The dusty streets of Babylon in 605 BC are now in modern Iraq. It is a large city that was thriving in business and religion. There were probably more gods than businesses.

1 – We have an enemy who is out to stop our spiritual progress (vs 1)

God picked Israel as His peculiar people. They ended up in captivity. It was not by accident. See Genesis 12. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans. This was one of the Babylonian cities. They had been brought out of Babylon and now they back where they had started. They were now in captivity in Babylon. The enemy wants to take us back into captivity.

2 – God is sovereign over captivity (vs 2)

They had been warned what would happen if they messed with God! The Lord delivered them into captivity. He had His reasons. God is still in control. It was not God who was defeated. There are times when as God’s people, we may be tempted to think that our God has been defeated. When we get our focus on the Scriptures, however, we are reminded that our God is in perfect control and will ultimately triumph. In the meantime, He will work every situation for the furtherance of His glory. Remember, we may have setbacks, but we are not defeated. Nebuchadnezzar will eventually change his tune!

3 – They were surrounded by a Babylon of our own

See Isaiah 47:8-10. They were surrounded by their selfish needs. There should none beside God in their lives. They had been seduced by their own Babylon. What unfamiliar place do you find yourself in? You didn’t intend to be back where you started. God will come to get you out again. You may be there for a while. There are few who can stand for what is right when in Babylon.

Categories: Daniel