I’m home from vacation. Sorry for so little posting over the past two weeks… our old computer crashed while we were on vacation. Sigh…
Anyway, we have moved into the book of Daniel and will proceed over the next month to finish out our UPWORD together readings for this year. Let’s finish strong as we head into the minor prophets!
Daniel is one of my favorite bible heroes because of his strong faith and the way he lived in the midst of the unfairness of life. Daniel and his friends were exiled to Babylon in 605 BC along with many others from Judah. They were young men with character and integrity who had done nothing to deserve the hardship they faced. Nevertheless, the disastrous downfall of their nation due its prolonged disobedience to God affected their lives dramatically. They suffered innocently because of others’ choices. They lost big time. And yet, they did not live life as victims. They did not allow discouragement and disappointment to overwhelm them. They stayed focused on God. I think a bumper sticker for Daniel’s life could read: “Life is not fair, but I am not a victim.” This is what makes his life a truly great life. Instead of wallowing in self pity over his losses or capitulating to the Babylonian culture in an effort to get by, Daniel lived a God-honoring life.
Having been taking from their homes, these young men were selected to take part in a three year training program that would indoctrinate them into the ways of Babylon (sounds a bit like college to me). Upon completing the program, they would become advisers to the king. Their names were changed to strip them of their past and to symbolize their new identities in a new culture. Daniel’s name was changed to Belteshazzar which means “Bel, protect his life”. Bel was a Babylonian god and Daniel’s name change was intended to turn Daniel away from his allegiance to his own God and homeland. Daniel’s choices and faith kept that from happening.
Despite the challenges he faced, Daniel knew that ultimately God is in control and he determined to live in light of this reality. “But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself…” (Daniel 1:8). He knew that no matter what happened to him, honoring God was the most important thing he could do. God’s will would not change with the circumstances and opposition Daniel faced and therefore, Daniel lived accordingly. He remained faithful in the midst of a dangerous and power hungry political world. And it was this faithfulness to God that caused even the pagan kings he served to recognize the existence of the true and living God. King Nebuchadnezzar would say, “Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries…” (Daniel 2:47). Later King Darius would say, “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed and his rule will never end….” (Daniel 6:26-27).
From Daniel’s life we can see how crucial it is to stay faithful to God despite what life brings us. We will all face injustices of varying degrees, but we do not have to become victims of our circumstances. Like Daniel, we can choose to serve God with all our strength even though it may bring opposition from the people around us — especially those who are in authority over us and also those who are threatened by our lives. Yet even when it costs us, we must do things God’s way. If we turn to Him in the midst of the hardships we face, we’ll find his strength to sustain us and the loving assurance of his powerful, protecting hands. We’ll find we are not victims, but victors.
upword 