Pathways 1.Know Yourself that You May Know God (David) 2.Going Back in Order to Go Forward (Joseph) 3.Journey Through the Wall (Abraham) 4.Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief &Loss (Jesus) 5.Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath

Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath: Part 6 Daniel 6: Exodus 20

Contemplation (Being with God) Activity Your Life

Contemplation (Being w/ God) Activity

Fixed hour prayer My work in life first is to seek God. Psalm 27:4

TheSabbathRest

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”

Slave Cut off from home Name changed Indoctrinated Immersed in the culture Governmental job ‘Babylon’

Swallowed by our culture! Saved by the daily rhythm of prayer!

“Seven times a day I praise you.” Psalm 119:164 “It is good to praise the Lord… To proclaim your love in the morning, And your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:2 Evening, morning and noon I cry out to you in distress And he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

Bible Reading Silence / Stillness “The only thing big enough to contain God is silence!” Søren Kierkegaard

The Sabbath Rest

Ten Commandments Exodus 20: You shall have no other gods before me. 2.You shall not make for yourself an idol. 3.You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 4.Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord our God. On it you shall not do any work,... For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” The Sabbath Rest

Who are you? The Sabbath Rest

Qualities to Biblical Sabbath:  Stopping  Resting  Delighting  Contemplating The Sabbath Rest

The Ancient Practice of Silence/Solitude: Guidelines 1.Be Attentive and Open. 2.Get Comfortable. Be Relaxed. Be Still. 3.Take Deep Breath. 4.Close or Lower Your Eyes toward the Ground. The Sabbath Rest

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5 The Sabbath Rest