Worship in the Splendor of Holiness
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 96:1-4
This is a Year of Revelations. It feels like a natural successor to a Year of Trust, just like in the main church that we serve, the ‘School’ theme naturally follows the ‘Seek’ Theme.
To clarify, it’s not about our moving FROM Trust to Revelations… No, as we found out, Trust DOES lead to Revelations, but the Revelations keep us trusting in the Lord.
Based on Isaiah 28:16-17, we’ve learned about how trusting in the Lord precedes revelations, in at least 4 ways or forms: (1) His glory and greatness being basis to the direction we take (Justice will be the line), (2) His grace and His goodness being our standard to our actions and reactions (Righteousness the plumb line), (3) Lies being swept away, and (4) Truth and revelations overflowing the house.
Based on Psalm 84:11-12, we also read about how revelations of God’s glory towards grace (and God’s grace towards glory) precede our trust in Him.
A side story, with a lesson up front: Transparency is not always good. I’ve demonstrated this during my first moments with other members and entities under the same church that I serve (which is going through its own set of transitions) – I consciously overreacted to anything that made me cringe, making sure that the people around me got what I was feeling. It goes without saying that this sort of behavior is both unacceptable and, really, a needless display of vulnerability that obviously does more damage than good.
Sorry, I wanted to get that out of my chest. Transparency in that case is bad because, well, I was merely reacting with my immediate surroundings in mind, without holding back and thinking about responding with a broader time range in consideration.
In this case, however, I do want to be transparent. I want it to be known that I did ask for the help of AI… in so far as asking for advice on what books of the Bible to tackle, with the ongoing theme of the year in mind.
To this request, ClaudeAI responded with a suggestion: Don’t just go for the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, which speaks of prophecy and the end times… but also go for the Book of (drum roll) John, in the New Testament.
Now that I’m sharing, I’m thinking that you may ask: Why John and not straight out Revelations? First of all, well, that’s pretty cliche and obvious, no?
Second, and more importantly: The way I see it, you couldn’t avoid realizing how Daniel and John sort of ‘work’ together.
In a nutshell, the Book of Daniel contains prophecies of God’s glory while the Book of John tells of the story of Christ, the fulfillment and demonstration of God’s grace.
Daniel contains its own revelations, John is a Gospel that causes us to trust in the Lord.
Daniel contains accounts of his own trusting in the Lord (in the lions’ den, before Nebuchadnezzar), while John reveals Christ as God’s glory and grace.
With all this being said, I think my approach in these coming Sundays would be as follows:
First, to look at each chapter individually, discussing events and topics covered, pointing out notable verses.
Second, is to see the chapters as groups, i.e. where each chapter connects.
Finally, we discuss how all this applies in our world, our reality here and now.
…and in all this, may our Father be glorified to the maximum.
Goes without saying but I just wanted it said.
Daniel 1
In the first chapter of Daniel, the following topics are covered:
- Daniel and his friends’ names changed
- Daniel’s test re: the King’s food vs. his preference
Minor Point: Transfer of Authority
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Daniel 1:2
Something really quick here: We read in Romans 13 about how all authority is placed by the Lord… but we also read here, as early as the second verse of Daniel 1, that He is also able to transfer authority – in this case, God gave Jehoiakim to Nebuchadnezzar.
Minor Point: Names
5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.Daniel 1:5-7
Daniel – “God is my judge” to Belteshazzar, “favored by Bel” or “prince of Bel” (Bel was the main god of Babylon, ‘the name of (Nebuchadnezzar’s) god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods’ Daniel 4:8)
Hananiah – “Yahweh is gracious” or “God has favored” to Shadrach, “command of Aku”, (Aku was the Babylonian moon god)
Mishael – “who is like God” or “who is what is God” to Meshach, “who is what Aku is?”
Azariah – “helped by God” to Abednego, “servant of Nabu”, the Babylonian god of fire
Take note of the following: Nebuchadnezzar may have called him Belteshazzar but he still publicly acknowledged Daniel’s name. Belshazzar and Darius called him Daniel. And even if our names are changed, the Lord continues to be faithful to us.
For it was precisely in the middle of the furnace made seven time hotter that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw who God is (in the Fourth Man) – that He is gracious, and He helps them.
It was in the lions’ den that Daniel proved that it was God who judges him – not the jealous nobles who conspired to have him thrown there.
Major Point: The Impact of Proper Intake
The context here: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were taken in to be taught ‘the literature and language of the Chaldeans’. As part of this training program they were given the ‘treat’ of being fed food and wine that was served to the king. Daniel refused to eat this food because it was ‘unclean’, and it would ‘defile’ him. In his dialogue with the chief eunuch, he proposed that for ten days, they would be fed vegetables and water.
15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.Daniel 1:15-17
After their being educated for three years, they were to present themselves to Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.Daniel 1:19-20
We recognize, acknowledge and give thanks to the truth of the matter here: Learning and skill came from the Lord. Daniel’s understanding in all visions and dreams? That also came from the Lord. But I dare say, in this timely moment when we’re all regretting working on our New Year’s Resolutions, we see in the example of the four here that we would honor what the Lord has given us, by taking care of ourselves; and in our taking care of ourselves, what we have been given will be enhanced, or yield significantly more fruit.
We’ll hear it said, that it’s not what we take in our mouths, but what comes out of our mouths that defiles us. However, the only point I want to make here is that it IS what we take in our mouths that has potential to enhance all that the Lord has given us.
My Mom keeps saying I should eat my vegetables. That’s some timeless wisdom right there.
Daniel 2
In the second Chapter of Daniel, the following events are of note:
- The King’s dream, the inability of the Wise men to recall and interpret, Wise men ordered executed
- Daniel and his friends prayed, and received both dream and interpretation
- Daniel presents both dream and interpretation to the king
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Daniel 2:1, 10-12
Major Point: Trust, to Revelation, to Thanksgiving
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Daniel 2:17-23
As I read verses 17-19, I couldn’t help but recall what we’ve discussed, from Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.“
Something of note here. I like to encourage our brethren that we ought to see the Old Testament from the lens of Christ and His finished work… but here I’d like to point out that both the command or call of God (from Jeremiah), and proof of God’s faithfulness in His word (Daniel) have both been observed in the Old Testament, before Christ. If it was fulfilled in the Old Testament, then I believe this gives us more reason to do it. We really should be calling upon the Lord, we really should be seeking mercy from the God of heaven… We really should keep on praying, because the mysteries, and the great and hidden things; well, they follow. Our Father gives them to us, indeed.
Also, notice that there was no mention of the prayers or the words that the four used in ‘seeking mercy from God’, but Daniel’s praise was put on record. Just another reminder that as prayer leads to revelation, so our continued communication with the Lord ultimately leads us to praising Him and thanking Him.
Major Point: Revelation, to Breakthrough, Testimony and Repentance!
(Breakthrough)
27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
Side observation: Revelation should bring us clarity from confusion. Even kings don’t know the thoughts of their own minds – all the more reason we should depend on the Lord.
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Something else: Revelations go beyond ourselves, but to the generations that follow us. Also, take note of Verse 44-45: ‘the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed’, ‘and it shall stand forever,’.
Take note also: a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. We’ll get back to that later.
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”Daniel 2:27-47
It was Daniel who testified, but Nebuchadnezzar also praised God.
John 1
In the first chapter of John, we read about the following:
- In the beginning was the Word…
- John the Baptist discussing with Pharisees
- John the Baptist baptizing Jesus
- Jesus calls the Disciples
Minor Point: John 1:1-18, The Mini-Gospel
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.John 1:1-18
Something we’ll probably tackle some other time. Maybe in our Midweek Service.
Minor Point: John the Baptist
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”John 1:23-27
Behold, the Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”John 1:29-34
Something I’ll just breeze through… or come back to, because the next point is nice:
Major Point: Come And See
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1:35-42
**’Lamb of God’, to ‘We have found the Messiah’?
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:43-46
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”John 1:47-51
Our talk of trust and revelations, and revelations and trust can be seen from another point of view: Jesus Christ, talking to both the curious (John’s disciples) and the cynical (Nathanael), telling them both: ‘Come and see’.
What is there to see? (1) He was the One who saw us first (Question: Why would that be enough for Nathanael be so convinced, right then and there?), and (2) Because we believe, we will see greater things.
John 2
- The Wedding Feast at Cana
- Jesus turns water to wine
- Notice the jugs of water were for ritual cleansing
- Jesus overturns the tables
Minor Point: Cleansing Water to Celebratory Wine
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. John 2:6-7
Minor Point: Made for More
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”John 2:13-17
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22
The house of the Lord is the Father’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Minor Point: He knew all people
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.John 2:23-25
Something else I’ll probably talk about in the future.
Connections:
- The death of Christ was not only our death, but symbolic of the end of all kingdoms – He is the Stone that shattered the gold, the bronze, the iron and the clay.
- In His resurrection, the temple would be raised up… as the first step to the kingdom that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed would stand forever.
- We drank water because the king’s wine was unclean. Christ has turned the water to wine, the unclean was cleansed, that we would celebrate.
- Daniel: God came and saw what the king dreamed. John: Come, and see great things.
Applications:
- Declarations – Daniel’s prayer of thanksgiving.
- Live with the knowledge that through Christ, the God who knows everything has come to us, and we could come to Him.
- Pray when you’re bored. Pray when don’t know what to think. Pray when you don’t know what to do. Communication brings Revelation. Revelation ushers in Breakthrough… and more importantly, Revelations are the source of our praise.
May we recognize Christ in all things, and may we see Christ across the Testaments, connecting words together. May we continue to see the value of Christ and His finished work through all Scripture.
May we continue to receive revelations, and find cause to give Him thanks.
As we continue to thank Him and trust Him, may we be ready for what revelations He has for us.
May we find cause to intentionally communicate with our Father, in honor of Christ, who made it all possible for us.
May the Lord bless us and keep us.
May the Lord make His face shine towards us and be gracious to us.
May the Lord lift His countenance upon us, and give us peace.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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