Tags
1 Peter 2:19-25, 1 Peter 4:12-19, Choices And Consequences, Choices Matter, Daniel 1:1-8, Daniel's character, Galatians 6:7, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, Job 13:15, Job 19:25-27, John 11:25-26, Judgment Is Coming, Nebuchadnezzars & Daniels, Paying attention
Bible Ballistics: BBs #702 Disappointed Or Devoted???
Continuing in our examination of Daniel’s experiences with God, we will begin with a verse from Job that is one of my favorites, for it expresses the trust that I share with Job, and I believe Daniel and his friends.
“Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him:
but I will
maintain mine own ways
before him.” Job 13:15. Amen and Amen!
May this ever be our heart’s cry and the delight of our life? As we continue our look at Daniel, I would ask you to consider what you will do when we are called to be under a Nebuchadnezzar? Will you be a Daniel, and trust to God’s perfect care, or will you “doubt, pout and drop out”? The choice is yours, but the consequences won’t affect just your life; they will affect those around you, those watching your so-called life of “faith”! Where does your faith stand? In God or your ability to control you own circumstances? Whom do you trust? Can we proclaim with Job the truth of our Lord and Savior?
“For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand
at the latter day
upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms
destroy this body,
yet in my flesh
shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see
for myself,
and mine eyes
shall behold,
and not another;
though my reins be consumed
within me.” Job 19:25-27
Life or death can never separate a true believer from Jesus!
“Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection,
and the life:
he that believeth in me,
though he were dead,
yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me
shall never die.
Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26
Just as Jesus asked Mary if she believed, He is asking us today, “do you believe” me—not just “in” me, but believe “ME” for life, now and in the future? Daniel was faced with the most extreme of trials, let’s see what he did.
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim
king of Judah
came Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon
unto Jerusalem,
and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah
into his hand,
with part of the vessels
of the house of God:
which he carried
into the land of Shinar
to the house of his god;
and he brought the vessels
into the treasure house
of his god.” Daniel 1:1-2
Here we have the background of the situation with Daniel and his friends; the people of Judah (the southern 2 tribes of Israel, upon the division of the nation after Solomon’s death). The northern 10 tribes (called Israel) had already gone into captivity to the Assyrians some 100 years earlier, but Judah had been spared because of God’s grace and some good kings (the northern tribes never had a good king, although some were less wicked than others, they all rejected God). But Judah had refused to respond to the preaching of Jeremiah the prophet to repent, so God’s judgment has come upon them, and God has given them into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Yet, there were those who were faithful to The Lord God Almighty of Israel and Daniel and his friends were a part of the faithful remnant within Judah, but you see—a principle that America needs to grasp—when God judges a nation, even the righteous are affected, and Daniel and his friends give us an awesome picture of the character of the godly when they suffer. Peter had some things to say to us about this as well, it’s a bit lengthy, but I think it will benefit us to consider this important passage.
“For this is thankworthy,
if a man for conscience toward God
endure grief,
suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it,
if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,
ye shall take it patiently?
but if, when ye do well,
and suffer for it,
ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto
were ye called:
because Christ also suffered
for us,
leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again;
when he suffered,
he threatened not;
but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self
bare our sins
in his own body
on the tree,
that we,
being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep
going astray;
but are now returned
unto the Shepherd and Bishop
of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:19-25
And just as a reminder in the same letter, Peter reminds believers that our call is to faithful devotion, service and submission to whatever God may allow into our lives. HE is trustworthy, and His purposes are often beyond what we can see, understand or comprehend!
“Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you,
as though some strange thing
happened unto you:
13 But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers
of Christ’s sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also
with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached
for the name of Christ,
happy are ye;
for the spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you:
on their part
he is evil spoken of,
but on your part
he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer
as a murderer,
or as a thief,
or as an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer
as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify God
on this behalf.
17 For the time is come
that judgment must begin
at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us,
what shall the end be
of them that obey not
the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly
and the sinner
appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer
according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls
to him in well doing,
as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:12-19
This, along with Paul’s simple reminder that choices matter, of which we need to be mindful, continually.
“Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
So, as we look at Daniel’s situation, we can recognize that he was caught up in the “reaping” of the sin of his people, even though he and his friends were so obviously young men of integrity, and devotion to God. Let’s consider what the next verses of Daniel 1 tell us.
“3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz
the master of his eunuchs,
that he should bring certain
of the children of Israel,
and of the king’s seed,
and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish,
but well favoured,
and skilful in all wisdom,
and cunning in knowledge,
and understanding science,
and such as had
ability in them
to stand
in the king’s palace,
and whom they might teach
the learning
and the tongue
of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them
a daily provision of the king’s meat,
and of the wine which he drank:
so nourishing them three years,
that at the end thereof
they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were
of the children of Judah,
Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs
gave names:
for he gave unto Daniel
the name of Belteshazzar;
and to Hananiah,
of Shadrach;
and to Mishael,
of Meshach;
and to Azariah,
of Abednego.” Daniel 1:3-7
History tells us is that not only were these young men taken to Babylon for training in public service, but more than likely were also made eunuchs—after all they were under the “master of his eunuchs”, and while we see from our passage that they were outstanding and upstanding young men in the nation; chosen because of their looks and their intelligence; castration was in itself a ceremonial defilement to them (See Deuteronomy 23:1 & Leviticus 21:20). Yet, Daniel and his friends endured this shame, (this was common practice in pagan kingdoms—for many reasons), and while we don’t know how many were taken, (it could have been upwards of 100 young men) only these four are noted by God as faithful!
Consider the situation of Daniel and his friends for a minute, and then we’ll close till next time; Daniel was a young man (probably a mid-teen youth) with intelligence, good looks, and who had no defect. He is being taken away from his home, his family, and friends to a distant place to learn a foreign language, to be put into service to a pagan king/kingdom, to be trained (literally brain-washed to accept the culture of the kingdom) for civil service; and on top of all that, they were each given a Babylonian name (look up their Jewish names in contrast to the new ones—you may be surprised by what you find)! That’s a boatload, of heartache, but that’s not all, these young men would be inundated with the king’s food and drink. WOW, that sounds great to most of us, but here are young men with religious convictions in regard to food and drink—in particular, not only the food itself, but the fact that it would have been offered upon idolatrous, pagan altars before it was served to them. What was Daniel to do? His friends? Well, we’ll look at verse 8 and leave you to ponder Daniel’s choice, and consider the answer next time!
“But Daniel purposed
in his heart
that he would not defile himself
with the portion
of the king’s meat,
nor with the wine
which he drank:” Daniel 1:8a
Daniel could have been “dis-appointed” in his circumstances, but I truly believe that he was keeping a divine “HIS-appointment”! Will you see your ‘disappointment’ as “HISappointment”, and stand devotedly with Job and Daniel, or be one who “doubts—pouts—and drops out”? It’s your choice—but there is a test!
Blessings on your week!
Amen and Amen!!!
