We are walking in today: Stuck Between A Rock and A Hard Place--Sukkot, calls for Separation Part 1
Witness division throughout the Bible: division H6304 pĕduwth spelled peh, dalet, vav, tav--ransom, from H6929; distinction; also deliverance:—division, redeem, redemption. from the primary sense of cutting and H914 badal to divide, separate, to divide, separate, sever, to separate, set apart, to make a distinction, difference, to divide into parts
Torah: Genesis 1:4, 1:6-7; Leviticus 10:10, 20:26; Numbers 8:14, 16:21; Deuteronomy 10:8
Prophets: Ezra 6:21, 10:11, 10:16, Nehemiah 9:2, 13:3; Isaiah 50:2, 59:2; Ezekiel 22:26,
Writings: 1 Kings 8:53; Psalms 111:9, 130:7
Leviticus 20:24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
Daniel 1:5-8
5 The king assigned them a daily portion of his own food and the wine he drank, and they were to be cared for in this way for three years. At the end of this time they were to become the king’s attendants. 6 Among these, from the people of Y’hudah, were Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah. 7 The chief officer gave them other names — to Dani’el he gave the name Belt’shatzar; to Hananyah, Shadrakh; to Misha’el, Meishakh; and to ‘Azaryah, ‘Aved-N’go. 8 But Dani’el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself.
This is an appropriate title for this message because Daniel seems to be caught in the middle between God and Nebuchadnezzar. If Daniel were to follow exactly the plans Nebuchadnezzar had for the Hebrew captives, he would defile himself and displease God. If Daniel simply refused to do what Nebuchadnezzar expected, he would be in trouble with the king who had taken him captive.
Even still we find Daniel and his fellow Hebrew brothers, in more dilemmas with the King and coworkers--not bowing to the statue built for worshiping Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel not adhering to the decree that interrupted appointed time for Hebrew prayer. Basically setting themselves apart from the already apparent captivity. Choosing to not assimilate nor offend the Most High. Even the latter we as followers of The Most High forget that our character should match our conduct. To assimilate with the kingdom of Babylon would place the Hebrews under the kingship of Nebuchadnezzar spiritually and physically. Just as the Children of Israel where in bondage 400 years. The psychological effect of slavery took a whole generation to die in the wilderness in order to get to the Promised Land, and they still rebelled after that. Which is the very reason why Daniel and the descendants of Judah found themselves in this current predicament. In bondage because of 1000 of years of warning from The Most High for Judah to Teshuva. King after King; Priest after priest defiling the temple and practices of the most High and making the Feast Days a detestable thing; to He which they were dedicated to.
Jeremiah 32:26-32
26 Then this word of Adonai came to Yirmeyahu: 27 “Look, I am Adonai, the God of every living creature; is there anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, here is what Adonai says: ‘I will hand this city over to the Kasdim and to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel; and he will capture it. 29 The Kasdim who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire; they will burn it down, including its houses, on whose roofs they offered to Ba‘al and poured out drink offerings to other gods, in order to make me angry. 30 For from their youth, the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done only what is evil from my perspective; the people of Isra’el have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands make,’ says Adonai. 31 ‘This city has so provoked my anger and fury from the day they built it to this day that I ought to remove it from my presence, 32 because of all the evil that the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done in order to make me angry — they, their kings, their leaders, their cohanim, their prophets, the men of Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.
Isaiah 39:5-7
5 Yesha‘yahu said to Hizkiyahu, “Hear what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: 6 ‘The day will come when everything in your palace, along with everything your ancestors stored up until today, will be carried off to Bavel. Nothing will be left,’ says Adonai. 7 ‘They will carry off some of your descendants, your own offspring; and they will be made eunuchs serving in the palace of the king of Bavel.
Judah’s captivity was a divine judgment for the sins of this nation. Daniel’s prayer, recorded in chapter 9, reveals his grasp of this fact. Daniel was fully convinced that it was God Almighty who gave Jehoiakim king of Judah, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. It was this knowledge which enabled Daniel to deal with his own circumstances in the godly manner evident throughout the Book of Daniel. Daniel’s decision to separate himself from the new customs taught to him was in no way a form of rebellion, but a test of obedience and of freedom. Though they were captive and the fact that they were officials over the land and kingdom of Babylon. They still had privileges that other captive Judeans did not. Most importantly we see the Most High favoring the Hebrew boys for their obedience with knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
To be separated will cause the courage back bone and most of all trust in the Most High versus man’s favor and peace of mind. The Most High has so much more in store and in mind--for all our circumstances. As we reread the examples set before us in the Ketuvim (book of Prophets). Sukkot calls for separation from your stuck between and rock and a hard place!!! Will you choose to be free or continue in pleasing mankind and staying in bondage? Kings eat at the Kings table peasants return to the swine’s food. Those who are for you will move with you, those who are against you will move against you. Just as we see Daniel and Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah they were for him. While the other scribes, magicians etc. where against Daniel. Wheather due to jealousy or envy or both we come to realize and keep our eyes fixed on the prize, as we learn how Daniel walked through this book of the Bible.
Proverbs 26:11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
John 8:36 So if the Son frees you, you will really be free!
Leviticus 20:24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
Daniel 1:5-8
5 The king assigned them a daily portion of his own food and the wine he drank, and they were to be cared for in this way for three years. At the end of this time they were to become the king’s attendants. 6 Among these, from the people of Y’hudah, were Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah. 7 The chief officer gave them other names — to Dani’el he gave the name Belt’shatzar; to Hananyah, Shadrakh; to Misha’el, Meishakh; and to ‘Azaryah, ‘Aved-N’go. 8 But Dani’el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself.
This is an appropriate title for this message because Daniel seems to be caught in the middle between God and Nebuchadnezzar. If Daniel were to follow exactly the plans Nebuchadnezzar had for the Hebrew captives, he would defile himself and displease God. If Daniel simply refused to do what Nebuchadnezzar expected, he would be in trouble with the king who had taken him captive.
Even still we find Daniel and his fellow Hebrew brothers, in more dilemmas with the King and coworkers--not bowing to the statue built for worshiping Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel not adhering to the decree that interrupted appointed time for Hebrew prayer. Basically setting themselves apart from the already apparent captivity. Choosing to not assimilate nor offend the Most High. Even the latter we as followers of The Most High forget that our character should match our conduct. To assimilate with the kingdom of Babylon would place the Hebrews under the kingship of Nebuchadnezzar spiritually and physically. Just as the Children of Israel where in bondage 400 years. The psychological effect of slavery took a whole generation to die in the wilderness in order to get to the Promised Land, and they still rebelled after that. Which is the very reason why Daniel and the descendants of Judah found themselves in this current predicament. In bondage because of 1000 of years of warning from The Most High for Judah to Teshuva. King after King; Priest after priest defiling the temple and practices of the most High and making the Feast Days a detestable thing; to He which they were dedicated to.
Jeremiah 32:26-32
26 Then this word of Adonai came to Yirmeyahu: 27 “Look, I am Adonai, the God of every living creature; is there anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, here is what Adonai says: ‘I will hand this city over to the Kasdim and to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel; and he will capture it. 29 The Kasdim who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire; they will burn it down, including its houses, on whose roofs they offered to Ba‘al and poured out drink offerings to other gods, in order to make me angry. 30 For from their youth, the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done only what is evil from my perspective; the people of Isra’el have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands make,’ says Adonai. 31 ‘This city has so provoked my anger and fury from the day they built it to this day that I ought to remove it from my presence, 32 because of all the evil that the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done in order to make me angry — they, their kings, their leaders, their cohanim, their prophets, the men of Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.
Isaiah 39:5-7
5 Yesha‘yahu said to Hizkiyahu, “Hear what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: 6 ‘The day will come when everything in your palace, along with everything your ancestors stored up until today, will be carried off to Bavel. Nothing will be left,’ says Adonai. 7 ‘They will carry off some of your descendants, your own offspring; and they will be made eunuchs serving in the palace of the king of Bavel.
Judah’s captivity was a divine judgment for the sins of this nation. Daniel’s prayer, recorded in chapter 9, reveals his grasp of this fact. Daniel was fully convinced that it was God Almighty who gave Jehoiakim king of Judah, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. It was this knowledge which enabled Daniel to deal with his own circumstances in the godly manner evident throughout the Book of Daniel. Daniel’s decision to separate himself from the new customs taught to him was in no way a form of rebellion, but a test of obedience and of freedom. Though they were captive and the fact that they were officials over the land and kingdom of Babylon. They still had privileges that other captive Judeans did not. Most importantly we see the Most High favoring the Hebrew boys for their obedience with knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
To be separated will cause the courage back bone and most of all trust in the Most High versus man’s favor and peace of mind. The Most High has so much more in store and in mind--for all our circumstances. As we reread the examples set before us in the Ketuvim (book of Prophets). Sukkot calls for separation from your stuck between and rock and a hard place!!! Will you choose to be free or continue in pleasing mankind and staying in bondage? Kings eat at the Kings table peasants return to the swine’s food. Those who are for you will move with you, those who are against you will move against you. Just as we see Daniel and Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah they were for him. While the other scribes, magicians etc. where against Daniel. Wheather due to jealousy or envy or both we come to realize and keep our eyes fixed on the prize, as we learn how Daniel walked through this book of the Bible.
Proverbs 26:11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit, a fool repeats his folly.
John 8:36 So if the Son frees you, you will really be free!
Shema Selah--let us pause and consider this teaching! Bless you you continue to pursue the Most High in study and purifying your heart!
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