As Christians have sat through many different sermon or bible study lessons and was thrilled by the escapades of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys. This has been the focus of the International Sunday School during the month of October and November. These lessons are often used as a source of motivation, emphasising that God will deliver his people. In many bible study groups, the emphasis is placed on, how these lessons are down to us today. But, since we are vividly aware that there are no physical fiery furnaces of Lion's dens to be cast into, in today's society, we somewhat become at ease as the threat of death for our convictions escape us. If our thinking leads us into that direction we are missing the most important lesson that the book of Daniel is teaching us.
How often have we question our self as to how we should act or respond when confronted with an adversary? We are indoctrinated into a belief that when approached by the Devil, all we have to do is shout, "Get behind me Satan" (Luke 4:8), and he will meekly depart. This teaching, this indoctrination is based upon a flawed concept, ideology or belief. Even when Jesus uttered those words, the attack of the Devil did not diminish. The Devils antics in Luke 4:9 showed an intensification rather than submission. If our thinking allows us to believe that because we are "prayed up", we have control of the Devil or that when the temptation comes God will remove the temptation, then we are scripturally delusional.
The book of Job set forth the parameters of a classic example of why and how we are tested. If we view the story of Job as nothing more than a subject of motivation that proclaim, "all of the days of my appointed time, I am going to wait until my change come", (Job 14:14), we have missed the point. Since that fiasco with Lucifer, that resulted in him being cast out on the earth, there has been an ongoing search for souls capable of resisting the devil. There are a purpose and a plan for our temptation. God has a way for our deliverance, but there is a price that we must pay for our deliverance. Job, Daniel and the three Hebrew boys among others, all paid the price to be delivered.
Let us review the first six chapters of Daniel. These chapters will give us a step by step guide on how one should conduct them self in the face of adversities. In today's society and workplace, we have evolved to a place where to openly pray is considered taboo. How did Daniel respond when told not to pray to his God? Daniel and the three Hebrew boys is a classic example of how we should response, even in the face of losing our jobs or death. But, in a modern day agnostic and politically correct society are we prepared to go to those extremes.
How often have we question our self as to how we should act or respond when confronted with an adversary? We are indoctrinated into a belief that when approached by the Devil, all we have to do is shout, "Get behind me Satan" (Luke 4:8), and he will meekly depart. This teaching, this indoctrination is based upon a flawed concept, ideology or belief. Even when Jesus uttered those words, the attack of the Devil did not diminish. The Devils antics in Luke 4:9 showed an intensification rather than submission. If our thinking allows us to believe that because we are "prayed up", we have control of the Devil or that when the temptation comes God will remove the temptation, then we are scripturally delusional.
The book of Job set forth the parameters of a classic example of why and how we are tested. If we view the story of Job as nothing more than a subject of motivation that proclaim, "all of the days of my appointed time, I am going to wait until my change come", (Job 14:14), we have missed the point. Since that fiasco with Lucifer, that resulted in him being cast out on the earth, there has been an ongoing search for souls capable of resisting the devil. There are a purpose and a plan for our temptation. God has a way for our deliverance, but there is a price that we must pay for our deliverance. Job, Daniel and the three Hebrew boys among others, all paid the price to be delivered.
Let us review the first six chapters of Daniel. These chapters will give us a step by step guide on how one should conduct them self in the face of adversities. In today's society and workplace, we have evolved to a place where to openly pray is considered taboo. How did Daniel respond when told not to pray to his God? Daniel and the three Hebrew boys is a classic example of how we should response, even in the face of losing our jobs or death. But, in a modern day agnostic and politically correct society are we prepared to go to those extremes.
First, who was Daniel and what does the lessons of the first six chapters of the book teaches us? Let's do a quick study of the chapters and see what we can learn. Maybe the words of Paul, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, ( Ephesians 6:10) will guide us.
Induction in Babylon (chapter 1)
In the third year of King Jehoiakim, God allows Jerusalem to fall into the power of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Young Israelites of noble and royal family, "without physical defect, and handsome," versed in wisdom and competent to serve in the palace of the king, are taken to Babylon to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Among them are Daniel and his three companions, who refuse to touch the royal food and wine for fear of defilement. Their overseer fears for his life in case the health of his charges deteriorates, but Daniel suggests a trial and the four emerge healthier than their counterparts from ten days of nothing but vegetables and water. They are allowed to continue to refrain from eating the king's food, and to Daniel God gives insight into visions and dreams. When their training is done Nebuchadnezzar finds them 'ten times better' than all the wise men in his service and, therefore, keeps them at his court, where Daniel continues until the first year of King Cyrus.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream of four kingdoms (chapter 2)
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by a dream and demands that his wise men tell him its content. When the wise men protest that this is beyond the power of any man he sentences all, including Daniel and his friends, to death. Daniel receives an explanatory vision from God: Nebuchadnezzar had seen an enormous statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of mixed iron and clay, then saw the statue destroyed by a rock that turned into a mountain filling the whole earth. Daniel explains the dream to the king: the statue symbolized four successive kingdoms, starting with Nebuchadnezzar, all of which would be crushed by God's kingdom, which would endure forever. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the supremacy of Daniel's god, raises him over all his wise men and places him and his companions over the province of Babylon.
The fiery furnace (chapter 3)
Daniel's companions Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue and are thrown into a fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar is astonished to see a fourth figure in the furnace with the three, one "with the appearance of like a son the gods." So the king called the three to come out of the fire, and blessed the God of Israel, and decreed that any who blasphemed against him should be torn limb from limb.
Nebuchadnezzar's madness
Nebuchadnezzar's madness (chapter 4)
Nebuchadnezzar recounts a dream of a huge tree that is suddenly cut down at the command of a heavenly messenger. Daniel is summoned and interprets the dream. The tree is Nebuchadnezzar himself, who for seven years will lose his mind and live like a wild beast. All of this comes to pass until, at the end of the specified time, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that "heaven rules" and his kingdom and sanity are restored.]
Belshazzar's feast (chapter 5)
Belshazzar and his nobles blasphemously drink from sacred Jewish temple vessels, offering praise to inanimate gods, until a hand mysteriously appears and writes upon the wall. The horrified king summons Daniel, who upbraids him for his lack of humility before God and interprets the message: Belshazzar's kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians. Belshazzar rewards Daniel and raises him to be third in the kingdom, and that very night Belshazzar is slain and Darius the Mede takes the kingdom.
Daniel in the lions' den (chapter 6)
Darius elevated Daniel to high office, exciting the jealousy of other officials. Knowing of Daniel's devotion to his God, his enemies trick the king into issuing an edict forbidding worship of any other god or man for a 30-day period. Daniel continues to pray three times a day to God towards Jerusalem; he is accused and King Darius, forced by his own decree, throws Daniel into the lions' den. But God shuts up the mouths of the lions and the next morning Darius rejoiced to find him unharmed. The king casts Daniel's accusers into the lions' pit together with their wives and children to be instantly devoured, while he himself acknowledges Daniel's God as he whose kingdom shall never be destroyed.
Daniel is often spoken of as an Eagle eye prophet, a major prophet who was able to look down thru time and see the handiworks of God. Daniel prophesied of that which was and that which is still to come. A deeper Understanding of The Word of God can not be achieved without understanding the Book of Daniel. There is more to the Book of Daniel than three men dancing in a fiery furnace or a man sleeping with Lions. To understand the book of Daniel, we must understand the separation of the Jews as an earthly people and the church as a spiritual entity. Paul often addressed the three separate entities of the scripture. 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Society has digressed into a level of idolatry where the Word of God is used to justify sin.
The lesson that is often overlooked in these first chapters is, Daniel is teaching God's people how to act in the workplace. Daniel did not hesitate to speak out against that which was evil. This is something we hesitate to do in today's environment. Today we read segmentized scriptures that are adapted to fit our narrative in a politically correct society. We now can proclaim, "God said don't judge", we speak with the indoctrinated conviction that we are speaking the Word of God. With an insight given by God, Daniel judged. To condemn sin is to judge. Failure to condemn sin is contrary to God's word. Jesus judged. He instructed his disciples to judge. John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. The verses preceding this verse defines the context of who is talking, who is being spoken to, what is the subject matter. Often we read Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. and proclaim that Jesus is saying don't judge. The next six verses define the context. It simply means if you are guilty of a transgression, don't judge me. As David did when he was guilty of the transgression, he pronounced judgment upon himself. A call to repentance should be in order.
Another lesson we should learn from Daniel is, he did not dumb down in the face of adversities. He was told what not to do by those in command, yet he went ahead and did it anyway. In the face of a threat by the King not only to terminate his job but to terminate his very existence, Daniel acted faithfully to his conviction. This is the lesson or message we should realize in the study of Daniel. Regardless of the consequences Daniel stood for the righteousness of God. He did not dumb down his message in fear of his job or his safety. God saw Daniel's righteousness and in the time of despair, God delivered Daniel.
Another lesson we should learn from Daniel is, he did not dumb down in the face of adversities. He was told what not to do by those in command, yet he went ahead and did it anyway. In the face of a threat by the King not only to terminate his job but to terminate his very existence, Daniel acted faithfully to his conviction. This is the lesson or message we should realize in the study of Daniel. Regardless of the consequences Daniel stood for the righteousness of God. He did not dumb down his message in fear of his job or his safety. God saw Daniel's righteousness and in the time of despair, God delivered Daniel.
The question is, how many of us would find it impossible to make the choices Daniel made? Would we search for a scripture that would allow us to justify our inability to stand against evil? When we change the Gospel of Christ that proclaim, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand", into a Gospel that proclaim "Jesus love you as you are," are we not guilty of rendering the Word of God impotent.
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