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Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Daniel 1

Many of the historical and prophetic books of the Bible tell us the sad story of the rebellion of Israel and Judah and the way that God used the Assyrians and later the Babylonians in His plan of discipline against His people. This happened over a long period of time, ending with the destruction of the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Shortly before this time, during the reign of Jehoiakim one of the sons of Josiah, the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Daniel tells us what the other prophets note: God did this. The Lord gave the king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

What is different about Daniel’s prophecy when compared with other biblical books is the great note of victory in the midst of the worst of times in the history of God’s people. We are treated to six memorable stories in the beginning of this book followed by intriguing visions that make up the second half of the book. The opening accounts have proven to be greatly encouraging to the people of God over many centuries, showing us the way of faith in the midst of persecution, and revealing in the plainest terms the absolute sovereignty of God over men and nations.

Daniel and his three companions were among the best and the brightest who were taken among the early exiles to Babylon. They were to be trained in the literature and language of the Chaldeans and prepared to serve the king. They were given new names. It is quite a thing to assume the authority to rename a person. The Lord renamed Abram and Jacob. Jesus gave Peter a new name. Later the resurrected Christ changed Saul’s name to Paul. It is a way of asserting complete sovereignty over a person. These young men, together with many others from other lands conquered by the Babylonians, were to think of themselves as the vassals of the king. They were to submit to him without question.

Submission to lawful authority is an important Christian virtue but it has its limits. No one is free to submit to man when such submission necessitates rebellion against God. As it turns out, there are many opportunities for lawful and good submission to rulers in many varied settings. Occasionally a genuine problem of conscience may arise where a man is being forced to sin against God in order to obey a superior. This is where submission to kings must end, whatever the consequences may be of this disobedience.

The particular test of conscience that is recorded in Daniel 1 had to do with the provisions of food and drink designed for the strengthening of these young men for the king’s service. Daniel was determined to refuse the meat and drink of the king, since he had concluded that to eat and drink these things would be to defile himself. Therefore he wisely led the way for the four men in securing permission for a test of a different diet, one which proved satisfactory to all. Here we have a man who is respectful in his rejection of the plan of the king and his servants. They do submit, but in such a way where they can have a good conscience before God.

When the time came for these four young men to be brought before Nebuchadnezzar, he found that they were impressive in every way. This was not merely a matter of their natural abilities apart from the provision of God, as if there were any such thing. All of our abilities come from His hand. We are told here that the Lord gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. In particular, it is said that Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

This is a special gift beyond just good intuition or interpretive ability. During this era, and until the closing of the canon with the completion of the New Testament writings, the Lord gave special gifts to specific servants, enabling them to speak His Word as direct revelation from Him. Daniel was gifted in this way, and his use of these gifts would take on great importance as the story of his service in the land of his captivity will show.

These men were far superior to others around them, and that was evident even to those who were not part of the people of faith. They conducted themselves with great integrity in the land of their captivity, and this behavior was a credit to the Lord whom they obeyed above the most powerful earthly king. The result is that Daniel served for a long time as a faithful official and advisor to pagan kings, and did this in a way that was completely consistent with his utter loyalty to God above them all.

The Christ who atoned for our sins on the cross understood the importance of submission to lawful authority and the preeminence of the Word of God above any laws of men. He was able to submit to His parents perfectly as a young boy, though they could not fully understand Him. He obeyed the Law of Moses, paid taxes, and in every detail of His life chose obedience. Above all earthly powers He was obedient to His Father. Anything less than this would have meant a rejection of the way of the cross. His death was His greatest act of obedience. His courage is a great inspiration to us in our own walk of faith, but His obedience is much more than inspirational. It is the source of our eternal life.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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