February 8–14

This weekly feature is dedicated to Adventists who are looking for biblical insights into the topics discussed in the Sabbath School lesson quarterly. We post articles which address each lesson as presented in the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, including biblical commentary on them. We hope you find this material helpful and that you will come to know Jesus and His revelation of Himself in His word in profound biblical ways.

 

Lesson 7: “From the Lion’s Den to the Angel’s Den”

Daniel in the lions’ den is another of those stories we heard as children. On the surface, it is fairly simple and straight-forward but there is more than one level to the story. It is also about faith in God and the faithfulness of God.

For the most part, the lesson does a good job of handling the story on both levels but in the very first lesson of the week, there is a curious statement where the author contradicts himself.

From this lesson:

However, as the chapter unfolds, Daniel faces the result of what could rightly be called the first sin—that of jealousy. 

But compare that to what was said in the lesson for week 5, day 1:

Pride has been called the first sin. It is first made manifest in Lucifer, an angel in the courts of heaven.

So, which is the first sin? Pride? Or jealousy?

Isaiah 14:13, 14, verses that are believed to be about the fall of Lucifer, refer to his pride in wanting to elevate himself to be equal with God, have this accusation:

But you said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

This is a good description of pride and its effect on Lucifer, but there is nothing in the Bible that speaks of him being jealous of Jesus. The only authority for that idea is Ellen White.

Her statement that Lucifer was jealous of Jesus was based on her very un-Biblical story that God “consulted” with Jesus on the creation of the universe, and further, that Lucifer was jealous because he was not consulted as well. But there is absolutely nothing in the Bible to even hint at that happening. It is nothing more than human imagination, spun out in great detail and added to what the Bible tells us. (This might be a good time to read Revelation 22:18)

For the most part, the lesson’s handling of the story is quite straight-forward, but in Tuesday’s lesson we come to some more un-Biblical additions that are clearly used to prop up the Adventist Great Controversy theme.

From the lesson:

Of course, the real causes and motives behind the plot lie in the cosmic battle between God and the forces of evil. At this time (539 b.c.) Daniel already has received the visions recorded in Daniel 7 (553 b.c.) and 8 (551 b.c.). So, he can understand the royal decree, not as a matter of mere human politics but as an instance of this cosmic war.

There is no Biblical support for this notion of a “cosmic battle” or “cosmic war”. After Lucifer’s fall, there was war in heaven, but that was ended when he was cast out of heaven along with the angels who sided with him.

Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Notice that the battle going on is a spiritual battle; and our only victory will be because we rely on the armor of God. He fights the battle for us. Nowhere does the Bible indicate that the devil is warring with God. And, even if he had been warring with God, he was totally and completely defeated when Jesus rose from the dead.

In Wednesday’s lesson, the author discusses happy endings for some who were protected by God, comparing that to others who were not divinely defended but were allowed to die. Then we are asked how we are to understand that dichotomy.

The simple answer is, we don’t understand it. God sees all and knows all, and from His perspective it makes sense and it works out according to His plan. This is one area where faith is vital to a continued trust that God is in charge and will work things out. That faith is tested when we don’t understand things that happen, but it is also strengthened as we remember that God is in control and nothing happens that He doesn’t allow. 

We must remember that nothing can take us from His hand (John 10:27-30), and, although we may fear evil in this physical realm, we can be without any fear for our eternal life. Jesus has promised that in the last day He will raise up all who came to Him (John 6:39, 40).

I believe that some day we will be given more understanding and will see what was going on behind the scenes here. But even if we don’t have a full explanation, we can rest now in the loving hand of God and trust Him.

After all, if we are to die in some seemingly unjust manner, we know that we are still in God’s hands (Romans 14:8).

The lesson uses 1 Corinthians 4:5 as comfort in the face of injustice, but that verse is a promise that all that is hidden will one day be revealed. There are other promises that are much more relevant to this kind of situation.

In the words of Paul:

But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Philippians 1:23). 

He knew that as much as he was needed on earth to teach and to proclaim the gospel, he also knew that to leave this earthly life was to be home with Christ. He was so assured of that fact that he was “torn” over which would be better—what he wanted, to be with Christ—or what was needed here, to continue on teaching.

 

Vindication

In the following section, we come to “Vindication”, which is another completely un-Biblical concept when it comes to God and His character.

In the dictionary, vindication means:

1. to free from allegation or blame
2. to provide justification of or defense for
3. to protect from attack or encroachment
4. to avenge
5. to maintain a right to

None of these apply to God. There is no Biblical record that He has been accused of anything, that He has to justify Himself, that He has to protect against encroachment or that He has to do anything to maintain His right to rule His creation.

Job chapters 38-41 are quite clear that God is so far above everyone and everything that there is no contest. And in Job’s answer to God in chapter 41, he clearly admits that he, Job, understands that truth.

The only definition from the list above that can rightly be applied to God is that of “avenge”, which He most certainly will do. That is laid out in a lot of detail in the last book of the Bible.

Further, the lesson’s claim that “the Lord is vindicated before the cosmos” is another spurious claim that actually denies the Sovereignty of God.

God is Holy, Sovereign over all, all-knowing and loving. He doesn’t need us to fight His so-called ‘battles’ for Him or to prove to “the cosmos” that He is just.

Our confidence in God is uncertain if we bring Him down to our level and make Him prove Himself to us and to some watching universe. When we bring Him down, He is no longer the same God, and that leads us to substitute ourselves, our wisdom and our ideas for His.

On the other hand, if we allow Him to be what He is—Sovereign, Holy, Omniscient, Omnipresent and the loving Father that He is, we can truly worship Him and trust ourselves to His hands. 

David had the correct idea when he sang praises to God in Psalm 8:

1 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?

5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!

6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen,And also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

That is the God we love and serve. That is the God that saved Daniel from the lions and saved the other three from the fire. That is the God that promises to hold us and never let us go. †