Dr
Simon Karginoff
Perth, Western Australia
The other day Bethwyn (one of the leaders in our church) encouraged the two congregations who meet on a Sunday morning at our church to read the book of Daniel from the Old Testament. Reading the story of Daniel’s life would take at most for a poor reader about an hour. His tale is twenty-one pages long in my fairly big print Bible. That’s about three minutes a page. Of course, you don’t have to read it all at once. Whoever takes the time, or should it be, whoever makes the time to read about Daniel will be blessed, encouraged and strengthened. But I wonder how many people actually did as they were asked? Bethwyn said that Daniel’s life was an example to us all.
The Steps of a Good Man Are Ordered by the Lord
It is easy to get hung up on the miracles which took place in his life. For example, his life was spared by the Babylonians at the beginning of his biography. He was carried off into exile when he could have been killed. He is given a good job and the best food; he is allowed to live in the royal palace. Not bad for a fairly ordinary Jew boy. He is blessed with an exceptional brain; he has all knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He is fluent in at least three languages. He excels in science, literature and the arts. He is spiritually aware – alive to the things of God. He can understand and interpret dreams and visions. He sees what is going to happen in the future. He prays and his prayers are answered. He recognizes the power of a good confession. He is self-disciplined. He is honest. He knows who God is and he knows who he is in God. He has the confidence and authority of a man who knows that he is loved and cared for by God. The Bible says that he was “beloved”. He is brave and has movie star looks. He finds favour with God, the king – kings actually, and some men. That’s pretty good going – none of us can be liked by everyone. Not even Jesus got everybody’s vote.
Your Characters Are Shaped By The Company You Keep
Daniel has good friends. His friends were like-minded. Daniel hung out with people who had a similar spirit to his. He realized that he would be like the people he hung out with – and they did too. His friends were full of faith and trusted in the Lord. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not burned by the fire. The devil could not harm them; they, like Daniel, were protected by God. Like Daniel, they obviously knew the scriptures which tell of how God delivered Israel umpteen and something times. The scriptures tell us that he met with angels and not just any old angel. He was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and his lieutenant, Michael. Daniel may have also met Jesus, but I am not sure about this. It could be seen as almost incidental that he is not eaten by lions.
Consistency of the Walk
I have read about Daniel before and again this time I took note of all of the above while reading his story. Although the points I again noted are inspirational (well, they are to me at least) this is not what stood out for me about Daniel’s life. Bethwyn drew our attention to a word which is associated with Daniel and his life’s adventure; ‘continually’. Whatever he did, Daniel did it continually. Another word could be applied to his life; consistency. So often we are half-hearted in whatever it is we think we have purposed in our hearts to do. We are fickle. Daniel was not like this. He was resolute. His trust was in his God and his faith in Him was unshakeable and his confidence in his God was unmoveable. He needed to be resolute, for when the challenges came and his life was at stake he needed to have already made up his mind what he believed and in whom he believed.
Then the Trial Came
When the order came for Daniel to be cast into the lion’s den he was not allowed the luxury of time to mug up on the latest fifty-five point faith book leading to deliverance – possibly. No, when the trial came, I note that Daniel didn’t do anything differently. The Bible says that when the life threatening situation arose, Daniel “went to his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime”. Or, in simple English, “He went home, prayed, and thanked God, just as he had always done”. It was his constant, continual and habitual practice to give thanks to God. Did this have something to do with Daniel’s miraculous deliverance? I think so. The Bible records that when Daniel “who served God continually” was lifted from out of the den he was unharmed. “No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God”. I believe that it is important to reiterate what is for me the key point. When trouble came Daniel didn’t do anything differently to how he usually did things. He didn’t alter his daily routine at all. In the face of extreme adversity he did as he had always done. The day will surely come when I need to have established in my heart and have established in my day to day living the Daniel type mentality and have developed the relationship which Daniel had with Father God before the day of trouble. If not, I will surely be eaten alive. I need to imitate Daniel. We need to emulate Daniel. He used to pray thrice daily; he would get down on his knees and thank God. The scriptures do not record what it was that Daniel would thank God for. I need to work that one out for myself. We need to spend time being mindful of all of His benefits. He was self-disciplined and led a fasted life. I am very happy that Bethwyn told me to go away and read about Daniel. I think that you will be too.
Oh, silly me! I forgot something. The Bible tells us that “the king was overjoyed” that Daniel had been unharmed and that at “the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lion’s den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones”. Oh yes, this is what the scriptures tell us. The men who were jealous of Daniel were consumed with envy. So much so that their thinking became distorted – their reasoning became demonic. They conspired to ruin his reputation and his life. More than this they resolved to not only utterly destroy Daniel but also those who were associated with him – his people. But his enemies were blinded by their own sense of inadequacy and their limitations and refused to recognize that their ambitions and aspirations did not match up to their abilities. They were wise in their own eyes but not in those of the king and nor those of God Almighty. Interestingly, Daniel’s enemies were ‘religious’. They were knowledgeable in matters of law; learned and the clever; the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers were experts in matters of the world. They were puffed up proud and bitter men. They were legalistic, judgemental and condemnatory; self righteous and hard hearted. They were just like the Pharisees. That is why they sought to bring about Daniel’s downfall through a point of law and through a religious snare.
Daniel’s enemies were captivated by the desire to
elevate themselves in the eyes of the king by ‘specking and planking’.
They sought to manipulate words and events by pointing to a perceived
speck or splinter in Daniel’s eye while ignoring the planks of wood
in their own eyes. Their goal was to further their own desires and win
promotion for themselves through the ruin of another. They thought that
if they could just remove Daniel and they would gain the prize of self-aggrandizement
and power. Daniel would no longer be in the spot light, they would. These
men did not have the good of the king and his kingdom as their priority.
They were consumed by their own ambitions. They were caught up in ‘kingdom
building’ – their own. However, they were on a hiding to nothing
from the first moment that they allowed the devil entrance into their
hearts. With jealousy came deception and murderous intent. There was no
love in their hearts. I have met people like that in my own life. For
a short while it appears to them (and sometimes to us) that their schemes
and plots are bearing fruit. Their faces betray their glee but God has
His perfect timing. When the plans of the enemy appear to be working against
us very well we need to give thanks to God. This is a hard thing for us
to do. But if Daniel could do it so can we. We must do this for a day
will come when our lives and possibly the lives of those whom we love
will depend on it. The scriptures clearly demonstrate that those men who
conspire against us are endangering not just themselves but they are imperilling
their loved ones too. Those who purpose in their hearts to bring down
another – particularly if that person belongs to Jesus – and
even if they themselves belong to Him – will bring about their own
destruction. In my church I note that the opposite – the complete
opposite is taking place. I am noticing more and more how the Spirit of
God is causing people to defer to others; how He is leading individuals
to prefer other people. This is indeed miraculous because the spirit of
man is dedicated to seeking its own good. However, when the Spirit of
God is ruling and reigning the selfish desires of man are in subjugation
to the welfare and benefit of others. Daniel was dedicated to bringing
about good for his people. He had a servant heart; he served his God,
the king, the interests of the kingdom and its people. He was loyal, humble,
diligent and meek.
Oh the Sweetness of God’s Redemption
This is not the end of the story of Daniel. The Bible says that the king
issued a decree that his subjects “must fear and reverence the God
of Daniel”. He began his edict with the words, “May you prosper
greatly!” I like that. I can visibly see my health improving, my
bank account growing, the value of my house rising; the amount of money
I invest into my church increasing, my prayers becoming more powerful
and effective; the Word of God coming into my heart and out of my mouth
in greater measure, more and more forcefully and demonstrated not only
in word but in deed; my children becoming more godly, wise and clever;
my wife more understanding of spiritual things and of higher reputation;
my family and those whom I love being blessed up to the sky. Yes, everything
that I put my hand to being abundantly blessed; me being favoured. Just
like Daniel.
The
king went on to declare:
“For he is a living God
And he endures forever;
His kingdom will not be destroyed,
His dominion will never end.
He rescues and saves;
He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions”.
Yes, He rescued
Daniel from the power of the lions. Just like He did with Daniel, the
God of Daniel has also rescued me. He will rescue you too. The scriptures
conclude this part of Daniel’s story in this way: “So Daniel
prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian”
just as he had during the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar. This is an important
point. Daniel was beloved of God. So are we. A loving God does not play
‘put and take’ with His children. His hand of blessing is
outstretched towards the children whom he loves continually. He wants
to bless all of my life all of the time. He can and will do this if, like
Daniel, I give thanks.