Welcome to Babylon

King Nebuchadnezzar (Neb for short), was the king of the Neo-Babylonian empire, the greatest empire in the known world at the time, having defeated the Assyrians and pacified the Egyptians.

When we read Daniel chapter 1, Neb has placed some restrictions on those under his authority. The goal of Daniel’s training was always assimilation into the Babylonian way of life. A kind of “way” that Daniel and his friends knew was not conducive to what Yahweh had instituted for Israel.

But, because Daniel’s identity was firmly fixed in Yahweh, he was able to face the polarisation of Babylon and not just survive, but be highly fruitful and favoured (although we’ll see that this did not come without great tribulation) all to the glory of Yahweh’s name. The following points will unpack how prayer plays an under-appreciated role in the forming of Daniel’s convictions. We can learn from the life of Daniel in this way so that we can continue in the identity that Christ has laid out for us with solid conviction.

What cultural currents are we immersed in today?

- Individualism– “Do what is best for you.”

- Consumerism– “The way to live a full life is to consume more.”

- Post-Christian Relativism– “There is no real truth.”

- Secular Humanism– “You are your own god.”

Jesus in his final prayer before the cross, prayed that Christians would be “in the world but not of it,” (John 15:19 and 17:14-16). Daniel was in the culture of Babylon but chose to not be “of it,” he ate different food (Daniel 1:8) and he continued to pray to Yahweh even when they told him he couldn’t. We are called to be set apart, consecrated to God alone. Today what in your life needs to be consecrated afresh? Maybe it is taking time away from TV to consecrate yourself to prayer or reading the Bible. Daniel chose to set himself apart for God and his purposes, we are called to do the same.

Prayer for today

Father, today I consecrate myself and my time to you afresh. I pray that you would show me things that I need to remove from my life in that fresh commitment of consecration to you, prayer, and your Word. Help me as I remove myself from the “cultural currents”, to being established and grounded in you.