Exiles as Missionaries

Overview of Lesson 5: Exiles as Missionaries

This week I have inserted an extra post so I am writing this on the fly. You may have to come back to dip into it. I will update throughout the week. God Bless.

Karakia Timatanga | Opening Prayer

He hōnore, he korōria ki te atua
All honour and glory to our maker

He maungārongo ki te whenua
Let there be peace and tranquillity on earth

He whakaaro pai ki ngā tangata katoa
Goodwill to mankind
Āmine.                                  
Amen

(Commentary on: Sabbath School Org. Lesson 5)

Saturday | Sabbath | Hātarei

Memory Text: He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Dan 7:14).

It reminds me that I have a place in this kingdom because of the Son of Man who came to save the lost (Mt 18:11). The NIV treats this as an insertion. I don’t mind if some scribe or other put it in, if that was the case because it’s an inspired insertion. Jesus came as the parable that follows in Mt 18 to save the lost – that’s you and me. Rom 3:10 reminds us that we are all in the same lost situation without the Son of Man. The greatest missionary in the book of Daniel is the Son of Man who is responsible for saving Daniel and his friends. Consider how many times this happens in the book of Daniel. One of the most notable missionary activities of the Son of Man is his rescue on the plains of Dura in chapter where He appears in the fiery furnace.

The book of Daniel is one of the most fascinating books in the Old Testament. The memory verse that has been selected is a great reminder of our future inheritance as Christians. A verse that I particularly like in Daniel has a similar sentiment: 

Dan 7:18  But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.' 

Sunday | Rātapu
The Exile

Daniel 1:1-2 is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah 39:5-7 and reminds us that God is in control even when we are not.

Daniel’s career and witness are spectacular but they come at a cost. Daniel is a displaced captive who is effectively forced to work for Nebuchadnezzar. It is not Daniel’s will but Gods. Furthermore we are told in the New King James Version that Daniel was responsible to Ashpenaz (Dan 1:3) the master of the king’s eunuchs. There is a high probability that Daniel was made a eunuch. No normal person would want this to happen. Daniel has the same two options we have today. We can go with the flow or resolutely follow God. Going with the flow may cause less anxiety at times but the end result takes us away from God.

Jesus lays the case before us in Luke 14:28-33. I’m not sure how many of us have really considered the cost of being a disciple. The rich young ruler did, and by walking away from Christ he in this respect showed a level of honesty that sometimes we lack as Christians (Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-25.)

I wish in some respects the lesson had not referred to our institutions. They can vary in their witness, they are not always run by or manned by believers and some of the things that occur in them are not related to benefitting those most in need. For example, what justification is adequate for cosmetic surgery? Not that I am against cosmetic surgery but should this be done in an Adventist institution? Some of these things need to be examined more closely but the church lacks the organisational mechanisms to regulate some of its activities because of the way it is structured. Compromise can occur through lack of good monitoring and accountability processes.

Monday | Rāhina 
Witnesses (Daniel 2-5)

These chapters are great stories and are important for us today (Rom 15:4). Sometimes we are inclined to look at the individual witness, in this case Daniel and admire their character. This is right and fair but what also needs to be considered is the context from what he emerges. Daniel is a product of a royal family and has been taught a knowledge of God through family and culture. Daniel is also supported by a small community of fellow believers who nurture his faith and belief. The encouragement and support of fellow believers can not be under-estimated. It is more likely that Christians like Daniel will emerge under these conditions.

These chapters also highlight another aspect – the growth and also conversion of Nebuchadnezzar to the worship of Daniel’s God. This takes place over a number of years because of the consistency of not only Daniel but also because of his friends. Nebuchadnezzar’s belief from the text is also known about but not shared by his grandson, Belshazzar.

Tuesday | Rātū 
Daniel in Persia

Daniel was fortunate to serve under two great kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. Both kings had their flaws but they were honest in their appraisal of Daniel and recognised the qualities in his character. How Daniel managed to survive transition from one regime to another is remarkable. Somehow, most likely through Daniel these kings became aware of a kingdom that was beyond their own. I suspect that these kings were able to retain Daniel because in serving God’s kingdom, Daniel’s political aspirations were non-threatening.

Daniel very early had decided to live a life in service of God. It was this ongoing and consistent attitude that enabled him to put his own life in perspective. Through a clear grasp of the eternal he was able to maintain his integrity and face the ordeal of having to make career and life ending choices. Daniel’s life reminds us of the verses in Revelation (2:10) Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. And (12:11) … they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Modern Persia (Iraq and Iran), today is still a high risk area to live as a believer but complacency and affluence in the west has its own risks to faith.

Wednesday  | Rāapa
Daniel and God’s Eternal Kingdom

The book of Daniel reminds us that ultimately God does control the nations despite apparent evidence to the contrary. This is encouraging to know when we are concerned about poor governance by leaders. Daniel chapter 1 explicitly tells us that God is responsible for the overthrow of Judah (v.2) and for the changes in Babylon (Dan 5:18; 26-28). In Mt. 24:14 Jesus tells us that the end won’t come until the gospel has been preached in all the world. You can’t argue with that. However, Christians, maybe Adventists in particular have taken this to mean that “We will finish the work”, believing that we are in control, sometimes overestimating our role and underestimating God’s sovereignty, patience and immaculate timing. Jesus first advent was all about precision and fulfilment. I expect his second advent will be no different. Although Israel did not enter the promised land directly because of their own unbelief there were other factors in play as well. Gen 15:16 might give us just another insight into why God’s kingdom has not finally been ushered in. In the mean-time as we wait, somewhat impatiently let us remember to be faithful.

Thursday | Rāpare

More Exiles as Missionaries

Being an exile can be very complicated. In one sense, we as Christians are all exiles, every day we negotiate complex situations fraught with ethical and moral tensions. Esther and Daniel illustrate this situation well. Esther is an interesting story; the book’s inclusion in the bible suggests that God’s attention to salvation also encompasses the here and now and that being a missionary can sometimes be a revelation in itself. The social situation Esther found herself in was culturally complicated and compromising; it leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

Some of the early missionaries to Aotearoa -New Zealand were great men and women of God; others less so. The legacy of missionaries to New Zealand is mixed. One of the greatest legacies by the early missionaries is the Treaty of Waitangi (Newman, 2010). It forms the basis now for indigenous justice, hope and reconciliation with ‘Christian’ colonisers who did not in the main adhere to the principles they espoused.

Closing Prayer - Karakia Whakamutunga

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Kia tau ki a tātou katoa te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti me te aroha o te Atua, me te whiwhingatahitanga ki te wairua tapu, ake, ake, ake, āmine.

References

Newman, K. (2010). Bible & Treaty: Missionaries among the Maori- A new perspective. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books (NZ).

Schantz, B. & Thompson, S. (2015). Biblical Missionaries. Adult Sabbath School Quarterly 3Q. 2015. Silver Spring: MD: Pacific Press.


Additional Resource

Radio New Zealand interview with Keith Newman:
Missionaries among the Maoris