Ronks, Pennsylvania is the middle of
Amish country, but the Sight and Sound presentation of Daniel is an intense
presentation of faith confronting political power and evil directly. The story
of Daniel is presented chronologically (with occasional flashbacks), weaving
together the entire biblical story. This includes the historical context of the
Babylonian captivity, appearances by the contemporary prophets (Ezekiel and
Jeremiah), and of course a faithful presentation of the book of Daniel
including both his interactions with Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian
religious and political hierarchy, and both Daniel’s and Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and visions.
The play is intense. The themes
themselves bear the weight of slavery in a foreign land, the constant
opposition of evil religious schemers, the risk of imminent death, and the
presentation of truth and righteousness to rulers who are not particularly interested.
The intensity is matched by the music and special effects. A large LED movie
screen covers the entire back of the stage, and the action and sets are
integrated so that it is often hard to tell where one ends and the other
begins. Just one example - as Ezekiel is telling his vision of the valley of
dry bones coming to life, actors on stage are dancing to a spiritual, and
behind them is a screen with hundreds more, an army of the resurrected.
Belshazzar’s final party is a wild bacchanal with almost the entire cast
drinking and dancing until the hand of God appears to write the fateful words
on the wall, terrifying all.
The depiction of dreams is faithful to
Scripture. When visions of heaven are presented on-screen, it seems as though
the developers are following the scheme set forth in The Unseen Realm,
by Michael S. Heiser. Heaven is on a
mountaintop populated with angels and occasional appearances by the
pre-incarnate Christ, with a seemingly endless array of stars in the distance.
When future empires are depicted by animals, they are terrifying. The statue
that Nebuchadnezzar dreams is tangible, flying through the air over the
audience. The subsequent statue that Nebuchadnezzar builds seems impossibly lavish, because it was. (Although
the head is on stage, the whole statue is shown only on-screen, but it is
depicted ginormously right in front of the Hebrew young men.)
It is the application of eternal
values that is ultimately important. What should we take away from Daniel’s
legacy?
•
We must determine in our heart to
remain faithful to God in every circumstance and situation, whether trial and
tribulation or success, power, and wealth.
•
Our relationship with God requires a
significant investment of time spent with Him every day.
•
When God gives us revelation in
visions or dreams (or by other pathways), we must understand the meaning, and
we must respond appropriately (in obedience).
•
Rulers, regardless of political structure, may
or may not respond to God’s revealed standards of justice, mercy and humility.
They are often tempted by their power or by others seeking to influence them
into horrible sin. We should pray for them irregardless.
The fact that God chooses to display
the attributes of His glory - holiness, love, righteousness, mercy, justice -
through our lives is our ultimate calling. Neither evil people nor evil spirits
(nor the politicians they deceive and enslave) can prevent God from
accomplishing His ultimate purpose.
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