The prophet Daniel lived in two difficult societies: first at home in a morally decaying Jerusalem, and then for the rest of his life in the more severe Babylonian/Persian cultures ruled by idolatrous kings. Yet he managed to stay faithful to God and was respected by all who called upon him for advice and direction. One can’t think of Daniel without thinking of wisdom and faithfulness under tough conditions.
How about us? Our own society often alarms us when we see open immorality, shameless greed, mockery of religion, and shocking violence. How can we remain as faithful and vibrant in our own society as Daniel was in his? How did he do it?
First, he held to his principles carefully.
When Judah slid into open idolatry under its final kings, Daniel learned to seek faithfulness rather than follow the sins of his countrymen. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded and took Daniel along with other captives back to Babylon, our man was already primed to be faithful to God in this new direction his life had taken. No doubt he had good parents who raised him to respect the law and please God. Faithful parents are vital!
Nebuchadnezzar wanted to weaken Jewish society by taking away their best and brightest young men, and at the same time strengthen his kingdom by training them in all things Babylonian. Part of their new regimen was to eat of the king’s choice food and drink, which was likely far more appealing than the food was back home. But here Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah would not compromise, considering all the Jewish food restrictions in the Law of Moses.
Tactfully, Daniel approached the commander of the officials and sought permission to eat vegetables and drink only water, plus be tested after 10 days for healthy appearance compared to those who ate the king’s rich delicacies. Amazingly, Daniel and his three friends achieved better results in such a short time, astonishing those over them. Even the king was impressed with their “wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them” and found them “ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm” (Dan.1:20).
To do well in our own difficult society we must hold to our principles carefully, not weaken and compromise. The Christians in Colossae were also tempted to abandon what they had been taught, and Paul encouraged them to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col.1:9-10). Like them, we must uphold godly principles.
Second, Daniel had great confidence in God and practiced personal humility.
Lumped together unfavourably with dishonest magicians and conjurers over their failure to reveal and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s bad dream, the death penalty was threatened. While all panicked, Daniel calmly approached the furious king and promised to come up with the desired answers (2:14-18).
Notice that Daniel replied “with discretion and discernment” about the situation, demonstrating a strong trust in God through his prayers for help. He had a sense that God stood with him. Calmness, discretion, prayer, confidence: these are keys to deal with challenges to our faith in our own society. And when it came time to stand before this skeptical king and give him the answers, he demonstrated humility when he could have shamed his competitors and exalted himself. As God’s prophet he put the Lord ahead of his own reputation and included a word of self-effacement (2:27-30).
Peter recommended the same when he wrote, “But even if you should suffer for he sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defence to everyone who ask you to give account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet.3:14-15). Confidence and humility are impressive just about everywhere.
Third, they treated the king with respect, but also stood up to his flaws.
All of us remember how Daniel’s three companions faced the fiery furnace, but do we remember their attitude to Nebuchadnezzar when he demanded they bow down to his national idol?
They could have protested, scoffed, or displayed insolence. But they knew God “changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” (2:21). God had installed this idolatrous king for His own reasons, and respect was in order. When they replied, they used civil language (“O king”).
But respect doesn’t always mean agreement. They would not bow down to the idol. They simply said, “We do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter” (3:16). They also explained that God was perfectly able to rescue them from the furnace if He chose to do so, but that had nothing to do with their decision not to bow down.
Today we may not agree with the decisions of our own government, but respect is in order because God has installed them in office for His own purposes. Peter said, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pet.2:13-15).
Fourth, Daniel refused to be tempted by greed.
He could have eventually amassed a large fortune due to all the direction and advice he had given to the kings he served. But money was not his goal, as king Belshazzar would soon find out. This king was a drunk and spent his time partying. God wrote His objection upon the wall when this miserable ruler drank out of Jerusalem’s temple vessels. The short phrase had frightened the king so badly, his wife had to come in and tell him what to do! She urged him to bring in Daniel to interpret what God had written. When Daniel appeared, the king dangled a golden necklace in front of him as a gift if he could succeed. The prophet replied, “Keep your gifts for yourself, or give you rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him” (5:17).
We live in a country that seems to idolize great fortunes. But we’re told to be free from the love of money (Heb.13:5), and to consider greed as something we are dead to, for it is a form of idolatry (Col.3:5). This prevented Daniel from entangling himself in the worldly ways of Babylon. It will do the same for us today in our own times.
Fifth, Daniel was a man of study and prayer.
His enemies tried to eliminate him with another clever scheme: convincing Darius to sign a document preventing anyone from petitioning any god or man, except him, for 30 days. This was backed by a threat of being thrown into a den of lions.
Yet Daniel refused to stop praying to God (6:10), resulting in the attempt to have the prophet executed. He was a courageous man of prayer and diligently studied the scriptures (9:1-3). This kept him grounded as a servant of God. Our society can chip away our principles and weaken our desire to serve our Lord – and it can happen slowly, even imperceptibly. Study and prayer will keep us strong.
Are things difficult and trying where you live? Hold to your principles carefully; develop confidence in God and couple it with personal humility; respect those in authority but be unafraid to stand up to their flaws; keep from greed; practice study and prayer.
These principles maintained Daniel for over 70 years in tough surroundings. Think what they can do for you.
Barrie, ON.