See Me

Opening Gratitude and Introduction

Good morning, Alfred Street. First giving all honor and glory to God who is the head of my life. I am filled with gratitude and must acknowledge the blessing of being able to stand before you today. I want to acknowledge my family, my seminary siblings from Princeton Theological, and especially my pastor, the Reverend Natalie Mitchum of Mount Pisca in Princeton, New Jersey, and my mentor, the Reverend Cindy Rudolph of Oak Grove in Detroit, Michigan.

Now saints, it's preaching time.

Scripture Reading: Daniel 6:6-10

This morning's scripture comes to us from Daniel 6, verses 6-10 (English Standard Version):

Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, "Oh king Darius, live forever. All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction. That whoever makes petition to any god or man for 30 days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians which cannot be revoked. Therefore, King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went up to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done previously.

The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon Topic: "See Me"

Having heard the scripture, I would like to preach to you this morning from the topic "See Me."

Historical Context and Challenge

It was on this day, July 5th, 1852, when Frederick Douglass delivered a keynote address titled "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" Standing in a room full of Americans, he proclaimed:

The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

Douglass questioned the hypocrisy of being asked to speak in celebration of independence for a country that still upheld the institution of slavery. And as I spent the last few weeks listening to news stations discuss all of the celebrations planned for this 250th anniversary, I wondered: what would Douglass think?

While this country has grown older, it does not appear to be the wiser. I am troubled. Where laws are being passed to prevent access to health care, food, education, and voting, I question what of this country's democracy still exists. What do we do when oppression comes dressed in legislation? When freedom isn't so free for everyone? What do you do when what is clearly wrong is perfectly legal?

Perhaps this morning's text might help us.

Understanding Daniel's Story

Here we have Daniel—a man who was brought to Babylon as a young captive from Jerusalem, dragged from his home as a teenager. He was forced to learn a language that is not his, a culture that is not his, and a system that is not meant for his people.

Yet, despite his experience of captivity, some 70 years later, he has worked his way to the top. King Darius wants to promote Daniel to head administrator in charge, making him second only to the king. The satraps and high officials get word of this decision and, fueled by jealousy and envy, they decide to take Daniel down.

They convince King Darius to establish a law banning prayer to any god. When Daniel, who prays every day, learns of this, verse 10 tells us that he goes home. But here's what matters: he doesn't go into the basement where he won't be seen. He doesn't close the blinds so that no one from the outside can see in. Instead, he goes to the upper room where the window is open and continues to pray.

It is almost as if Daniel was telling the satraps and high officials, "See me."

What Is a "See Me" Mentality?

Indeed, in that moment, I believe Daniel had a see me mentality. And I would know because I was raised by a see me mama.

Growing up, I was an active student. I did all of the things—class president, cheerleading, junior stewardist. With that came some haters, some detractors who always had something to say about who I was and what made me special.

On one occasion, I became so frustrated that I told my mother I didn't want to go back to school. Her response went something like this: "You don't let anybody stop you from doing what you're supposed to do. You go in there, do what you have to do, and if anybody has a problem with it, you tell them they can come see me."

For those of you who don't know, the phrase "see me" is not an invitation to look at one's physical appearance. Rather, it is a statement of resistance that says: I am standing my ground. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, and no matter how you feel, I will not be moved.

So, church, might I suggest that as we continue navigating these volatile and tumultuous landscapes, I believe you're going to need to get you some "see me" and keep it on you at all times.

Three Things About a "See Me" Attitude

1. It Requires You to Know Who You Are

Under King Darius, everyone had a role. The satraps and high officials were responsible for overseeing the kingdom. Yet in the text, we see both standing before the king, abandoning their offices and disregarding protocol all to stop Daniel.

Because they cannot go after his work, they go after his identity. The satraps and high officials were people of the Medo-Persian society, a polytheistic culture where people could worship many gods and the king rarely interfered. But Daniel's worship exposed his identity.

Praying three times a day while facing Jerusalem was a specifically Jewish practice. This meant that without knowing Daniel, if you saw a man praying three times a day while facing Jerusalem, nine times out of nine he was a Judean. The problem was that the Judeans were of a conquered people.

Where King Darius saw Daniel as an excellent worker who should be promoted, the satraps saw just another Judean about to take one of their positions. Jealousy will make you lose focus. But perhaps you've dealt with satraps in your own life—the ones who won't admit you're more qualified, so they say you got your degree because of affirmative action. They won't admit you perform well, so they say you don't present well because your hair is unprofessional. They won't say they're intimidated by your confidence, so they say you're aggressive, angry, or arrogant.

King Darius, whose name means "one who sustains good thought," doesn't think twice about how his own kingdom could fail. Some scholars suggest this failure is because the king was consumed with flattery and a desire to have the greatest kingdom. What happens when a leader is more concerned with being the greatest rather than governing with greatness?

But Daniel is an excellent worker because God gave him favor. God gave him knowledge, God gave him skill, and God gave him understanding. When you know who you are and what you bring to the table, some things just don't move you.

In a time where the marginalized continue to be attacked based on identity, sometimes you have to remind yourself: "I know who I am. I know I'm a child of God. I know what God has placed inside of me." I know who gave us today's laptops and computers. I know who sent us to the moon. I know who created the traffic light. I know who built the White House. I know who I am.

To have a see me attitude, you have to know who you are so you don't lose sight of where you're going. Daniel doesn't lose focus because Daniel knows who he is and where his identity is rooted.

2. It Requires the Character to Remain Committed

Verse 10 opens with one important word: when. In grammar, "when" is a temporal marker—a phrase used to indicate time or establish a sequence. In biblical grammar, it often indicates that something is happening in the text, that a shift is occurring.

Where verse 10 states "when Daniel knew that the document had been signed," it is letting us know that the circumstances are changing. Yet according to the text, Daniel's actions remain the same. "Daniel prayed as he had previously done."

There's a difference between discipline and consistency. Discipline is a matter of training. Consistency is a matter of character. Discipline is the ability to do a thing. Consistency is the ability to do it no matter the circumstance.

For decades, Daniel has been disciplined in the ways of the empire. He understands the government and system of authority well. So based on discipline alone, Daniel shouldn't be praying because he knows he will be killed. But Daniel has also been watching the works of God.

When Daniel is praying and giving thanks, I'd like to imagine it's because he's looking back over his life, remembering how consistent God has been:

• In chapter one, God preserved Daniel when he didn't eat the king's food.
• In chapter two, God gave Daniel the dream interpretation when no one else could.
• In chapter three, God is with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
• In chapter four, God brought down Nebuchadnezzar who thought Babylon was great.
• In chapter five, with a writing on the wall, God brings down all of Babylon.

From Daniel 1 through Daniel 5, despite changing circumstances, Daniel has had an unchanging God.

With the state of this country, sometimes I have to look back at the history books and remember how consistent God has been. The same God who called Moses gave us Harriet Tubman to set the enslaved free. The same God who called Jeremiah led Martin Luther King and Bayard Rustin to speak truth to power. The same God who appointed Deborah gave us Pauli Murray to strategize Brown v. Board of Education.

I wasn't always disciplined with prayer, but God is consistent in answering. I wasn't always disciplined about going to church, but God is consistent with showing up. I wasn't always disciplined with my choices, but God was consistent with protecting me. I'm not always disciplined with my money, but God is consistent in providing. I'm not always consistent with my attitude, but God is consistent with grace. I'm not always disciplined in having faith, but God is consistent in keeping His promises.

Maybe sometimes even discipline fails. Sometimes you can dot all your i's and cross all your t's and do everything right, but it still goes left. But I give thanks for a God who's consistent in turning some things around and working them for my good. He may not come when I want Him to, but He's always right on time. God is consistent.

Because your character is formed by the one you follow, God's consistency keeps Daniel committed to prayer.

3. It Results in Knowledge That Provokes Change

Daniel's prayers cause something to happen. If I tell you my mother said "see me" and you don't know who my mother is, it has no impact on you. You might walk into that lion's den. But if I come to you and tell you that my mother said if you have a problem, come see me, and you know who my mother is, then you also know what that means.

You're likely to think once or twice about what you're going to do before you do it. You have the knowledge to know that when you see me, you might see only one little Jonesy, but behind me there's a father Jonesy and a mother Jonesy. And they're not afraid to move some things.

Daniel's see me attitude allows God to have a "know me" moment.

Despite the law banning prayer, Daniel keeps praying. The satraps and high officials watch him and report him to the king. The king has him arrested and throws him into the lion's den. And then something happens the next day.

Let me restate the story: The satraps and high officials see that Daniel is elevating, but they don't know his God, so they start conspiring. They see Daniel praying three times a day facing Jerusalem, and they don't know his God, so they ban prayer. They see Daniel continuing to pray with a window open, and they still don't know his God, so they report him and have him arrested. They see Daniel walk into the lion's den without a fight or fright, but they don't know his God.

So King Darius says, "May your God deliver you" and closes the den with a stone.

But on the next day, when they roll the stone away, they hear Daniel say, "My Father sent an angel to shut the mouth of the lion." And they see Daniel step out of the den without a scar or wound in sight, just as whole as whole can be.

And Darius says, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. That's your God? I WANT TO KNOW YOUR GOD. In fact, let me issue a decree so that everybody knows the living God."

The Power of Being Seen

When I look back on my life, I need somebody to understand:

• When you see me, know there's a God who redeems.
• When you see me, know there's a God who delivers.
• When you see me, know there's a God who heals.
• When you see me, know there's a God who restores.
• When you see me, know there's a God who sustains.
• When you see me, know there's a God who carries.
• When you see me, know there's a God who covers.
• When you see me, there's a God who liberates.
• When you see me, you ought to know there is a God.

Conclusion

As I stand here just a 15-minute walk from where our ancestors were bought and sold, and just a 30-minute drive from where leaders have abandoned post to pursue a post-Reconstruction era, I only have one question.

Where Douglass's speech raised the question, "What to the slave is the Fourth of July?" I want to know: What to God is there 'Make America Great Again'?

And before you get ready to answer, just know my God told me to tell you: See me.