This sermon was preached via Zoom at our Sunday evening service on September 12, 2021, when our church was unable to gather due to covid restrictions in place at the time. The passage studied is Daniel 1. This message was the first sermon in a series examining the Book of Daniel. The following is a brief introduction to the sermon.
Two of the favourite Books of the Bible for persecuted Christians around the world are Daniel and Revelation. These books both carry a similar message: God is sovereign and in control. And while it may look like evil is in control to our eyes, these bookes assure us that God is on His throne and is working all things for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. Both books have the same punchline too: God wins. The Book of Daniel narrates some of the key events of the lives of a Jewish man Daniel, and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These men lived at the very lowest point in Israel’s history – the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people of Judah to far-away pagan Babylon. This was a time in which the people were asking: Has God forgotten His covenant people? Is He done with us? Did we test His patience for too long? Has evil won?