Psalm 1, 2, 3; Dan. 1:1-21; 1 John 1:1-10; John 17:1-11
Nebuchadnezzar overthrows Jerusalem and takes the people into exile. Once they are in Babylon, the king chooses several of the young men for re-training in Babylonian ways. The purpose would have been to show that their ways were superior and therefore the Jews should simply integrate and take advantage of all Babylon had to offer, forget about their homeland. Daniel could perhaps forget about his home but not his God and the obligation he had to Yahweh. He chose to be a Jew in exile. The place didn’t matter so much as obedience to God. What was the result? “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.”
Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, and ultimately us, is that we should be a peculiar and recognizable people. We are to be a people in exile just as Daniel was, we belong to another, the Father. They are meant to be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. Our mutual love is to be a distinguishing mark just as it was for Jesus. His one aim was to glorify the Father through His life, our salvation is a happy by-product. He loved us but He loved the Father more if such comparison is possible, the Father deserved to be loved, loving us was/is a choice. We are to be an alternative community in the world that reveals through our unity and love that there is another way of being. Our community should point to our true home, just as Daniel did.
John’s attitude is like Christ Jesus. He has fellowship first with the Father and the Son and here he writes so that these may believe as well and his joy may be made complete in the sharing of that fellowship. It all begins, however, with right belief and vertical fellowship, horizontal fellowship is a by-product of that first relationship. The proof of fellowship with God is walking in the light, living by the light. Our lives reveal that fellowship exists as we live according to God’s will, not the way of the world. Daniel revealed that fellowship through his choices in Babylon and what was revealed was that the children of Yahweh were wiser than the best of Babylon. Our lives should reveal the same as we have the Spirit of God within us.
Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
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