In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Daniel and its themes of God's sovereignty and the victory of faith. The sermon begins by discussing how Daniel and his friends were taken captive but remained faithful to God. The preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing the community of faith amidst a world of evil and sin. The sermon also highlights the need for evangelism and bringing others to Christ. Overall, the sermon encourages listeners to seek God's message for their lives through the book of Daniel.

O Lord, wilt thou hold me that I may uplift only Thee? May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight. O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer, for Thy great love's sake. Amen. There are certain passages of Scripture to which we should continually return. And there are certain books of the Bible to which we should frequently come again in order that we might catch the vision and something of the glory of their inspiration for needed hours. I suppose we all have our favorite passages of Scripture. Pieces of Scripture that have been particular blessings to us at different times in our own experience. And I suppose we've all come to know in some measure just how good it is to know where to go when times of particular stress and strain arise. I feel that the book of Daniel is a book to which we should constantly return. Because if ever a man walked with God in times of dark perplexity, it was the prophet Daniel. And if ever there was a man to whom there was revealed the whole counsel of God, it was the prophet Daniel. And the message of the prophecy of Daniel is a message for this hour, for this generation. I felt so strongly led to come again to this amazing book and to read it in these Sunday mornings together to try and expound some of its living messages for our hearts. Last Sunday morning we looked at the first chapter and we read together the story of how Daniel was carried captive with his friends and yet how God was with him. And in particular we thought of four tremendous truths. We studied the sovereignty of God because the whole book is the story of the sovereignty of God. We noted that there in the first chapter and throughout all the rest of the book is the machinery of totalitarian evil. And then we noticed how at the heart of that totalitarian world system of evil and of sin there was the community of faith, the society of the men of faith, that little community to which God had revealed himself. And then finally we saw that God gives victory to that society and community as they do his will. Tremendous themes. And we noted at the end of the chapter how Daniel continued. He continued in faith. He continued, we read, until the first year of King Cyrus. In other words, he continued until the promulgation went forth. That the chosen people were to be redeemed from their bondage and sent back again to the promise of the Holy Land. Daniel continued and the men of faith continued because God himself is with them. This is a verse that illustrates so perfectly the perseverance of the saints. And never forget that the secret of the perseverance of the saints is the perseverance of the saints' Savior within the saints. Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus because God his Lord was continuing to support and to strengthen and to uphold him. And that's the story to which we come. Showing again how one man with God is always there. And showing again how God's purposes have ever been fulfilled within the heart of a little community to which he has revealed himself. That's what happened here. Showing again that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. I would like to invite you very specially to uphold this series of studies and prayer. I would like this morning to ask you to hold the burden of them with me. Because I believe that God has a message for this hour for you and for me and for this city from this book. I would like to invite you very specially to seek to bring friends with you. Who can tell what will happen? On Friday night, Father Bob Cajun, just as a man and his wife were going out together, he whispered over to me, You saw the one that we've had with us this week, that we invited? I said yes. You'll be glad to know, he said, we've found a savior. Would that have happened had these two not got together and conspired to bring that one? You and I are only going to see these empty pews filled to the glory of God. If, as and when we recognize our Christian responsibility to evangelize our friends. You try, won't you? There are fellows in your school, there are girls sitting beside you in the office. You have neighbors and loved ones for whom the ministry of the church will be a tremendous blessing. And perhaps they just wait to be ours. The community of faith will never manifest itself in true and saving action, as we will see, God willing, this morning. We come to the second chapter, and the scene has changed. Nebuchadnezzar occupies the stage most prominently. And Nebuchadnezzar, of course, like a colossus, strides the world. He is the sovereign lord of history. He speaks and it is done. He commands and it stands fast. To him men look, because with him are the issues of life and of death. Nebuchadnezzar, the king. But the extraordinary story of this chapter is the way in which once again the men of faith win the day. Of how was the great drama proceeds we see Nebuchadnezzar the king coming and listening to the man with faith. And the story ends with these words. Daniel sat in the gate of the king. Daniel continues. Daniel sits in the gate. And the word of God through the prophet Daniel is the word that determines history, as we shall see. The second chapter might be called a drama in five acts. Act one, the dream. In which king Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that greatly troubled him. In that dream he saw a tremendous image. With head of gold. And breast and arms of silver. Belly and thighs of brass. Legs of iron. And feet of part iron and clay. And in the still watches of the night this dream came. This mighty image. And it didn't speak. But there it stood. Merciful. Overpowering. Terrifying. The king in his heart cowered before it. But that wasn't all. Because somewhere there was a stone hewn. Hewn without hands. And that stone came and descended upon the image and broke it. And that stone grew and grew until it filled the earth. Act one, the dream. Act two, the challenge to the wisdom of this world. Because you see the king called for the wise men. And he called them to his side. It's a question as to whether the king had really forgotten the dream. Or whether he wanted to prove and test these men that only if they were able to tell him the dream could they truly tell a true interpretation. On their ability to tell him his dream. If they could do that without any cue from himself then he would be able to believe that the interpretation they were making was true. But he summoned them to him, the wise men, the astrologers, the Chaldeans as they are called. And he told them, you must tell me my dream and you must tell me the interpretation. And that the gauntlet was thrown down to man, to the wisdom of this world. The wise men of Babylon. And the king said it's your responsibility to tell me all that has happened and to tell me what this signifies. And so in a sense king Nebuchadnezzar confronted the wise men of his day with the riddle of history. And he said to them I must learn from you. And if I cannot learn from you you will be slain all of you. So ends act two. Act three. The action of the men of faith. And once again it is most significant is it not that here at the very heart of this Babylonian empire. For the wisdom of this world fails completely to bring an answer. There is this community. And Daniel goes to his friends and he says let us get together and let us ask of the Lord mercy. That he would reveal unto us the truth. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah companions desired mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret. That Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. And it is here that we see God at work. Because God is at work within this little community. And the very first thing that this community does you see is to enter into fellowship with one another in the presence of God and to seek for mercy. Being poor in spirit they seek the mercy of God and they wait for light from heaven. Act four. Revelation and thanksgiving. Because in the 19th verse of chapter 2 we read then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. And he answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his. And he changed the times and the seasons. He removed kings and set up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealed the deep and secret things. He knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee and I praise thee. O thou God of my fathers who hast made known unto me. Who hast given me wisdom and might and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee. For thou hast now made known unto us the kings matter. Act five. Interpretation and reward. Because Daniel stands before the king and in the clearest possible terms he shows to him the secret. And to him reward is given. Thus far this story. There are so many things we are not going to do. We're not going to get involved in any detailed exposition of what these particular elements of the image mean. During these studies and messages on these Sunday mornings I want us to concentrate on the great basic issues. The living messages of the book. What is Daniel to say to us today. And rising up out of all this chapter what is the word of the Lord to you and to me this morning. I want to suggest in the simplest possible terms. That there are three great lessons. At least. I want to suggest first of all that here we have the secret of the Lord. Concerning history. There is a God in heaven. Who answers concerning this secret. Daniel as he stands there confronting the king having received the revelation from God. Is able to tell him the story. You see God has whispered in his heart and he knows. He knows what God has been saying. He knows the plan. He knows its significance. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will show to them his covenant. We must therefore note first of all the secret of the Lord. Concerning history. There are many things said concerning this. I have only time this morning to mention the most basic and fundamental parts. There are so many. But when you begin to analyze this story and begin to analyze the whole movement. The series of movements that come together. You see that the distinctive lessons concerning the course of history in which we are all involved. Are these. First. That God alone holds and God alone can reveal the true significance of history. Because it is God who is on the throne. It is God who has created history. And it is God alone who can speak. The word concerning history. You and I must know this. You and I must set ourselves to study the story. Of our mortal history. You and I must see to it that we become involved in this book. But at the same time you and I must see to it that we constantly keep in touch with the trend and stream of history around us. You and I will never fully understand God's word unless we see God's word finding its way right through the course of history. And at the very heart of history as so often I've said from this pulpit. There is another stream of history which God is producing. Our normal natural history of man is the history that God permits. But here is this other history that God is producing. The story of man's redemption from the period of the fall on to the everlasting day when God will crown his work in perfection and in glory. And there side by side with our normal natural history there is this other stream of history. God working, redeeming, redemptively in love to win and to woo his own. And over all this story God holds the key. God holds the key of all unknown. And I am glad that God holds that key. And God alone can reveal the true significance of history. Because there are so many perplexities that enter into this. The whole mystery of evil. Why it is that the righteous suffer and that the wicked so often get through on an easy course and come to the last almost with joy. Why it is that there should be so much perplexity and bewilderment for the people of God. Why it is that pain should be and mystery and tragedy and pain continually. Why should these things be? There is an answer and the answer is with God. Another basic principle that you must note as you study this is that all history begins with God, is under God, and ends with God. You and I look out across the course of history in our generation and we see mountainous men seemingly who tower above their fellows and upon whom tremendous responsibilities rest. Who have again like Nebuchadnezzar the power of life and of death. Have they really the power of life and of death? All history begins with God. This chapter reminds us. All history is under God and all history will end with God. Now the basic principle concerning the secret of the Lord about history is that there is only one type of man who can really read history right. And he is the man who has made the great surrender to God. He is the man who has disavowed the wisdom of the world and has yielded his mind and his heart and his spirit to God. And is seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit. And in the end of the day that's the only man who can really understand his generation. You go to the thinkers of this generation, the non-Christian writers, leaders of thought in our schools and universities and in so many other places. And you ask them the answer to the riddle of history. And they're amazingly expert in analyzing the situation. But ask for giving an answer to the problem. Ah, there's the rub. The fact of the matter is that modern man simply doesn't understand his generation. It's impossible to understand your generation apart from the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. And so Daniel here reminds us continually that the only man who can read history right is the man who has made the great surrender. And the only people who have the authority of God to interpret the times and the seasons and to read the course of history are the people of the community of faith. Now the principle that is noted here very definitely, worked out experimentally, is this. The man who has made this great surrender and who has heard God whispering in his ear the answer to history must never hesitate to declare it. That's what we see in Daniel, is it not? You see he says to Nebuchadnezzar, there's a God in heaven who has the answer. You don't need to go continually without some interpretation, without some revelation and an interpretation concerning your dream. There's a God in heaven and here it is, here's the answer. Here's another principle. This truth which the man of faith declares is the truth which completely contradicts man's normal reading of history. For what is man's normal reading of history? Beside the empires, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, Roman and the like. These tremendous empires that are here seen in this colossus of an image. Thou art this head of gold, O Nebuchadnezzar, said Daniel. What does it mean? All these empires that rise and fall, what's the trend of history? Is there meaning to history? What is it that determines the course of history? Is it economic factor only? Are there psychological processes? Are there great moments in the geographical and the geological sphere that determines the course of history? Are there tides in the affairs of men over which they have no control? What is it that really makes history? What is it that really makes our twentieth century? What is it that makes the world to be in the condition that it is today? Where the United Nations are disunited and the world almost on the verge of complete collapse. Just what makes it so? Well, there are many answers. But look, the answer of God to all this is an answer that completely runs counter to and totally contradicts the reading of history. The answer of God is in a stone. In a stone that the builder rejected. And that stone, of course, is Jesus Christ. And the answer of God is in Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of history. And God says that there is one man to whom I will look. And that there is one to whom I have committed all authority and all power. That there is one sovereign savior and his name is David. And the answer that's given to Daniel, you see, the answer that's given to Daniel is that this kingdom is going to fill the whole earth. Is that this kingdom is going completely to encompass and to overthrow these other dominions. There is a stone hewn. And that stone will fill the earth and will overthrow. And of course, one other principle is that this secret, this truth is received only by the men of faith. It's only to faith that this is granted. To the wisdom of the world, there is no answer. In the end of the day, man stands baffled by the riddle of his own story. There is no answer but to faith. There is revelation given. There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. And where God finds the man of faith, an Abram with his ear pierced, an Isaac and a Jacob waiting to know the will of God, men who look for a city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God, strangers and pilgrims on the earth, but all men of faith listening, listening, listening, listening for the voice, listening for the word of God. Where that is, there is life. These are tremendous days in which to live, are they not? Fascinating, fabulous times in which to live. Isn't it wonderful to have lived into this age in which men are just launching themselves into space? This next ten years, this sixtieth decade of the twentieth century, what is it going to hold? Amazing things. Ah, but the answer to them all is in Jesus Christ and in him alone. The secret of God is with them that fear him. And the story of the book of Daniel is the story of how this secret is revealed to them that wait. The story of this chapter is the story also of the sufficiency of God. Daniel confronted Nebuchadnezzar. And over against the wisdom of the world, he spoke of the wisdom of God, wisdom and might are his. Over against the sovereignty of Nebuchadnezzar, he revealed the sovereignty of the eternal. God's sovereignty in nature, he changed the times and the seasons. God's sovereignty in all the universe, darkness and light are his. God's sovereignty in the realm of revelation and of truth, there is a God in heaven which reveals a secret. The sufficiency of God. You cannot read the story of Daniel without being impressed surely more and more that he was a man who proved God knew him to be sufficient. The sufficiency of God for every emergency, for every crisis, for every need. I read this week. This. Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it and make it worth six thousand dollars. And that's genius. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars. That's capital. A mechanic can take metal that's worth only five dollars and make it worth five thousand. That's skill. An artist can take a fifty cent piece of canvas, paint a picture and make it worth much. That's art. But only God can take a worthless sinful life. Wash it and make it a blessing to humanity. That's God. The story of this second chapter is the story of the sufficiency of God. Because Daniel is not left alone. And the men of faith are not left to themselves or to their own devices. No, God is with them. Right down there on the arena. Right down there on the road beside them. God's sufficiency being proved. Continue. And lastly. Just in a word. We see here the servant of God. The servant of the Lord. The secret of the Lord. God reveals it. The sufficiency of the Lord. God supports and strengthens and empowers those who hear that secret. The servant of the Lord. The man of faith. The man to whom the revelation is given. What kind of a man is he? Look. He is a man dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. Here is the answer. You see, here's the answer to our generation. A man completely undismayed and unafraid. That man will speak. The man who dwells in the secret place. I have a great friend in the mission field. He found Christ in a very remarkable way. He found him on the Anzio beachhead. During World War II. How did he find Christ? Well, out of a sense of very great insufficiency and incompleteness within his own heart. Yes, it was all there. There was a hunger, an emptiness. A questing, a looking. He looked in many places as a young man and found no answer. Then into his battalion there came a surgeon. And this young officer watched that surgeon. And he saw that he was different. He was different under fire. He was different down the line. He's completely different. And he watched him. Several weeks passed and at last this friend of mine went and talked to him. And asked him what was his secret. He said you seem to be so different. What have you got? There on Anzio beachhead that surgeon spoke. Spoke of Christ. You see the servant of the Lord is a man who will work for his generation. A word that others will hear. As he dwells in the secret place of the most high. Dwelling there. But the servant of the Lord is not only a man dwelling in the secret place of the most high. He is a man daring to trust God for the answer. To the problem. That was Daniel. You tell the king that there is a God in heaven. Oh King Nebuchadnezzar. Here is a God with the answer. Daring to trust God. The servant of the Lord. Is not only a man dwelling in the secret place of the most high. And daring to trust God for the answer. He is a man dominating the scene. Of history. Is it not significant that it is Daniel who takes over. Daniel who takes control. He is the man of God. He is the servant of the Lord. To whom the word is given. Dominating the scene. I never read the story of the life of Paul. That tremendous piece of writing of Dr. Luke in the 27th chapter. For there is a storm driven for so many days. And at the last Paul stands forth. And St. Jerry and all his men take a backward position. It is Paul who stands forth and dominates the scene. For the man of faith will always dominate his generation. I know it is hard sometimes. In the midst of particular situations in which you are involved. Certain offices where you work. School where you teach. Neighborhood. Community. Friendship. I know it is hard to take a stand. But I tell you wherever there is a man who is prepared to trust God. And to dare to look to God for the answer. That man under God will dominate his fellow men. There was the community of faith. The society of the men of faith. That little community to which God had revealed himself. And then finally we saw that God gives victory. To that society and community. As they do his will. Tremendous themes. And we noted at the end of the chapter how Daniel continued. He continued in faith. He continued we read until the first year of King Cyrus. In other words he continued until the promulgation went forth. That the chosen people were to be redeemed from their bondage and sent back again. To the promise of the Holy Land. Daniel continued. And the men of faith continued. Because God himself is with them. This is a verse that illustrates so perfectly the perseverance of the saints. And never forget that the secret of the perseverance of the saints. Is the perseverance of the saint's savior within the saints. Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. Because God his Lord was continuing to support and to strengthen and to uphold him. And that's the story to which we come. Showing again how one man with God is always. And showing again how God's purposes have ever been fulfilled within the heart of a little community. Of which he has revealed himself. That's what happened here. Showing again that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. I would like to invite you very specially to uphold this series of studies and prayer. I would like this morning to ask you to hold the burden of them with me. Because I believe that God has a message for this hour for you and for me and for this city. From this book. I would like to invite you very specially to seek to bring friends with you. Who can tell what will happen. On Friday night. Father Bob Cajun just as a man and his wife were going out together. He said. He whispered over to me. You saw the one that we've had with us this week. That we invited. I said yes. You'll be glad to know he said. We've found a savior. Would that have happened had these two not got together and conspired to bring that one. You and I are only going to see these empty pews filled. To the glory of God. If as and when we recognize our Christian responsibility to evangelize our friends. And to go to them and bring. You try won't you. There are fellows in your school. There are girls sitting beside you in the office. You have neighbors and loved ones. For whom the ministry of the church will be a tremendous blessing. And perhaps they just wait to be ours. The community of faith. Will ever manifest itself. In true and saving action. As we will see God willing. This morning. We come to the second chapter. And the scene has changed. Nebuchadnezzar occupies the stage. Most prominently. And Nebuchadnezzar of course like a colossus strides the world. He is the sovereign lord of history. He speaks and it is done. He commands and it stands fast. To him men look. Because with him are the issues of life and of death. Nebuchadnezzar. The king. But the extraordinary story of this chapter. Is the way in which once again the men of faith win the day. Of how was the great drama proceeds we see. Nebuchadnezzar the king. Coming and listening to the man with faith. And the story ends with these words. Daniel sat in the gate of the king. Daniel continues. Daniel sits in the gate. And the word of God through the prophet Daniel. Is the word that determines history. As we shall see. The second chapter might be called. A drama in five acts. Act one. The dream. In which king Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that gravely troubled him. And in that dream he saw a tremendous image. With head of gold. And breast and arms of silver. Belly and thighs of brass. Legs of iron. And feet of part iron and quail. And in the still watches of the night this dream came. This mighty image. And it didn't speak. But there it stood. Mercy. Overpowering. Terrifying. The king in his heart cowered before it. But that wasn't all. Because somewhere there was a storm hewn. Hewn without hands. And that storm came and descended upon the image. And broke it. And that storm grew and grew until it filled the earth. Act one. The dream. Act two. The challenge to the wisdom of this world. Because you see the king called for the wise men. And he called them to his side. It's a question as to whether the king had really forgotten the dream. Or whether he wanted to prove and test these men. That only as they were able to tell him the dream. Could they truly tell a true interpretation. On their ability to tell him his dream. If they could do that without any cue from himself. Then he would be able to believe that the interpretation. They were making was true. But he summoned them to him. The wise men. The astrologers. The Chaldeans as they are called. And he told them you must tell me my dream. And you must tell me the interpretation. And that the gauntlet was thrown down to men. To the wisdom of this world. The wise men of Babylon. And the king said it's your responsibility. To tell me all that has happened. And to tell me what this signifies. And so in a sense king Nebuchadnezzar confronted. The wise men of his day with the riddle of history. And he said to them I must learn from you. And if I cannot learn from you. You will be slain all of you. So ends act two. Act three. The action of the men of faith. And once again it is most significant is it not. That here at the very heart of this Babylonian empire. For the wisdom of this world fails completely to bring an answer. There is this community. And Daniel goes to his friends. And he says let us get together. And let us ask of the Lord mercy. That he would reveal unto us the truth. Daniel. Hanani. Mishael. And Azariah. Companions. Desired mercies of the God of heaven. Concerning this secret. That Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest. Of the wise men of Babylon. And it is here that we see. God at work. Because God is at work within this little community. And the very first thing that this community does you see. Is to enter into fellowship with one another. In the presence of God. And to seek for mercy. Being poor in spirit. They seek the mercy of God. And they wait for light from heaven. Act four. Revelation and thanksgiving. Because in the 19th verse of chapter two. We read then was the secret revealed unto Daniel. In a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. And he answered and said. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. For wisdom and might are his. And he changed the times and the seasons. He removed kings and set up kings. He gave wisdom unto the wise. And knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealed the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness. And the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee and I praise thee. O thou God of my fathers. Who hast made known unto me. Who has given me wisdom and might. And has made known unto me now. What we desired of thee. For thou hast now made known unto us. The king's matter. Act five. Interpretation and reward. Because Daniel stands before the king. And in the clearest light. In the clearest possible terms. He shows to him. The secret. And to him reward is given. Thus far this story. There are so many things we are not going to do. We're not going to get involved in any detailed. Exposition of what. These particular elements of the image. Mean. During these studies and messages. On these Sunday mornings. I want us to concentrate on the great basic issues. The living messages of the book. What is Daniel to say to us. Today. And rising up out of all this chapter. What is the word of the Lord. To you and to me. This morning. I want to suggest. In the simplest possible terms. That there are three great lessons. At least. I want to suggest first of all. That here we have the secret. Of the Lord. Concerning history. There is a God in heaven. Who answers concerning this secret. Daniel is a man. And as he stands there confronting the king. Having received the revelation. From God. He is able to tell him. The story. You see God has whispered in his heart and he knows. He knows what God has been saying. He knows the plan. He knows its significance. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. And he will show to them. His covenant. We must therefore note first of all. The secret of the Lord. Concerning history. There are many things said concerning this. And I have only time this morning to mention. The most basic and fundamental parts. There are so many. But when you begin to analyze this story. And begin to analyze the whole movement. The series of movements that come together. You see that the distinctive lessons. Concerning the course of history. In which we are all involved. Are these. First. That God alone holds. And God alone can reveal the true significance of history. Because it is God who is on the throne. It is God who has created history. And it is God alone who can speak. The word concerning history. And you and I must know this. You and I must set ourselves to study the story. Of our mortal history. You and I must see to it. That we become involved in this book. But at the same time. You and I must see to it. That we constantly keep in touch. With a trandom stream of history around us. You and I will never fully understand. God's word. Unless we see God's word. Finding its way. Right through the course of history. And at the very heart of history. As so often I have said from this pulpit. There is another stream of history. Which God is producing. Our normal natural history of man. Is the history that God permits. But here is this other history. That God is producing. The story of man's redemption. From the period of the fall. On to the everlasting day. When God will crown his work. In perfection and in glory. There side by side. With our normal natural history. There is this other stream of history. God working. Redeeming. Redemptively. In love. To win. And to woo his own. And over all this story. God holds the key. God holds the key of all unknown. And I am glad. That God holds that key. And God alone can reveal the true significance. Of history. Because there are so many perplexities. That enter into this. Why it is that the righteous suffer. And that the wicked so often get through. On an easy course. And come to the last. Almost with joy. Why it is that there should be so much perplexity. And bewilderment for the people of God. Why it is that pain should be. And mystery. And tragedy and pain. Continually. Why should these things be? There is an answer. And the answer is with God. Another basic principle. That you must note. As you study this. Is that all history begins with God. Is under God. And ends with God. You and I look out. Across the course of history. In our generation. And we see mountainous men. Seemingly. Who tower above their fellows. And upon whom tremendous. Upon whom tremendous responsibilities rest. Who again. Like Nebuchadnezzar. The power of life and of death. Have they really. The power of life and of death. All history begins with God. This chapter reminds us. All history is under God. And all history. Will end with God. Now the basic principle. Concerning the secret of the Lord. About history is. That there is only one type of man. Who can really read history right. And he is the man. Who has made the great surrender to God. He is the man. Who has disavowed the wisdom of the world. And has yielded his mind. And his heart and his spirit to God. And is seeking to be led. By the Holy Spirit. And in the end of the day. That's the only man. Who can really understand his generation. You go to the thinkers of this generation. The non-Christian writers. Leaders of thought. In our schools and universities. And in so many other places. And you ask them the answer. To the riddle of history. And they're amazingly expert. In analyzing the situation. But as for giving an answer. To the problem. Ah there's the rub. The fact of the matter is. That modern man simply doesn't understand his generation. It's impossible to understand your generation. Apart from the revelation of God. In Jesus Christ. And so Daniel here. Reminds us continually. That the only man. Who can read the history of life. Is the man who has made the great surrender. And the only people. Who have the authority of God. To interpret the times. And the seasons. And to read the course of history. Are the people of the community of faith. Now the principle that is noted here. Very definitely. Worked out experimentally. Is this. The man who has made this great surrender. And who has heard God. Whispering in his ear. The answer to history. Must never hesitate to declare it. That's what we see in Daniel is a nod. You see he says to Nebuchadnezzar. There's a God in heaven. Who has the answer. You don't need to go continually. Without. Some interpretation. Without some revelation. And an interpretation concerning your dream. There's a God in heaven. And here it is. Here's the answer. Here's another principle. It's this. Truth which the man of faith declares. Is the truth which completely contradicts. Man's normal reading. Of history. For what is man's normal reading. Of history. Beside the empires. Babylonian. Grecian. And the like. These tremendous empires that are here. Seen in this colossus of an image. Thou art this head of gold. O Nebuchadnezzar said Daniel. What does it mean. All these empires that rise and fall. What's the trend of history. Is there meaning to history. What is it that determines the course of history. Is it economic factor only. Are those psychological processes. Are there great moments. In the geographical and the geological sphere. That determines the course of history. Are there tides in the affairs of men. Over which they have no control. What is it that really makes history. What is it that really makes our 20th century. What is it that makes the world to be in the condition. That it is today. Where the United Nations are disunited. And the world almost. On the verge of complete collapse. Just what makes it so. Well there are many answers. But look. The answer of God. To all this. Is an answer. That completely runs counter to. And totally contradicts. The reading of history. The answer of God is. In a stone. In a stone. That the builders rejected. And that stone of course is Jesus Christ. And the answer of God is in Jesus Christ. Who is the Lord of history. And God says that there is one man. To whom I will look. And that there is one to whom I have committed. All authority and all power. That there is one. Sovereign savior. And his name is David. And the answer that is given. To Daniel you see. The answer that is given to Daniel. Is that this kingdom. Is going to fill the whole earth. Is that this kingdom is going completely. To encompass and to overthrow. These other dominions. There is a stone huge. And that stone will fill the earth. And will overthrow. And of course. One other principle. Is that this secret. This truth is received only. By the men of faith. It's only to faith that this is granted. To the wisdom of the world. There is no answer. In the end of the day. Man stands baffled. By the riddle of his own story. There is no answer. But to faith. There is revelation given. There is a God in heaven. Who reveals secrets. And where God finds the man of faith. An Abram with his ear pierced. An Isaac and a Jacob. Waiting to know the will of God. Men who look for a solution. In a city. Which has foundations. Whose builder and maker is God. Strangers and pilgrims on the earth. But all men of faith. Listening. Listening. Listening for the voice. Listening for the word of God. Where that is. There is life. These are tremendous days in which to live. Are they not? Fascinating. Fabulous times in which to live. Into this. Into this age in which men are just launching themselves into space. This next ten years. This sixtieth decade of the twentieth century. Six. What is it going to hold? Amazing things. Ah, but the answer to them all. Is in Jesus Christ. And in him alone. The secret of God. Is with them that fear him. And the story of the book of Daniel. Is the story of how this secret is revealed. To them that wait. The story of this chapter is the story also of the sufficiency of God. Daniel confronted Nebuchadnezzar. And over against the wisdom of the world. He spoke of the wisdom of God. Wisdom and might are his. Over against the sovereignty of Nebuchadnezzar. He revealed the sovereignty of the eternal. God's sovereignty in nature. He changed the time from the seasons. God's sovereignty in all the universe. Darkness and light are his. God's sovereignty in the realm of fire. Of revelation. And of truth. There is a God in heaven. Which reveals the secret. The sufficiency of God. You cannot read the story of Daniel. Without being impressed. Surely more and more. That he was a man who proved God. Knew him to be sufficient. The sufficiency of God. For every emergency. For every crisis. For every need. I read this week. This. Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper. Write a poem on it. And make it worth six thousand dollars. And that's genius. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper. And make it worth a million dollars. That's capital. A mechanic can take metal that's worth only five dollars. And make it worth five thousand. That's skill. An artist can take a fifty cent piece of canvas. Paint a picture. And make it worth much. That's art. But only God can take a worthless sinful life. Wash it. And make it a blessing to humanity. That's God. The story of this second chapter is the story of the sufficiency of God. Because Daniel is not left alone. And the men of faith are not left to themselves or to their own devices. No, God is with them. Right down there on the arena. Right down there on the road beside them. God's sufficiency being proved. Continuous. And lastly. Just in a word. We see here the servant of God. The servant of the Lord. The secret of the Lord. God reveals it. The sufficiency of the Lord. God supports and strengthens and empowers those. Who hear that secret. The servant of the Lord. The man of faith. The man to whom the revelation is given. What kind of a man is he? Look. He's a man dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. Here is the answer. See, here's the answer to our generation. A man completely undismayed and unafraid. That man will speak. A man who dwells in the secret place. I have a great friend in the mission field. Found Christ in a very remarkable way. He found him on the Anzio beachhead. During World War II. How did he find Christ? Followed of a sense of very great insufficiency and incompleteness within his own heart. Yes, there's all that. There's a hunger, an emptiness. A questing, a looking. He looked in many places at the young man and found no answer. Then into his battalion there came a surgeon. And this young officer watched that surgeon. And he saw that he was different. He was different under fire. He was different down the line. He was completely different. He watched him. Several weeks passed and at last this friend of mine went and talked to him. And asked him, what was his secret? He said, you seem to be so different. What have you got? There on Anzio beachhead that surgeon spoke. Spoke of Christ. You see, the servant of the Lord is a man who will word to his generation. A word that others will hear. As he dwells in the secret place of the Most High. Dwelling there. But the servant of the Lord is not only a man dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. He is a man daring to trust God for the answer. To the problem. That was Daniel. You tell the king that there is a God in heaven. Oh King Nebuchadnezzar, here is a God with the answer. Daring to trust God. The servant of the Lord is not only a man dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. And daring to trust God for the answer. He is a man dominating the scene of history. Is it not significant that it is Daniel who takes over? Daniel who takes control.