a school has a vision

00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:13.480
 for what kind of person

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.380
 you will be

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:16.160
 because you go there.

00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.100
 If you were in a particular department

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:20.080
 or a particular discipline

00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:20.980
 in academia,

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:24.360
 there are all of these unseen forces

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.759
 and sometimes very seen forces

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.639
 that seek to shape you

00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.719
 and how you think

00:27:29.719 --> 00:27:31.439
 and who you ought to be

00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:32.919
 in this world.

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.699
 And when you go to the beach

00:27:37.699 --> 00:27:39.799
 and hang out with your neighbors,

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.119
 when you play,

00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:43.000
 stand on the sidelines

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.219
 of the soccer fields

00:27:44.219 --> 00:27:45.899
 on Saturdays,

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:48.459
 you are also

00:27:48.459 --> 00:27:50.139
 in a training ground.

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:52.179
 It's a social training ground

00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:52.959
 where your friends

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.720
 and your neighbors

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.559
 have visions

00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.299
 of life,

00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.920
 of how things ought to be

00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.279
 and how you ought to be

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.319
 in this world.

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.640
 How will you respond?

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.240
 Give you some specifics

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.200
 to think about.

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.920
 How do you respond

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.700
 when the moms

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.319
 in the playground

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.079
 are discussing

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:14.440
 what school their kids

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:16.100
 simply must go to

00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:18.400
 or cannot go to?

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:22.980
 How do you respond

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.940
 to your lab director

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.400
 who sets an expectation

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.100
 of you working

00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:26.759
 through dinner

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:29.160
 six days a week

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.920
 when you have a wife

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.519
 and family

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.140
 or a husband

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.259
 and family at home?

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.840
 What do you do

00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.440
 when you get

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.440
 that invitation

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:42.580
 as a young lady

00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.820
 to send a picture

00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:44.720
 to the boy,

00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:45.880
 an invitation

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.540
 from a boy

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.079
 to send you

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.940
 a picture of him,

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.319
 a picture you'd never

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.279
 send to your mom

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.720
 and dad?

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:54.720
 What do you do

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.359
 when your coach

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.059
 tells you

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.099
 that your child

00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:58.079
 has made the team

00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.899
 but it's a traveling team

00:28:59.899 --> 00:29:01.579
 and you'll be gone

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.519
 a lot of weekends

00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.899
 and the games

00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:04.960
 are on Sunday mornings?

00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.240
 But that won't be

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.639
 a problem,

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.019
 will it?

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.099
 What do you do

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.980
 when your coworkers

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.700
 complain about your boss,

00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:15.319
 what a stickler he is

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.600
 for safety regulations

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:17.779
 and how it slows down

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.420
 your production

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.620
 and limits your bonus?

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.200
 What do you do

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.720
 when you walk

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.720
 into a new job

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.360
 and you realize

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.299
 you're off the rack

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.740
 attire,

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.420
 which is really

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.440
 all you can afford?

00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:33.200
 Seems pretty shabby

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.259
 next to all

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.019
 of your coworkers.

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:40.080
 These are little tastes,

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.799
 my friends.

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.779
 But what I want you to see

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:45.400
 is that this crisis

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.140
 is real.

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:48.039
 Every time you walk

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.720
 out your door,

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.340
 you walk into a world

00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.039
 that is seeking

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.000
 to shape you

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.200
 through its messages,

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.860
 through its mediums,

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.259
 through all

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:58.700
 the various ways.

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.600
 And the question

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:02.880
 that it's asking is,

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.000
 who will you be?

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.080
 And friends,

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.220
 there are not rules enough

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.140
 to be able to give you

00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:08.660
 instruction

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.600
 to navigate

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.880
 all of these things.

00:30:11.340 --> 00:30:11.759
 Ultimately,

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.019
 this is a heart issue.

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.640
 Who will you be?

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:18.279
 What will your identity be?

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:22.420
 Who are you going to

00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:23.640
 make yourself

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.079
 in this world?

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.400
 Where will you

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.480
 draw the line

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.000
 and say,

00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:29.460
 I'm not going to be

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.539
 to follow

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:32.400
 what is expected of me

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:34.640
 and enjoy the acceptance

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.819
 that comes with it?

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:38.399
 Where is it that you,

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:40.359
 in your fear

00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.099
 of being overwhelmed,

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.319
 are withdrawing

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.359
 when you need

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.019
 to engage

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.200
 and love

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.599
 the place

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.500
 that you live?

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.480
 How can you

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.639
 engage in the culture

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:56.059
 without losing yourself?

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.559
 This is the crisis

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.279
 that life

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.099
 as an exile

00:30:59.099 --> 00:31:00.659
 is all about.

00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:03.300
 And this leads us

00:31:03.300 --> 00:31:04.259
 to my second point.

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.360
 The possibilities.

00:31:07.040 --> 00:31:07.980
 The possibilities

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:08.700
 of exile.

00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:09.920
 Look with me again.

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.500
 Look with me again

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.220
 at verse 8.

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.640
 Because remember,

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.440
 we've read the story

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.120
 up to this point

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.120
 and the story says,

00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:18.600
 what's going to happen

00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.380
 to these boys?

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.140
 Are we going to lose

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.759
 them forever?

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.080
 But Daniel,

00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:24.640
 Daniel resolved

00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.820
 that he would not

00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.660
 defile himself

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.580
 with the king's food

00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.319
 or with the wine

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:30.019
 that he drank.

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:30.879
 And therefore,

00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:32.279
 he asked the king's eunuch,

00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.579
 the chief of the eunuchs,

00:31:33.679 --> 00:31:34.240
 to allow him

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.480
 not to defile himself.

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.079
 And God gave Daniel

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:38.460
 favor and compassion

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.019
 in the sight

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.579
 of the chief

00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.919
 of the eunuchs.

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.839
 How did Daniel respond?

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.740
 Daniel saw the danger.

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.339
 Daniel saw

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.480
 the challenge

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.779
 of not becoming

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.859
 Babylonian

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:54.199
 while he was being

00:31:54.199 --> 00:31:55.439
 forced to live

00:31:55.439 --> 00:31:55.980
 in a world

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.819
 where he was

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.919
 surrounded by it

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.720
 every day.

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.460
 And the narrative,

00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.240
 even in these

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.680
 first two verses,

00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:05.759
 raises all sorts

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.240
 of questions

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.380
 because what it says is,

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:09.000
 so Daniel said

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.580
 that he wouldn't

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.180
 defile himself.

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.740
 Everyone goes,

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.980
 yay, that's wonderful.

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.019
 Right?

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.960
 We think he's good.

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.700
 He's standing up

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.500
 against the man.

00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:17.500
 He's saying,

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.220
 I'm going to be free

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.740
 from that.

00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:19.220
 Right?

00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:20.060
 And then,

00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:21.300
 and so we ask for a person

00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:22.080
 and then it says

00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.740
 in verse 9

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.960
 that God gave him favor.

00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.640
 All right,

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.360
 this is all going

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:26.000
 to work out.

00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:27.360
 This is wonderful.

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:30.580
 But what happened?

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.759
 He goes

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.720
 and he asks

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.500
 the chief eunuch,

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.140
 can we do this differently?

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:39.160
 Can we try

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.320
 something else?

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.460
 And the answer is,

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.720
 no,

00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.840
 I don't think so.

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.720
 The chief eunuch

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.580
 basically says,

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.900
 so you're saying

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.700
 you want me

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.880
 to put my neck

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.700
 on the line

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:52.120
 for your identity

00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:53.039
 being preserved.

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.600
 You want me

00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:55.860
 to have the risk

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:57.339
 of looking bad

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.319
 and not managing

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.979
 this program well

00:32:59.979 --> 00:33:00.539
 in the eyes

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.099
 of a king

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:03.779
 who's going to

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.699
 down the road

00:33:04.699 --> 00:33:05.639
 throw people

00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:06.619
 who he doesn't like

00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.740
 into fiery furnaces?

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.679
 I don't think so.

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:14.019
 Some people think,

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:14.479
 and I think

00:33:14.479 --> 00:33:15.559
 it's a good point,

00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:17.959
 that he does say no,

00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.919
 but he does explain himself,

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.319
 and there might be

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.139
 a hint of,

00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:23.540
 if you can solve

00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:24.340
 this problem,

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:26.380
 if you can make sure

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.320
 you don't make me

00:33:27.320 --> 00:33:28.040
 look bad,

00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.820
 go ahead and

00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.860
 give it a try.

00:33:32.320 --> 00:33:33.120
 But I'm not going

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:34.220
 to risk myself for you.

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.900
 This is all on you.

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.380
 Right?

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:38.120
 Because it's interesting,

00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:38.660
 because what does

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:39.720
 Daniel then do?

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.520
 He doesn't go back

00:33:41.520 --> 00:33:42.000
 to the,

00:33:42.100 --> 00:33:43.800
 he doesn't go back

00:33:43.800 --> 00:33:44.440
 to the eunuch

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:44.840
 and say,

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.120
 okay,

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.860
 I've got a plan,

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.420
 what do you think

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.860
 about this?

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.380
 He says,

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.580
 no,

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:49.000
 I've already tried you,

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.860
 but there's this steward

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.639
 who's responsible

00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:52.539
 for the working out.

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.779
 Here's my analogy.

00:33:53.959 --> 00:33:54.979
 This is like asking

00:33:54.979 --> 00:33:56.259
 the head of the department

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.919
 for permission

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:57.519
 for something

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.079
 and getting a,

00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:58.579
 no,

00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:59.399
 we really don't think

00:33:59.399 --> 00:34:00.139
 we could probably

00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:01.599
 flex our institutional

00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.559
 standards for that.

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.779
 Then you go to the,

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.979
 to the secretary

00:34:04.979 --> 00:34:05.819
 of the office,

00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.839
 and you know that

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.699
 she's really the one

00:34:07.699 --> 00:34:08.319
 that gets anything

00:34:08.319 --> 00:34:09.119
 done anyways,

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.579
 and you ask her,

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.199
 hey,

00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.440
 could we do this?

00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:16.900
 And that's what he did.

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.460
 Daniel said,

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.259
 how about this?

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.279
 We'll test it

00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:20.059
 for 10 days.

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.599
 Just give us vegetables.

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.320
 And let's see

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.179
 how it works out.

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.059
 And you know what?

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:28.000
 Daniel even says,

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.320
 and if it doesn't work out,

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:29.880
 hey,

00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.980
 you do what you want.

00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:33.279
 But will you at least

00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:34.159
 give it a try?

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.039
 Now,

00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.960
 a couple things

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.619
 I want to say,

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:41.559
 observations about

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.679
 how Daniel responded.

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.619
 Overall,

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.199
 the pattern is this,

00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:46.840
 he neither was assimilated

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:48.900
 fully into the Babylonian world

00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:50.660
 and became a Babylonian,

00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:52.160
 nor did he withdraw.

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.340
 And this is in our culture today.

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:56.200
 We have a strong impulse

00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:58.480
 in the conservative church

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:58.900
 to say,

00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.920
 we just want to withdraw.

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:02.240
 We just want to run away.

00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.079
 And we'll see later,

00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:04.740
 there are times

00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:05.780
 to just stand your ground

00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.380
 no matter what.

00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.760
 But here in this story,

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:09.200
 that's not the pattern.

00:35:09.640 --> 00:35:11.019
 The pattern here is

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.800
 engage.

00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.880
 I want to honor you.

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.059
 I want to be

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:16.519
 a healthy specimen

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.640
 who's going to make you

00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:18.320
 look good.

00:35:19.200 --> 00:35:20.539
 But I need to not

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.539
 defile myself.

00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:23.220
 I need to draw a line here.

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.579
 And some people

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.260
 wrestle with,

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.500
 was Daniel worried

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.700
 about Jewish

00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.880
 eating laws?

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.980
 I don't think so.

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:31.400
 Because he drank the wine

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.340
 and there's no problem

00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:32.760
 with that.

00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.720
 Was he worried

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.980
 about idolatry

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.880
 and that this food

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:36.559
 might be food

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.380
 offered to idols?

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:37.820
 Again,

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:38.619
 I don't think so.

00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.240
 His world was saturated

00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:41.220
 with idolatry.

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.340
 There's no way

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:43.660
 he could have escaped

00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.379
 that.

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.239
 It seems to me

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:48.359
 that Daniel chose this

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:50.440
 as a place to say,

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.159
 I am not going to buy

00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:53.379
 into the seduction,

00:35:53.859 --> 00:35:54.319
 the sort of,

00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:55.899
 the seductive power of,

00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.440
 you eat my rich food

00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.339
 and then you owe me.

00:35:59.899 --> 00:36:00.599
 There might be

00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:01.500
 a little bit of that

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.219
 and there might be

00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:03.339
 just a fundamental,

00:36:03.859 --> 00:36:05.079
 Daniel knew he needed

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.139
 to do something,

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:08.339
 to put a stake

00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.819
 in the ground

00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:09.179
 to say,

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:11.059
 I am a Hebrew first.

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.719
 I believe in the one

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:14.440
 true God of Israel

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:16.039
 and I am not going to,

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.360
 and I will not be

00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.900
 co-opted completely.

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.639
 And he may have

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.659
 just chosen this.

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:22.019
 It's not clear why,

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.699
 but he did.

00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:25.019
 He said,

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:25.820
 I'm not going to

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.719
 defile myself

00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.259
 in this way.

00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:27.799
 I'm not going to

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.799
 lose myself

00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:30.000
 in this way.

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:32.360
 So how do you respond?

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.320
 A couple of observations.

00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:33.820
 First,

00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:35.480
 he looked for

00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.159
 a creative,

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.079
 risky,

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:39.340
 full of faith,

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.500
 out there

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.360
 kind of way.

00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.400
 Right?

00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:42.960
 Again,

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.659
 withdrawal

00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:44.880
 or assimilation,

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:45.819
 those are easy.

00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.819
 They're black and white.

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.619
 Daniel tried something

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.380
 that had never been

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.159
 tried before.

00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.860
 And often,

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.539
 that's what it's

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.159
 going to call us

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.619
 to do.

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:54.900
 It's going to call us

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:56.139
 to ask God for wisdom

00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:58.000
 and to try to be

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.259
 creative in that way.

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.400
 He also did it

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.039
 with a desire

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:02.099
 to do good.

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:03.299
 He honored

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:04.179
 the eunuch

00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:04.599
 and said,

00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:05.480
 I'm not going to

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.400
 put you at risk.

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:08.320
 He submitted himself

00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:09.280
 to the authorities

00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.539
 without giving them

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.660
 ultimate control

00:37:11.660 --> 00:37:12.480
 over himself.

00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:14.260
 He wanted to honor them

00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.480
 and to do them good.

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:17.320
 He was living out,

00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.380
 Greg referred to this

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.160
 earlier in a prayer,

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.619
 he was living out

00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:21.579
 what Jeremiah

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.700
 in Jeremiah 29,

00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:24.220
 7 would tell

00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:25.079
 the exiles

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:25.840
 as they were

00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:26.900
 taken away fully.

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:29.420
 To seek the welfare

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:30.139
 of the city

00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:31.260
 where I have sent you

00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:32.019
 into exile

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:33.360
 and to pray to the Lord

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.660
 on its behalf.

00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:36.240
 For in its welfare,

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.260
 you will find

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.000
 your welfare.

00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:39.579
 This was the worldview

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.700
 and the mindset

00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:41.639
 that Daniel took.

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:45.039
 Not merely a defensive,

00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.740
 how do I avoid this,

00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:48.340
 but how do I actually

00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:49.960
 engage well in this

00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:51.660
 without losing myself?

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.480
 How do I love Babylon

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:55.680
 without becoming Babylonian?

00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:57.380
 This is what Daniel

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:58.420
 was trying to do.

00:37:58.420 --> 00:38:00.780
 And notice too,

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:02.639
 he had a persistence

00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:04.700
 in trying things

00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:06.400
 and his approach

00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.159
 to authority.

00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.680
 He didn't just

00:38:08.680 --> 00:38:09.920
 overrun authority

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.180
 and say,

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:11.300
 well, I believe in God

00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:12.340
 and so I don't care about you

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.519
 because you're not God.

00:38:14.220 --> 00:38:15.380
 He recognized

00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.599
 that the human authorities

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.820
 that he had to navigate,

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:20.220
 he sought to honor them.

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:22.240
 And finally,

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.680
 I want you to see

00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:24.300
 something else.

00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:25.360
 He did it together.

00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:28.240
 The focus on this section

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:29.099
 is on Daniel,

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.019
 but recognize

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.260
 that it's not Daniel.

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.960
 Every time at the end,

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.099
 the summary statements,

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.019
 it's Daniel

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:36.099
 and his friends,

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.099
 Hananiah,

00:38:37.620 --> 00:38:38.500
 Azariah,

00:38:38.620 --> 00:38:39.140
 and Mishael,

00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:40.000
 right?

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:43.380
 If you are new

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.539
 to a place,

00:38:44.700 --> 00:38:45.420
 if you are new

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.200
 to New Haven

00:38:46.200 --> 00:38:47.260
 and you are just starting

00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.140
 out in your journey,

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.079
 find others

00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:52.120
 to travel this journey with.

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.500
 Look for others.

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:55.039
 If you have come here

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.800
 and you're in a job

00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:57.159
 and you don't know anyone else

00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:58.960
 who is even thinking

00:38:58.960 --> 00:38:59.780
 about these questions,

00:38:59.940 --> 00:39:00.900
 come talk to us.

00:39:01.300 --> 00:39:02.280
 Come talk to the church.

00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.539
 Help us try to network.

00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:04.920
 We may not know someone

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.880
 in your office place,

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.840
 but we might know someone

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:07.500
 in your field.

00:39:07.739 --> 00:39:08.539
 If we don't know someone

00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.099
 in your field,

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:10.599
 we could probably find someone

00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:12.139
 who could at least understand

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.280
 the pressures you're facing

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:14.599
 and the opportunities

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:15.960
 that might be before you

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.519
 and to partner together

00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:18.320
 with others

00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:20.679
 because we so easily

00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:21.519
 lose our identity

00:39:21.519 --> 00:39:23.079
 when we try to do it alone.

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.500
 We don't know

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:26.320
 that we're a frog alone

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.000
 in the kettle.

00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:30.320
 But when we do it together,

00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:32.900
 it creates all sorts of dynamics

00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.880
 of encouragement

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.900
 and support

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.860
 and creativity

00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:37.039
 and accountability.

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.400
 That's what Daniel did.

00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.639
 And so Daniel tried it.

00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.539
 And in fact, it worked.

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.739
 So much so that

00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:48.920
 all the other guys

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:50.139
 stopped getting to eat

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:51.359
 the king's rich food

00:39:51.359 --> 00:39:53.659
 and got vegetables instead.

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.839
 Come back to that

00:40:00.839 --> 00:40:01.619
 in a few minutes.

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:04.179
 What does it look like

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.039
 to work differently

00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:06.859
 rather than being

00:40:06.859 --> 00:40:08.079
 just like everyone else?

00:40:10.219 --> 00:40:10.940
 As I said,

00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.839
 it's hard to give you

00:40:11.839 --> 00:40:12.759
 lots of rules.

00:40:13.279 --> 00:40:14.440
 Let me give you two examples

00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.739
 of people that I know.

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:17.759
 I had a friend in high school

00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:18.800
 who went off to college

00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:19.640
 at William & Mary.

00:40:20.520 --> 00:40:21.440
 It's a college

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:23.360
 where the social life

00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:24.040
 is dominated

00:40:24.040 --> 00:40:25.340
 by being a part

00:40:25.340 --> 00:40:26.780
 of a fraternity or sorority.

00:40:27.240 --> 00:40:28.300
 He, in his desire

00:40:28.300 --> 00:40:29.720
 to engage with his friends,

00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:31.220
 wanted to do that.

00:40:33.040 --> 00:40:34.540
 But if you were

00:40:34.540 --> 00:40:35.360
 a fraternity brother

00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:36.960
 or if you know much

00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.960
 about fraternity culture,

00:40:38.080 --> 00:40:38.960
 you know that often

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:40.000
 the initiation

00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.800
 of new members

00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:42.739
 into a fraternity

00:40:42.739 --> 00:40:44.699
 can often include

00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.820
 a lot of alcohol.

00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.940
 A lot of alcohol.

00:40:48.440 --> 00:40:49.219
 I know they're trying

00:40:49.219 --> 00:40:49.900
 to reform it.

00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.619
 I don't want to throw

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:51.659
 fraternities under the bus.

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:52.500
 Back then,

00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.300
 20 years ago,

00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:54.280
 I know for sure

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.380
 that there was

00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:56.860
 a lot of alcohol involved.

00:40:58.380 --> 00:41:00.059
 And he had drawn a line

00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:00.679
 like Daniel

00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:01.179
 and said,

00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:01.739
 the one thing

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:02.920
 I won't do in college

00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:04.239
 is drink

00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:06.480
 because I think

00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:07.039
 it's going to be

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:07.519
 for me

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:08.739
 a loss of my identity.

00:41:08.739 --> 00:41:11.099
 So he pledged

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:11.979
 this fraternity

00:41:11.979 --> 00:41:13.139
 but along the way

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.139
 he went to the leadership

00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:14.659
 and says,

00:41:14.819 --> 00:41:15.479
 just so you know,

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.379
 I don't drink.

00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:18.000
 But here's what

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:18.879
 I want you to do.

00:41:19.779 --> 00:41:21.019
 As much beer

00:41:21.019 --> 00:41:22.059
 as they drink,

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:23.399
 I will drink

00:41:23.399 --> 00:41:24.179
 Orange Crush.

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:26.519
 And you know what?

00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:27.299
 It made him

00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:28.299
 just as sick

00:41:28.299 --> 00:41:29.319
 as the beer did.

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.799
 They all ended up

00:41:30.799 --> 00:41:31.599
 sick outside

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:32.119
 in the bushes.

00:41:33.779 --> 00:41:35.199
 But that's what he did.

00:41:36.879 --> 00:41:38.099
 He was creative.

00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:40.239
 It was costly.

00:41:41.979 --> 00:41:43.359
 And yet he was able

00:41:43.359 --> 00:41:44.019
 to maintain

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.739
 his identity.

00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:48.179
 I also know

00:41:48.179 --> 00:41:49.979
 of a friend of mine

00:41:49.979 --> 00:41:51.019
 who when

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:53.500
 having started a job

00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.399
 and done well

00:41:54.399 --> 00:41:55.139
 initially

00:41:55.139 --> 00:41:56.639
 negotiated

00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:59.079
 that Sunday mornings

00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:00.839
 were an inviolable

00:42:00.839 --> 00:42:01.339
 commitment.

00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.699
 They just said,

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.979
 I will work

00:42:05.979 --> 00:42:06.439
 80,

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.059
 90,

00:42:07.379 --> 00:42:08.199
 100 hours

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:08.639
 for you

00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:09.039
 if that's

00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:09.719
 what it takes.

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.739
 But I need

00:42:11.739 --> 00:42:12.339
 to go to church

00:42:12.339 --> 00:42:12.939
 on Sundays.

00:42:13.859 --> 00:42:14.779
 So whenever

00:42:14.779 --> 00:42:15.799
 those hours come,

00:42:15.919 --> 00:42:16.559
 they can't come

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.379
 on Sunday mornings.

00:42:17.819 --> 00:42:18.519
 And as long

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.079
 as you're okay

00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:19.619
 with that,

00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:21.079
 I'm on,

00:42:21.339 --> 00:42:22.179
 I'm your man.

00:42:23.899 --> 00:42:24.819
 It was a line

00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.460
 in the sand.

00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:29.359
 And it was a good one

00:42:29.359 --> 00:42:29.839
 that's borne

00:42:29.839 --> 00:42:30.500
 great fruit.

00:42:30.500 --> 00:42:34.960
 sometimes

00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:38.139
 it takes a lot

00:42:38.139 --> 00:42:38.780
 of creativity

00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:39.539
 to see where

00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:40.920
 those third ways

00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:41.280
 are.

00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:42.719
 Sometimes

00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:44.139
 there aren't

00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:44.860
 third ways.

00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:45.659
 We will see

00:42:45.659 --> 00:42:46.440
 further on

00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:47.900
 these same guys,

00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:48.900
 Hananiah,

00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:49.340
 Mishael,

00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:50.119
 Azariah,

00:42:50.219 --> 00:42:50.639
 Mishael,

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.699
 they come up

00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:52.579
 to a situation

00:42:52.579 --> 00:42:53.079
 where there's

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.679
 no third way.

00:42:53.780 --> 00:42:54.219
 They just say,

00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:54.420
 no,

00:42:54.500 --> 00:42:55.059
 we can't bow

00:42:55.059 --> 00:42:55.599
 to the God.

00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:56.460
 And they get

00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.179
 thrown in the furnace.

00:42:57.420 --> 00:42:58.079
 They got to deal

00:42:58.079 --> 00:42:58.460
 with that.

00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.639
 When we get to there,

00:42:59.759 --> 00:43:00.299
 we'll get there.

00:43:00.779 --> 00:43:01.679
 A couple of chapters.

00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:03.319
 Sometimes there isn't.

00:43:03.759 --> 00:43:04.119
 But,

00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:05.960
 what I want to see

00:43:05.960 --> 00:43:06.840
 is that here

00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:07.420
 with Daniel,

00:43:07.539 --> 00:43:08.440
 there is a model

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:09.299
 of how to live

00:43:09.299 --> 00:43:09.920
 in exile

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:10.739
 and maintain

00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:11.319
 your identity

00:43:11.319 --> 00:43:12.539
 which has a strong

00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:12.940
 sense of,

00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:14.219
 you need to engage,

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.099
 you need to think

00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:16.179
 about how to be good

00:43:16.179 --> 00:43:16.900
 and a blessing

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:18.319
 in where you are

00:43:18.319 --> 00:43:19.699
 without losing yourself.

00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:23.380
 And it may not,

00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.299
 there are no rules

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:25.239
 on how to do this,

00:43:25.259 --> 00:43:26.159
 but it may mean

00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:27.319
 a change in thinking.

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:28.200
 It might mean

00:43:28.200 --> 00:43:29.420
 recognizing that

00:43:29.420 --> 00:43:30.360
 school choice

00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:31.680
 is not a matter

00:43:31.680 --> 00:43:32.559
 of right and wrong,

00:43:32.640 --> 00:43:33.059
 but a matter

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:34.039
 of stewardship

00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:36.039
 of your family,

00:43:36.740 --> 00:43:37.500
 your ministry

00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:38.500
 to your community,

00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:40.460
 and your children.

00:43:41.740 --> 00:43:43.080
 And for each person

00:43:43.080 --> 00:43:44.780
 to make wise decisions

00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:47.460
 about how to do that,

00:43:48.140 --> 00:43:49.240
 not under the pressure

00:43:49.240 --> 00:43:51.580
 of those around them.

00:43:53.500 --> 00:43:54.720
 It may mean

00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:55.940
 having to think through

00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:56.500
 what is it

00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:57.340
 that your employer

00:43:57.340 --> 00:43:58.679
 really wants

00:43:58.679 --> 00:44:00.239
 and to propose

00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:01.480
 a different way

00:44:01.480 --> 00:44:02.699
 than what they've envisioned

00:44:02.699 --> 00:44:04.199
 to get the results

00:44:04.199 --> 00:44:05.139
 that they need

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:06.460
 in a way that doesn't

00:44:06.460 --> 00:44:07.980
 destroy your family life.

00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:11.400
 It may mean

00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:13.760
 developing radically new

00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:15.260
 and probably odd

00:44:15.260 --> 00:44:16.820
 patterns of dating

00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:17.840
 in this world

00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:18.719
 to say,

00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:19.420
 I'm going to learn

00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:20.079
 how to develop

00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:21.260
 a healthy relationship

00:44:21.260 --> 00:44:22.420
 with someone else

00:44:22.420 --> 00:44:24.019
 that doesn't involve

00:44:24.019 --> 00:44:24.519
 Snapchat.

00:44:28.619 --> 00:44:29.880
 It may mean

00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:31.380
 praying for some friends

00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:33.119
 who will figure out

00:44:33.119 --> 00:44:33.639
 what good,

00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:34.360
 clean fun

00:44:34.360 --> 00:44:35.519
 and good,

00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:36.380
 crazy fun

00:44:36.380 --> 00:44:37.200
 can look like

00:44:37.200 --> 00:44:38.079
 on a Friday night

00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:39.880
 that doesn't have to be

00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:41.840
 a compromise

00:44:41.840 --> 00:44:43.139
 of your Christian identity.

00:44:43.139 --> 00:44:47.440
 So in the face

00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:49.119
 of living in exile,

00:44:49.659 --> 00:44:50.139
 the question

00:44:50.139 --> 00:44:51.259
 that you need to ask,

00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:52.659
 where have you

00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:53.500
 drawn the line

00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:54.980
 to maintain

00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:56.019
 your identity

00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:57.139
 in Christ?

00:44:58.879 --> 00:44:59.759
 Where do you

00:44:59.759 --> 00:45:00.440
 need to ask

00:45:00.440 --> 00:45:01.019
 for wisdom

00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:02.179
 and help

00:45:02.179 --> 00:45:02.779
 to develop

00:45:02.779 --> 00:45:03.480
 a creative

00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:04.179
 and new way

00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.920
 to engage

00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.739
 in your world

00:45:05.739 --> 00:45:08.779
 in the specifics

00:45:08.779 --> 00:45:10.139
 of your daily life?

00:45:10.139 --> 00:45:13.139
 to walk

00:45:13.139 --> 00:45:13.819
 through the pressures

00:45:13.819 --> 00:45:15.259
 you are facing

00:45:15.259 --> 00:45:16.940
 without giving in?

00:45:18.779 --> 00:45:19.699
 Where do you

00:45:19.699 --> 00:45:20.539
 see the danger

00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:21.859
 of wanting

00:45:21.859 --> 00:45:22.519
 to withdraw

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.379
 completely

00:45:23.379 --> 00:45:24.579
 when God

00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:25.559
 has placed you

00:45:25.559 --> 00:45:26.839
 in a place

00:45:26.839 --> 00:45:27.759
 for its good?

00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:33.879
 This is what

00:45:33.879 --> 00:45:34.719
 Peter exhorts

00:45:34.719 --> 00:45:36.219
 the church to

00:45:36.219 --> 00:45:37.179
 in 1 Peter 2.

00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:39.319
 I urge you

00:45:39.319 --> 00:45:39.960
 as aliens

00:45:39.960 --> 00:45:40.740
 and strangers

00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:44.500
 as exiles

00:45:44.500 --> 00:45:45.699
 I urge you

00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:46.460
 as exiles

00:45:46.460 --> 00:45:47.420
 to live

00:45:47.420 --> 00:45:48.960
 such good lives

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:50.119
 among the Gentiles

00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:50.760
 that though

00:45:50.760 --> 00:45:52.260
 they revile you

00:45:52.260 --> 00:45:54.500
 they will glorify

00:45:54.500 --> 00:45:55.800
 your father

00:45:55.800 --> 00:45:56.519
 in heaven

00:45:56.519 --> 00:45:57.880
 on the last day.

00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:01.079
 Recognize

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:02.079
 that the third way

00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:02.860
 is not always

00:46:02.860 --> 00:46:03.760
 going to be popular.

00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:04.679
 Daniel

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:06.139
 was not popular

00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:07.199
 as we go along

00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:07.900
 in the story.

00:46:08.240 --> 00:46:09.059
 His success

00:46:09.059 --> 00:46:09.759
 did not

00:46:09.759 --> 00:46:10.659
 endear him

00:46:10.659 --> 00:46:11.960
 to his fellow

00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:13.840
 compatriots.

00:46:17.920 --> 00:46:19.000
 But do we see

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:20.059
 that ultimately

00:46:20.059 --> 00:46:22.880
 we have a different

00:46:22.880 --> 00:46:23.480
 audience?

00:46:24.139 --> 00:46:24.920
 Because this is

00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:25.559
 the third point

00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:26.159
 that this story

00:46:26.159 --> 00:46:27.400
 wants to remind us of.

00:46:27.400 --> 00:46:28.780
 God gave them

00:46:28.780 --> 00:46:29.700
 as you look

00:46:29.700 --> 00:46:30.800
 you can see

00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.519
 there's a refrain.

00:46:31.619 --> 00:46:32.039
 Look with me

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:32.820
 in verse 2

00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:34.780
 and the Lord

00:46:34.780 --> 00:46:35.460
 gave.

00:46:35.980 --> 00:46:36.920
 And look with me

00:46:36.920 --> 00:46:37.900
 in verse 9

00:46:37.900 --> 00:46:39.900
 and God

00:46:39.900 --> 00:46:40.720
 gave.

00:46:41.059 --> 00:46:41.880
 And look with me

00:46:41.880 --> 00:46:43.000
 in verse 17

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:44.980
 and God

00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:45.780
 gave

00:46:45.780 --> 00:46:46.500
 them

00:46:46.500 --> 00:46:47.460
 success.

00:46:49.660 --> 00:46:50.220
 God

00:46:50.220 --> 00:46:51.360
 delivered them

00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:52.599
 in this situation.

00:46:52.940 --> 00:46:53.280
 God

00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:53.840
 gave them

00:46:53.840 --> 00:46:54.380
 favor

00:46:54.380 --> 00:46:55.000
 in every

00:46:55.000 --> 00:46:55.940
 possible way.

00:46:55.940 --> 00:46:56.940
 as this story

00:46:56.940 --> 00:46:57.760
 plays itself

00:46:57.760 --> 00:46:58.300
 out

00:46:58.300 --> 00:46:59.599
 what you see

00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:00.119
 is

00:47:00.119 --> 00:47:01.400
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:47:01.400 --> 00:47:02.179
 evaluates

00:47:02.179 --> 00:47:02.780
 all these

00:47:02.780 --> 00:47:03.280
 men

00:47:03.280 --> 00:47:03.860
 after three

00:47:03.860 --> 00:47:04.119
 years

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:04.460
 and what

00:47:04.460 --> 00:47:04.960
 happens?

00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:05.880
 They are

00:47:05.880 --> 00:47:06.860
 did you see

00:47:06.860 --> 00:47:07.000
 it?

00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:07.700
 Ten times

00:47:07.700 --> 00:47:08.639
 that's a

00:47:08.639 --> 00:47:09.119
 meta

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:09.559
 it's like

00:47:09.559 --> 00:47:09.960
 we might

00:47:09.960 --> 00:47:10.500
 use a billion

00:47:10.500 --> 00:47:11.000
 times.

00:47:11.579 --> 00:47:12.480
 They were

00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:13.400
 so far

00:47:13.400 --> 00:47:13.679
 better

00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:14.380
 than everyone

00:47:14.380 --> 00:47:14.900
 else.

00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:18.059
 God

00:47:18.059 --> 00:47:18.519
 gave them

00:47:18.519 --> 00:47:19.420
 great favor

00:47:19.420 --> 00:47:20.079
 and great

00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:20.619
 ability

00:47:20.619 --> 00:47:22.760
 to do this.

00:47:23.300 --> 00:47:23.599
 God

00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:24.239
 was with

00:47:24.239 --> 00:47:24.460
 them

00:47:24.460 --> 00:47:25.119
 in exile.

00:47:25.639 --> 00:47:25.839
 God

00:47:25.839 --> 00:47:26.279
 loved

00:47:26.279 --> 00:47:26.659
 them

00:47:26.659 --> 00:47:29.239
 and God

00:47:29.239 --> 00:47:29.559
 would be

00:47:29.559 --> 00:47:30.059
 with them

00:47:30.059 --> 00:47:30.420
 and God

00:47:30.420 --> 00:47:30.759
 would be

00:47:30.759 --> 00:47:31.380
 for them.

00:47:33.079 --> 00:47:33.900
 And so

00:47:33.900 --> 00:47:34.619
 the crisis

00:47:34.619 --> 00:47:35.139
 that they

00:47:35.139 --> 00:47:35.920
 started with

00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:36.539
 God

00:47:36.539 --> 00:47:37.099
 how could

00:47:37.099 --> 00:47:37.460
 you let

00:47:37.460 --> 00:47:38.079
 this happen?

00:47:38.559 --> 00:47:38.819
 Where

00:47:38.819 --> 00:47:39.559
 are you?

00:47:39.719 --> 00:47:39.920
 Who

00:47:39.920 --> 00:47:40.579
 am I

00:47:40.579 --> 00:47:41.199
 in all

00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:41.759
 of this?

00:47:41.960 --> 00:47:42.699
 Is all

00:47:42.699 --> 00:47:43.179
 answered

00:47:43.179 --> 00:47:43.739
 by that

00:47:43.739 --> 00:47:44.000
 little

00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:44.599
 phrase

00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:45.000
 God

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.480
 gave

00:47:45.480 --> 00:47:46.759
 because

00:47:46.759 --> 00:47:47.199
 it means

00:47:47.199 --> 00:47:47.559
 that God

00:47:47.559 --> 00:47:48.119
 was with

00:47:48.119 --> 00:47:48.380
 them.

00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.099
 He

00:47:49.099 --> 00:47:49.539
 had not

00:47:49.539 --> 00:47:49.940
 abandoned

00:47:49.940 --> 00:47:50.259
 them.

00:47:50.639 --> 00:47:50.779
 God

00:47:50.779 --> 00:47:51.420
 had taken

00:47:51.420 --> 00:47:51.679
 them

00:47:51.679 --> 00:47:51.980
 into

00:47:51.980 --> 00:47:52.259
 this

00:47:52.259 --> 00:47:52.639
 place

00:47:52.639 --> 00:47:52.839
 of

00:47:52.839 --> 00:47:53.279
 exile

00:47:53.279 --> 00:47:53.719
 and

00:47:53.719 --> 00:47:53.839
 he

00:47:53.839 --> 00:47:53.980
 had

00:47:53.980 --> 00:47:54.159
 a

00:47:54.159 --> 00:47:54.579
 purpose

00:47:54.579 --> 00:47:54.859
 for

00:47:54.859 --> 00:47:55.099
 them

00:47:55.099 --> 00:47:55.379
 in

00:47:55.379 --> 00:47:55.599
 that

00:47:55.599 --> 00:47:55.919
 place

00:47:55.919 --> 00:47:56.079
 of

00:47:56.079 --> 00:47:56.639
 exile

00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:57.259
 that

00:47:57.259 --> 00:47:57.519
 God

00:47:57.519 --> 00:47:57.739
 was

00:47:57.739 --> 00:47:58.159
 able

00:47:58.159 --> 00:47:58.419
 to

00:47:58.419 --> 00:47:58.940
 provide

00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.199
 for

00:47:59.199 --> 00:47:59.419
 them

00:47:59.419 --> 00:47:59.739
 all

00:47:59.739 --> 00:47:59.960
 that

00:47:59.960 --> 00:48:00.099
 they

00:48:00.099 --> 00:48:00.359
 need

00:48:00.359 --> 00:48:00.519
 to

00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:00.960
 continue

00:48:00.960 --> 00:48:01.299
 to

00:48:01.299 --> 00:48:01.940
 maintain

00:48:01.940 --> 00:48:02.419
 their

00:48:02.419 --> 00:48:02.879
 identity

00:48:02.879 --> 00:48:03.139
 and

00:48:03.139 --> 00:48:03.500
 not

00:48:03.500 --> 00:48:04.159
 become

00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:05.379
 assimilated

00:48:05.379 --> 00:48:05.639
 into

00:48:05.639 --> 00:48:05.859
 the

00:48:05.859 --> 00:48:06.179
 culture

00:48:06.179 --> 00:48:06.419
 that

00:48:06.419 --> 00:48:06.579
 they

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:06.940
 lived

00:48:06.940 --> 00:48:07.299
 in

00:48:07.299 --> 00:48:09.279
 because

00:48:09.279 --> 00:48:09.779
 ultimately

00:48:09.779 --> 00:48:10.079
 they

00:48:10.079 --> 00:48:10.259
 were

00:48:10.259 --> 00:48:10.960
 God's

00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:11.799
 people

00:48:11.799 --> 00:48:13.539
 and

00:48:13.539 --> 00:48:13.839
 this

00:48:13.839 --> 00:48:13.980
 is

00:48:13.980 --> 00:48:14.139
 the

00:48:14.139 --> 00:48:14.539
 identity

00:48:14.539 --> 00:48:14.839
 that

00:48:14.839 --> 00:48:15.000
 they

00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:15.279
 clung

00:48:15.279 --> 00:48:15.500
 to

00:48:15.500 --> 00:48:15.759
 and

00:48:15.759 --> 00:48:15.980
 this

00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:16.119
 is

00:48:16.119 --> 00:48:16.279
 the

00:48:16.279 --> 00:48:16.779
 reality

00:48:16.779 --> 00:48:17.500
 that

00:48:17.500 --> 00:48:17.699
 they

00:48:17.699 --> 00:48:18.719
 were

00:48:18.719 --> 00:48:19.059
 on

00:48:19.059 --> 00:48:20.199
 and

00:48:20.199 --> 00:48:20.480
 God

00:48:20.480 --> 00:48:20.679
 would

00:48:20.679 --> 00:48:20.920
 help

00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:21.119
 them

00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:21.320
 to

00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:21.559
 do

00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:21.900
 that

00:48:21.900 --> 00:48:22.360
 and

00:48:22.360 --> 00:48:22.599
 God

00:48:22.599 --> 00:48:22.779
 would

00:48:22.779 --> 00:48:23.259
 intervene

00:48:23.259 --> 00:48:23.480
 in

00:48:23.480 --> 00:48:24.059
 special

00:48:24.059 --> 00:48:24.340
 and

00:48:24.340 --> 00:48:25.000
 supernatural

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:25.639
 and

00:48:25.639 --> 00:48:26.079
 wonderful

00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:26.519
 ways

00:48:26.519 --> 00:48:26.719
 to

00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:27.059
 allow

00:48:27.059 --> 00:48:27.320
 that

00:48:27.320 --> 00:48:27.519
 to

00:48:27.519 --> 00:48:27.900
 happen

00:48:27.900 --> 00:48:29.159
 and

00:48:29.159 --> 00:48:29.400
 friends

00:48:29.400 --> 00:48:29.639
 I'll

00:48:29.639 --> 00:48:29.880
 admit

00:48:29.880 --> 00:48:30.119
 to

00:48:30.119 --> 00:48:30.299
 you

00:48:30.299 --> 00:48:30.739
 this

00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:30.880
 is

00:48:30.880 --> 00:48:31.039
 the

00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:31.279
 hardest

00:48:31.279 --> 00:48:31.559
 part

00:48:31.559 --> 00:48:31.659
 of

00:48:31.659 --> 00:48:31.779
 the

00:48:31.779 --> 00:48:32.099
 story

00:48:32.099 --> 00:48:32.360
 for

00:48:32.360 --> 00:48:32.579
 me

00:48:32.579 --> 00:48:33.639
 because

00:48:33.639 --> 00:48:33.840
 I

00:48:33.840 --> 00:48:34.179
 struggle

00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:34.360
 to

00:48:34.360 --> 00:48:34.659
 believe

00:48:34.659 --> 00:48:35.079
 God's

00:48:35.079 --> 00:48:35.179
 going

00:48:35.179 --> 00:48:35.279
 to

00:48:35.279 --> 00:48:35.440
 do

00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:35.659
 that

00:48:35.659 --> 00:48:35.900
 for

00:48:35.900 --> 00:48:36.139
 me

00:48:36.139 --> 00:48:36.320
 as

00:48:36.320 --> 00:48:36.500
 I

00:48:36.500 --> 00:48:36.719
 live

00:48:36.719 --> 00:48:36.860
 in

00:48:36.860 --> 00:48:37.320
 exile

00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:37.960
 I

00:48:37.960 --> 00:48:38.380
 struggle

00:48:38.380 --> 00:48:38.599
 to

00:48:38.599 --> 00:48:38.820
 think

00:48:38.820 --> 00:48:38.960
 is

00:48:38.960 --> 00:48:39.239
 God

00:48:39.239 --> 00:48:39.400
 going

00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:39.500
 to

00:48:39.500 --> 00:48:39.699
 make

00:48:39.699 --> 00:48:40.019
 my

00:48:40.019 --> 00:48:40.480
 life

00:48:40.480 --> 00:48:42.000
 work

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:42.279
 out

00:48:42.279 --> 00:48:42.759
 okay

00:48:42.759 --> 00:48:44.079
 and

00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:44.239
 of

00:48:44.239 --> 00:48:44.479
 course

00:48:44.479 --> 00:48:44.719
 when

00:48:44.719 --> 00:48:44.899
 we

00:48:44.899 --> 00:48:45.139
 read

00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:45.279
 the

00:48:45.279 --> 00:48:45.419
 New

00:48:45.419 --> 00:48:45.739
 Testament

00:48:45.739 --> 00:48:46.000
 we

00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:46.299
 see

00:48:46.299 --> 00:48:46.879
 that

00:48:46.879 --> 00:48:47.159
 God

00:48:47.159 --> 00:48:47.599
 doesn't

00:48:47.599 --> 00:48:47.919
 always

00:48:47.919 --> 00:48:48.159
 make

00:48:48.159 --> 00:48:48.319
 our

00:48:48.319 --> 00:48:48.619
 lives

00:48:48.619 --> 00:48:48.919
 work

00:48:48.919 --> 00:48:49.119
 out

00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:49.399
 okay

00:48:49.399 --> 00:48:49.739
 in

00:48:49.739 --> 00:48:49.899
 the

00:48:49.899 --> 00:48:50.079
 way

00:48:50.079 --> 00:48:50.259
 that

00:48:50.259 --> 00:48:50.399
 we

00:48:50.399 --> 00:48:50.679
 want

00:48:50.679 --> 00:48:50.859
 them

00:48:50.859 --> 00:48:51.159
 to

00:48:51.159 --> 00:48:53.059
 Hebrews

00:48:53.059 --> 00:48:53.559
 11

00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:53.819
 is

00:48:53.819 --> 00:48:54.179
 full

00:48:54.179 --> 00:48:54.379
 of

00:48:54.379 --> 00:48:54.899
 all

00:48:54.899 --> 00:48:55.079
 the

00:48:55.079 --> 00:48:55.359
 great

00:48:55.359 --> 00:48:55.699
 saints

00:48:55.699 --> 00:48:55.919
 that

00:48:55.919 --> 00:48:56.299
 God

00:48:56.299 --> 00:48:57.539
 honored

00:48:57.539 --> 00:48:57.779
 their

00:48:57.779 --> 00:48:58.139
 faith

00:48:58.139 --> 00:48:58.319
 and

00:48:58.319 --> 00:48:58.459
 then

00:48:58.459 --> 00:48:58.599
 at

00:48:58.599 --> 00:48:58.739
 the

00:48:58.739 --> 00:48:59.000
 end

00:48:59.000 --> 00:48:59.139
 he

00:48:59.139 --> 00:48:59.299
 has

00:48:59.299 --> 00:48:59.539
 oh

00:48:59.539 --> 00:48:59.699
 and

00:48:59.699 --> 00:48:59.939
 God

00:48:59.939 --> 00:49:00.259
 honored

00:49:00.259 --> 00:49:00.599
 all

00:49:00.599 --> 00:49:00.779
 of

00:49:00.779 --> 00:49:01.019
 these

00:49:01.019 --> 00:49:01.519
 people's

00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:01.759
 faith

00:49:01.759 --> 00:49:02.079
 too

00:49:02.079 --> 00:49:02.619
 when

00:49:02.619 --> 00:49:02.739
 they

00:49:02.739 --> 00:49:02.899
 were

00:49:02.899 --> 00:49:03.279
 killed

00:49:03.279 --> 00:49:03.539
 and

00:49:03.539 --> 00:49:03.699
 when

00:49:03.699 --> 00:49:03.819
 they

00:49:03.819 --> 00:49:03.959
 were

00:49:03.959 --> 00:49:04.419
 persecuted

00:49:04.419 --> 00:49:04.839
 and

00:49:04.839 --> 00:49:05.039
 when

00:49:05.039 --> 00:49:05.179
 they

00:49:05.179 --> 00:49:05.979
 were

00:49:05.979 --> 00:49:06.339
 oppressed

00:49:06.339 --> 00:49:06.819
 and

00:49:06.820 --> 00:49:06.980
 when

00:49:06.980 --> 00:49:07.080
 they

00:49:07.080 --> 00:49:07.220
 were

00:49:07.220 --> 00:49:07.519
 taken

00:49:07.519 --> 00:49:07.840
 off

00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:08.059
 into

00:49:08.059 --> 00:49:08.580
 captivity

00:49:08.580 --> 00:49:09.180
 and

00:49:09.180 --> 00:49:09.519
 weren't

00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:09.980
 released

00:49:09.980 --> 00:49:10.240
 and

00:49:10.240 --> 00:49:10.640
 weren't

00:49:10.640 --> 00:49:11.200
 saved

00:49:11.200 --> 00:49:15.760
 friends

00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:16.120
 we need

00:49:16.120 --> 00:49:16.280
 to

00:49:16.280 --> 00:49:16.720
 recognize

00:49:16.720 --> 00:49:17.200
 that

00:49:17.200 --> 00:49:18.000
 in

00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:18.240
 this

00:49:18.240 --> 00:49:18.760
 story

00:49:18.760 --> 00:49:19.480
 we

00:49:19.480 --> 00:49:19.800
 see

00:49:19.800 --> 00:49:20.120
 these

00:49:20.120 --> 00:49:20.680
 dynamics

00:49:20.680 --> 00:49:21.039
 a

00:49:21.039 --> 00:49:21.559
 situation

00:49:21.559 --> 00:49:21.840
 is

00:49:21.840 --> 00:49:22.300
 difficult

00:49:22.300 --> 00:49:22.900
 the

00:49:22.900 --> 00:49:23.320
 trial

00:49:23.320 --> 00:49:23.580
 is

00:49:23.580 --> 00:49:23.920
 fierce

00:49:23.920 --> 00:49:24.220
 but

00:49:24.220 --> 00:49:25.180
 God's

00:49:25.180 --> 00:49:25.519
 sovereign

00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:26.280
 intervention

00:49:26.280 --> 00:49:27.340
 delivers

00:49:27.340 --> 00:49:27.680
 his

00:49:27.680 --> 00:49:28.080
 people

00:49:28.080 --> 00:49:28.940
 this

00:49:28.940 --> 00:49:29.120
 is

00:49:29.120 --> 00:49:29.340
 true

00:49:29.340 --> 00:49:29.559
 for

00:49:29.559 --> 00:49:29.900
 this

00:49:29.900 --> 00:49:30.320
 story

00:49:30.320 --> 00:49:30.640
 this

00:49:30.640 --> 00:49:30.840
 is

00:49:30.840 --> 00:49:31.580
 in

00:49:31.580 --> 00:49:31.900
 some

00:49:31.900 --> 00:49:32.160
 ways

00:49:32.160 --> 00:49:32.620
 the

00:49:32.620 --> 00:49:32.980
 message

00:49:32.980 --> 00:49:33.180
 of

00:49:33.180 --> 00:49:33.320
 the

00:49:33.320 --> 00:49:33.519
 whole

00:49:33.519 --> 00:49:33.760
 book

00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:33.920
 of

00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:34.320
 Daniel

00:49:34.320 --> 00:49:34.840
 and

00:49:34.840 --> 00:49:34.960
 it

00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:35.140
 is

00:49:35.140 --> 00:49:35.600
 large

00:49:35.600 --> 00:49:36.059
 more

00:49:36.059 --> 00:49:36.559
 larger

00:49:36.559 --> 00:49:37.279
 more

00:49:37.279 --> 00:49:37.880
 largely

00:49:37.880 --> 00:49:38.639
 the

00:49:38.639 --> 00:49:38.940
 story

00:49:38.940 --> 00:49:39.079
 of

00:49:39.079 --> 00:49:39.179
 the

00:49:39.179 --> 00:49:39.340
 whole

00:49:39.340 --> 00:49:39.739
 Bible

00:49:39.739 --> 00:49:41.199
 because

00:49:41.199 --> 00:49:41.519
 we

00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:41.739
 may

00:49:41.739 --> 00:49:42.159
 live

00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:42.360
 or

00:49:42.360 --> 00:49:42.559
 we

00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:42.779
 may

00:49:42.779 --> 00:49:43.199
 die

00:49:43.199 --> 00:49:43.460
 in

00:49:43.460 --> 00:49:43.639
 our

00:49:43.639 --> 00:49:44.019
 identity

00:49:44.019 --> 00:49:44.279
 in

00:49:44.279 --> 00:49:44.679
 Christ

00:49:44.679 --> 00:49:45.639
 but

00:49:45.639 --> 00:49:45.900
 God

00:49:45.900 --> 00:49:46.099
 has

00:49:46.099 --> 00:49:46.460
 delivered

00:49:46.460 --> 00:49:46.699
 his

00:49:46.699 --> 00:49:47.079
 people

00:49:47.079 --> 00:49:47.779
 in

00:49:47.779 --> 00:49:48.159
 Jesus

00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:49.299
 he

00:49:49.299 --> 00:49:49.579
 has

00:49:49.579 --> 00:49:49.900
 come

00:49:49.900 --> 00:49:50.139
 to

00:49:50.139 --> 00:49:50.639
 us

00:49:50.639 --> 00:49:51.679
 in

00:49:51.679 --> 00:49:52.039
 fact

00:49:52.039 --> 00:49:52.380
 think

00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.639
 about

00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:52.880
 this

00:49:52.880 --> 00:49:53.079
 the

00:49:53.079 --> 00:49:53.579
 incarnation

00:49:53.579 --> 00:49:54.000
 of

00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:54.360
 Jesus

00:49:54.360 --> 00:49:54.960
 is

00:49:54.960 --> 00:49:55.360
 Jesus

00:49:55.360 --> 00:49:55.920
 himself

00:49:55.920 --> 00:49:56.420
 entering

00:49:56.420 --> 00:49:56.820
 into

00:49:56.820 --> 00:49:57.079
 the

00:49:57.079 --> 00:49:57.719
 exile

00:49:57.719 --> 00:49:58.299
 of

00:49:58.299 --> 00:49:58.639
 life

00:49:58.639 --> 00:49:58.860
 in

00:49:58.860 --> 00:49:59.019
 a

00:49:59.019 --> 00:49:59.279
 fallen

00:49:59.279 --> 00:49:59.679
 world

00:49:59.679 --> 00:49:59.880
 and

00:49:59.880 --> 00:50:00.619
 identifying

00:50:00.619 --> 00:50:01.199
 with

00:50:01.199 --> 00:50:01.820
 exiles

00:50:01.820 --> 00:50:02.239
 like

00:50:02.239 --> 00:50:02.619
 us

00:50:02.619 --> 00:50:03.059
 who

00:50:03.059 --> 00:50:03.259
 had

00:50:03.259 --> 00:50:03.799
 rejected

00:50:03.799 --> 00:50:04.239
 God

00:50:04.239 --> 00:50:04.400
 and

00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:04.539
 who

00:50:04.539 --> 00:50:04.659
 are

00:50:04.659 --> 00:50:04.920
 living

00:50:04.920 --> 00:50:05.199
 in a

00:50:05.199 --> 00:50:05.420
 world

00:50:05.420 --> 00:50:05.599
 that

00:50:05.599 --> 00:50:05.739
 is

00:50:05.739 --> 00:50:06.159
 contrary

00:50:06.159 --> 00:50:06.420
 to

00:50:06.420 --> 00:50:06.699
 him

00:50:06.699 --> 00:50:07.299
 and

00:50:07.299 --> 00:50:07.519
 in

00:50:07.519 --> 00:50:07.819
 fact

00:50:07.819 --> 00:50:08.279
 his

00:50:08.279 --> 00:50:08.900
 identification

00:50:08.900 --> 00:50:09.659
 with

00:50:09.659 --> 00:50:09.860
 the

00:50:09.860 --> 00:50:10.139
 exile

00:50:10.139 --> 00:50:10.420
 is

00:50:10.420 --> 00:50:10.679
 so

00:50:10.679 --> 00:50:11.159
 great

00:50:11.159 --> 00:50:11.599
 that

00:50:11.599 --> 00:50:11.719
 he

00:50:11.719 --> 00:50:12.019
 goes

00:50:12.019 --> 00:50:12.179
 to

00:50:12.179 --> 00:50:12.339
 the

00:50:12.339 --> 00:50:12.819
 cross

00:50:12.819 --> 00:50:14.099
 and

00:50:14.099 --> 00:50:14.239
 in

00:50:14.239 --> 00:50:14.420
 his

00:50:14.420 --> 00:50:14.739
 death

00:50:14.739 --> 00:50:14.860
 and

00:50:14.860 --> 00:50:15.039
 his

00:50:15.039 --> 00:50:15.699
 resurrection

00:50:15.699 --> 00:50:16.599
 he

00:50:16.599 --> 00:50:18.139
 overcomes

00:50:18.139 --> 00:50:18.880
 that

00:50:18.880 --> 00:50:19.480
 exile

00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:20.059
 and

00:50:20.059 --> 00:50:21.179
 restores

00:50:21.179 --> 00:50:21.719
 a way

00:50:21.719 --> 00:50:22.199
 by which

00:50:22.199 --> 00:50:22.420
 we

00:50:22.420 --> 00:50:22.659
 might

00:50:22.659 --> 00:50:22.900
 now

00:50:22.900 --> 00:50:23.119
 be

00:50:23.119 --> 00:50:23.400
 brought

00:50:23.400 --> 00:50:23.860
 back

00:50:23.860 --> 00:50:24.119
 into

00:50:24.119 --> 00:50:24.519
 God's

00:50:24.519 --> 00:50:24.860
 people

00:50:24.860 --> 00:50:26.099
 and

00:50:26.099 --> 00:50:26.239
 we

00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:26.400
 are

00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:26.619
 called

00:50:26.619 --> 00:50:26.819
 to

00:50:26.819 --> 00:50:27.219
 live

00:50:27.219 --> 00:50:27.480
 in

00:50:27.480 --> 00:50:27.759
 this

00:50:27.759 --> 00:50:28.339
 world

00:50:28.339 --> 00:50:29.259
 as

00:50:29.259 --> 00:50:29.779
 exiles

00:50:29.779 --> 00:50:30.019
 as

00:50:30.019 --> 00:50:30.319
 long

00:50:30.319 --> 00:50:30.480
 as

00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:30.699
 God

00:50:30.699 --> 00:50:31.059
 keeps

00:50:31.059 --> 00:50:31.239
 us

00:50:31.239 --> 00:50:31.519
 here

00:50:31.519 --> 00:50:32.019
 but

00:50:32.019 --> 00:50:32.219
 our

00:50:32.219 --> 00:50:32.519
 home

00:50:32.519 --> 00:50:32.699
 is

00:50:32.699 --> 00:50:32.960
 not

00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:33.380
 here

00:50:33.380 --> 00:50:35.500
 our

00:50:35.500 --> 00:50:35.880
 home

00:50:35.880 --> 00:50:36.500
 is

00:50:36.500 --> 00:50:36.660
 in

00:50:36.660 --> 00:50:37.019
 heaven

00:50:37.019 --> 00:50:38.860
 and

00:50:38.860 --> 00:50:39.180
 that

00:50:39.180 --> 00:50:39.360
 is

00:50:39.360 --> 00:50:39.539
 where

00:50:39.539 --> 00:50:39.720
 we

00:50:39.720 --> 00:50:39.880
 will

00:50:39.880 --> 00:50:40.240
 know

00:50:40.240 --> 00:50:40.980
 that

00:50:40.980 --> 00:50:41.099
 he

00:50:41.099 --> 00:50:41.280
 will

00:50:41.280 --> 00:50:41.700
 vindicate

00:50:41.700 --> 00:50:42.200
 us

00:50:42.200 --> 00:50:42.640
 and

00:50:42.640 --> 00:50:42.880
 that

00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:43.000
 is

00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:43.160
 where

00:50:43.160 --> 00:50:43.340
 we

00:50:43.340 --> 00:50:43.519
 will

00:50:43.519 --> 00:50:43.940
 know

00:50:43.940 --> 00:50:44.740
 that

00:50:44.740 --> 00:50:44.900
 his

00:50:44.900 --> 00:50:45.360
 promises

00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:45.619
 are

00:50:45.619 --> 00:50:45.980
 true

00:50:45.980 --> 00:50:46.200
 and

00:50:46.200 --> 00:50:46.480
 good

00:50:46.480 --> 00:50:47.019
 forever

00:50:47.019 --> 00:50:48.719
 and

00:50:48.719 --> 00:50:48.860
 we

00:50:48.860 --> 00:50:49.239
 know

00:50:49.239 --> 00:50:49.400
 it

00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:49.659
 because

00:50:49.659 --> 00:50:49.840
 he

00:50:49.840 --> 00:50:50.099
 died

00:50:50.099 --> 00:50:50.239
 on

00:50:50.239 --> 00:50:50.360
 the

00:50:50.360 --> 00:50:50.639
 cross

00:50:50.639 --> 00:50:50.840
 and

00:50:50.840 --> 00:50:51.059
 rose

00:50:51.059 --> 00:50:51.219
 from

00:50:51.219 --> 00:50:51.360
 the

00:50:51.360 --> 00:50:51.559
 dead

00:50:51.559 --> 00:50:51.699
 and

00:50:51.699 --> 00:50:51.860
 we

00:50:51.860 --> 00:50:52.039
 can

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:52.460
 see

00:50:52.460 --> 00:50:52.599
 it

00:50:52.599 --> 00:50:52.699
 in

00:50:52.699 --> 00:50:52.840
 the

00:50:52.840 --> 00:50:53.179
 future

00:50:53.179 --> 00:50:53.659
 and

00:50:53.659 --> 00:50:53.780
 if

00:50:53.780 --> 00:50:53.920
 we

00:50:53.920 --> 00:50:54.280
 cling

00:50:54.280 --> 00:50:54.480
 to

00:50:54.480 --> 00:50:54.840
 that

00:50:54.840 --> 00:50:56.480
 those

00:50:56.480 --> 00:50:56.840
 things

00:50:56.840 --> 00:50:57.039
 as

00:50:57.039 --> 00:50:57.199
 our

00:50:57.199 --> 00:50:57.659
 identity

00:50:57.659 --> 00:50:58.880
 then

00:50:58.880 --> 00:50:59.639
 we

00:50:59.639 --> 00:50:59.840
 can

00:50:59.840 --> 00:51:00.280
 live

00:51:00.280 --> 00:51:00.460
 as

00:51:00.460 --> 00:51:01.000
 exiles

00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:01.259
 and

00:51:01.259 --> 00:51:01.619
 strangers

00:51:01.619 --> 00:51:01.860
 in

00:51:01.860 --> 00:51:02.019
 this

00:51:02.019 --> 00:51:02.380
 world

00:51:02.380 --> 00:51:03.079
 to

00:51:03.079 --> 00:51:03.239
 the

00:51:03.239 --> 00:51:03.659
 glory

00:51:03.659 --> 00:51:04.400
 of

00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:04.800
 God

00:51:04.800 --> 00:51:08.759
 I

00:51:08.759 --> 00:51:09.199
 pray

00:51:09.199 --> 00:51:10.119
 for our

00:51:10.119 --> 00:51:10.699
 congregation

00:51:10.699 --> 00:51:11.759
 to be

00:51:11.759 --> 00:51:12.079
 full

00:51:12.079 --> 00:51:12.280
 of

00:51:12.280 --> 00:51:12.940
 Daniels

00:51:12.940 --> 00:51:13.980
 and

00:51:13.980 --> 00:51:14.820
 Azariahs

00:51:14.820 --> 00:51:16.380
 and

00:51:16.380 --> 00:51:17.039
 Mishels

00:51:17.039 --> 00:51:18.240
 and

00:51:18.240 --> 00:51:18.480
 who's

00:51:18.480 --> 00:51:18.620
 the

00:51:18.620 --> 00:51:18.800
 third

00:51:18.800 --> 00:51:19.059
 guy

00:51:19.059 --> 00:51:19.180
 I

00:51:19.180 --> 00:51:19.400
 forgot

00:51:19.400 --> 00:51:22.800
 I

00:51:22.800 --> 00:51:23.120
 pray

00:51:23.120 --> 00:51:24.059
 that

00:51:24.059 --> 00:51:24.300
 we

00:51:24.300 --> 00:51:24.500
 will

00:51:24.500 --> 00:51:24.680
 be

00:51:24.680 --> 00:51:25.019
 people

00:51:25.019 --> 00:51:25.260
 who

00:51:25.260 --> 00:51:25.600
 live

00:51:25.600 --> 00:51:25.780
 in

00:51:25.780 --> 00:51:26.360
 exile

00:51:26.360 --> 00:51:27.800
 fighting

00:51:27.800 --> 00:51:28.140
 for

00:51:28.140 --> 00:51:28.360
 our

00:51:28.360 --> 00:51:28.840
 identity

00:51:28.840 --> 00:51:29.760
 working

00:51:29.760 --> 00:51:30.080
 for

00:51:30.080 --> 00:51:30.260
 the

00:51:30.260 --> 00:51:30.559
 good

00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:30.740
 of

00:51:30.740 --> 00:51:30.900
 our

00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:31.420
 land

00:51:31.420 --> 00:51:32.120
 and

00:51:32.120 --> 00:51:32.280
 our

00:51:32.280 --> 00:51:32.680
 city

00:51:32.680 --> 00:51:33.780
 and

00:51:33.780 --> 00:51:33.940
 our

00:51:33.940 --> 00:51:34.440
 world

00:51:34.440 --> 00:51:36.140
 for

00:51:36.140 --> 00:51:36.360
 his

00:51:36.360 --> 00:51:36.760
 glory

00:51:36.760 --> 00:51:37.220
 let's

00:51:37.220 --> 00:51:37.539
 pray

00:51:37.539 --> 00:51:44.699
 oh

00:51:44.699 --> 00:51:44.880
 lord

00:51:44.880 --> 00:51:45.119
 have

00:51:45.119 --> 00:51:45.519
 mercy

00:51:45.519 --> 00:51:45.820
 on

00:51:45.820 --> 00:51:46.259
 us

00:51:46.259 --> 00:51:47.500
 lord

00:51:47.500 --> 00:51:47.779
 how

00:51:47.779 --> 00:51:48.199
 often

00:51:48.199 --> 00:51:48.460
 we

00:51:48.460 --> 00:51:48.619
 are

00:51:48.619 --> 00:51:49.019
 unaware

00:51:49.019 --> 00:51:49.779
 or

00:51:49.779 --> 00:51:50.500
 unready

00:51:50.500 --> 00:51:50.900
 and

00:51:50.900 --> 00:51:51.800
 unwatchful

00:51:51.800 --> 00:51:53.920
 lord

00:51:53.920 --> 00:51:54.059
 we

00:51:54.059 --> 00:51:54.279
 don't

00:51:54.279 --> 00:51:54.559
 want

00:51:54.559 --> 00:51:54.739
 to

00:51:54.739 --> 00:51:54.900
 live

00:51:54.900 --> 00:51:55.019
 in

00:51:55.019 --> 00:51:55.300
 exile

00:51:55.300 --> 00:51:55.639
 we

00:51:55.639 --> 00:51:55.900
 want

00:51:55.900 --> 00:51:56.079
 to

00:51:56.079 --> 00:51:56.239
 live

00:51:56.239 --> 00:51:56.360
 at

00:51:56.360 --> 00:51:56.739
 home

00:51:56.739 --> 00:51:57.759
 and

00:51:57.759 --> 00:51:57.960
 yet

00:51:57.960 --> 00:51:58.259
 lord

00:51:58.259 --> 00:51:58.519
 our

00:51:58.519 --> 00:51:58.779
 home

00:51:58.779 --> 00:51:58.960
 is

00:51:58.960 --> 00:51:59.159
 not

00:51:59.159 --> 00:51:59.500
 here

00:51:59.500 --> 00:52:01.300
 lord

00:52:01.300 --> 00:52:01.619
 help

00:52:01.619 --> 00:52:01.920
 us

00:52:01.920 --> 00:52:02.139
 we

00:52:02.139 --> 00:52:02.500
 pray

00:52:02.500 --> 00:52:03.539
 help

00:52:03.539 --> 00:52:03.800
 us

00:52:03.800 --> 00:52:04.039
 to

00:52:04.039 --> 00:52:04.300
 know

00:52:04.300 --> 00:52:04.519
 how

00:52:04.519 --> 00:52:04.679
 to

00:52:04.679 --> 00:52:05.000
 follow

00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:05.179
 in

00:52:05.179 --> 00:52:05.320
 the

00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:05.659
 footsteps

00:52:05.659 --> 00:52:06.039
 of

00:52:06.039 --> 00:52:06.259
 these

00:52:06.259 --> 00:52:06.679
 faithful

00:52:06.679 --> 00:52:07.079
 men

00:52:07.079 --> 00:52:08.679
 lord

00:52:08.679 --> 00:52:08.960
 help

00:52:08.960 --> 00:52:09.179
 us

00:52:09.179 --> 00:52:09.360
 to

00:52:09.360 --> 00:52:09.619
 see

00:52:09.619 --> 00:52:10.119
 you

00:52:10.119 --> 00:52:10.380
 as

00:52:10.380 --> 00:52:10.539
 a

00:52:10.539 --> 00:52:10.920
 god

00:52:10.920 --> 00:52:12.380
 who

00:52:12.380 --> 00:52:12.659
 will

00:52:12.659 --> 00:52:13.299
 vindicate

00:52:13.299 --> 00:52:13.699
 who

00:52:13.699 --> 00:52:14.079
 has

00:52:14.079 --> 00:52:14.699
 vindicated

00:52:14.699 --> 00:52:16.579
 lord

00:52:16.579 --> 00:52:16.759
 and

00:52:16.759 --> 00:52:16.900
 who

00:52:16.900 --> 00:52:17.079
 has

00:52:17.079 --> 00:52:17.380
 called

00:52:17.380 --> 00:52:17.579
 us

00:52:17.579 --> 00:52:17.799
 to

00:52:17.799 --> 00:52:18.219
 live

00:52:18.219 --> 00:52:18.579
 now

00:52:18.579 --> 00:52:18.739
 in

00:52:18.739 --> 00:52:18.920
 this

00:52:18.920 --> 00:52:19.119
 in

00:52:19.119 --> 00:52:19.440
 between

00:52:19.440 --> 00:52:19.940
 time

00:52:19.940 --> 00:52:20.699
 as

00:52:20.699 --> 00:52:21.319
 exiles

00:52:21.319 --> 00:52:22.019
 for

00:52:22.019 --> 00:52:22.219
 your

00:52:22.219 --> 00:52:22.619
 glory

00:52:22.619 --> 00:52:23.719
 lord

00:52:23.719 --> 00:52:24.239
 protect

00:52:24.239 --> 00:52:24.659
 us

00:52:24.659 --> 00:52:25.579
 strengthen

00:52:25.579 --> 00:52:25.860
 us

00:52:25.860 --> 00:52:26.119
 be

00:52:26.119 --> 00:52:26.420
 with

00:52:26.420 --> 00:52:26.599
 us

00:52:26.599 --> 00:52:26.880
 do

00:52:26.880 --> 00:52:27.319
 greater

00:52:27.319 --> 00:52:27.659
 than

00:52:27.659 --> 00:52:28.019
 what

00:52:28.019 --> 00:52:28.199
 we

00:52:28.199 --> 00:52:28.380
 would

00:52:28.380 --> 00:52:28.739
 ever

00:52:28.739 --> 00:52:29.219
 ask

00:52:29.219 --> 00:52:29.380
 or

00:52:29.380 --> 00:52:29.819
 imagine

00:52:29.819 --> 00:52:31.259
 for

00:52:31.259 --> 00:52:31.480
 your

00:52:31.480 --> 00:52:31.940
 glory

00:52:31.940 --> 00:52:33.340
 lord

00:52:33.340 --> 00:52:33.500
 i

00:52:33.500 --> 00:52:33.779
 pray

00:52:33.779 --> 00:52:33.980
 that

00:52:33.980 --> 00:52:34.079
 you

00:52:34.079 --> 00:52:34.199
 would

00:52:34.199 --> 00:52:34.420
 make

00:52:34.420 --> 00:52:34.619
 us

00:52:34.619 --> 00:52:34.840
 a

00:52:34.840 --> 00:52:35.539
 blessing

00:52:35.539 --> 00:52:36.980
 to

00:52:36.980 --> 00:52:37.139
 our

00:52:37.139 --> 00:52:37.480
 city

00:52:37.480 --> 00:52:37.719
 and

00:52:37.719 --> 00:52:37.960
 to

00:52:37.960 --> 00:52:38.139
 our

00:52:38.139 --> 00:52:38.539
 world

00:52:38.539 --> 00:52:40.000
 in

00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:40.320
 jesus

00:52:40.320 --> 00:52:40.719
 name

00:52:40.719 --> 00:52:41.739
 amen