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Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Ricardo Whyte

Driving While Under the Influence

Our scripture reading for today is going to be found in Daniel chapter 5 verse 22 to 23.

I'll be reading in your hearing, and this is from the King James Version of God's Word.

And thou his son, Obel-shazer, hast not humbled thine heart, Though thou knewest all this, but has lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines have drunk wine in them.

And thou has praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know, And the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified.

Who among us at this point is not acquainted with the tragedy of someone driving while under the influence?

The most disturbing accounts to me are the ones where the person has committed themselves to not drinking anymore, but for some reason they relapse.

But they make it a point to say, you know, I'm gonna be at home.

And so in the midst of drinking, they drink to the point of blacking out and unfortunately decide to take the wheel and crash, Driving while under the influence.

So I'm gonna solicit God's assistance 1 more time as we delve into this topic.

Our Father and our God, I just pray that you would be with us this morning.

Father, I pray that you would hide me behind the shadow of your cross.

I pray that Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone would be lifted up at this moment even now.

These things we pray in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

So the scripture reading is from the book of Daniel.

But 1 of the things that has enriched my study is when I study in context.

So part of context would require me to ask the question, who wrote the book of Daniel?

I was so happy in the question and answer, not really question and answer, but in that introductory period, to hear how many Daniels are in the audience.

So in Daniel chapter 1 verse 8, it tells us, he purposes in his heart not to defile himself.

He purposes in his heart not to defile himself.

It's extremely interesting to me because now as a psychiatrist the question I'm asking myself is what is the condition of this young man's mind when he purposes in his heart not to defile himself?

Have you ever paused to ask yourself that question?

Well in verse 4, verse 4 of Daniel chapter 1 reads as follows.

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his units So this is Nebuchadnezzar That he should bring certain of the children of Israel and of the king's seed and of the princes.

Children in whom was no blemish but well favored and skillful in all wisdom and cunning in knowledge and understanding science and such had had ability in them to stand in the king's palace and in whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." Who is Daniel?

Dare I say, perhaps even attractive, promising, desirous, intelligent.

That word doesn't mean very much to us right now because none of us have gone through a siege.

But he survives a siege, a siege so severe that women who were so gentle, they didn't want their feet to touch the floor at 1 point, were now eating each other's babies.

In fact, he has experienced the destruction of the nation's landmark.

We just experienced the recurrence of 9-11.

And we could have been across the country, but we were paralyzed with pain by the destruction of those buildings.

The hope and dreams of the Jewish people had been destroyed.

Further, do you Remember what Nebuchadnezzar did to the king, Zedekiah.

He captures the king and his sons, kills his 10 sons, and makes sure that that's the last thing he sees because what does he do after that?

Imagine if that was done to our president.

Recall that I mentioned he was a most eligible bachelor.

Isaiah chapter 39 and verse 7 to Hezekiah.

So this is where Isaiah says to Hezekiah, that was a stupid thing you did.

Remember after Hezekiah had been recovered from his illness, he goes and he welcomes the Babylonians and he shows them all the good things.

What was the 1 thing he should have showed them?

Isaiah comes to them, that was a stupid thing.

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts, Behold the days come, that all that is in thine house and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day shall be carried to Babylon nothing shall be left saith the Lord but that's not why we're reading this and thy sons that shall issue from thee which thou shalt beget shall they take away and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon I see men crossing their legs no I'm joking did you hear that Now think you've just gone through that procedure.

You've suffered seeing your nation destroyed, your king mutilated with his sons killed, you've survived the siege.

So now all of a sudden every time I call you it's like I'm calling you Prince of Satan.

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Driving While Under the Influence

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