Daniel: Uncompromising II
We are back with part 2 of Daniel: Uncompromising. Shall we continue from where we left off?
III.Test of Adversity
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed[…] The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned to rubble.
Daniel 2:1-5
To say Nebuchadnezzar was a temperamental king would be a great understatement. The astrologers were unable to fulfill the king’s request.
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
Daniel 2:12-13
In light of this background and threat of death, Daniel and his friends did all they knew. They turned to God. And God gave Daniel not only the dream but the interpretation as well.
What was the reward of passing this test?
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honour and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
Daniel 2:46-49
God got the glory, Daniel was honoured and his friends were remembered!
Your Turn
When you are faced with adverse circumstances, do you give up? Or, do you trust in God and lean not on your own understanding?
All the wisdom in the world would not have rescued Daniel. Only God’s wisdom could do that.
God ordained promotions usually come on the back of adverse situations. Will you trust Him to see you through or give up and cut short His vision for your life?
[…] Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Zecchariah 4:6
IV. Test of Courage in Truth
As we have seen, King Nebuchadnezzar had quite the temper. Not only had he threatened to kill all the wise men, but he was also responsible for throwing Shadrach, Meshach and Abdnego into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
This temperamental king was also known for his arrogance, so it is no surprise that Daniel was afraid to give him the interepretation of yet another dream.
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you[…]
Daniel 4:19
What interpretation did Daniel give to this erratic king?
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven[…]
Daniel 4:25
He did not stop there. He adviced the king to repent and turn from his evil ways.
Everything happened as Daniel had said.
What was his reward for this? A reputation that succeeded him and an opportunity to speak truth to King Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar. King Belshazzar was having a banquet when he requested for goblets from the temple of God in Jerusalem be brought so that they may drink wine from them. In the midst of this, human fingers appeared and wrote on the wall, words that could not be comprehended. The king was afraid and noone could interepret the writing for him. That is until the queen spoke to him about Daniel. What interpretation did Daniel give?
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Daniel 5:26-28
What was the reward for speaking this harsh truth?
Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
Daniel 5:29
Your Turn
Speaking the truth is not always easy, especially when you are speaking to people in power. Daniel never gave his opinions. He only spoke what God told him to say, even when the message was one of death. And as a result, he was trusted by those in power.
Do you speak the truth, even when the truth may cost you? Or do you become a “yes man” out of fear of loss.
Do you speak the truth at the right time, or do you spew it any time, even when it is not warranted? Or perhaps do you use truth as a weapon against others in the guise of “keeping it real.”
Speaking truth is speaking God’s opinion on a matter at the RIGHT TIME. And it is this truth that He rewards.
V. Test of Faith
After the death of Belshazzar, King Darius of Mede took over. Darius favoured Daniel, to the envy of his peers.
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel […] Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
Daniel 6:1-3
His peers tried to find a charge against him, but they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:4). His character and excellent work were a reflection of his faith in God. So, they plotted to use his faith against him. They got the king to sign a decree that would prevent worship to any god or man except him, for a period of thirty days. The punishment for going against the decree was being thrown into the lion’s den. In accordance to the law, this decree was irreversible.
What did Daniel do upon learning that worshipping God could cause him death?
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel 5:10
True to the decree, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. What happened?
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.
Daniel 6:22
What was Daniel’s reward?
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land[…] “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel […] So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:26-28
Your Turn:
Every day we are faced with the choice to either live out our faith or bow down to other gods. These gods could be turning a blind eye to injustice, bribing a public official, telling fibs to get ahead, going with the flow of the world etc.
When faced with these daily choices, will you bow down to them or choose your faith?
God’s vision is only fulfilled God’s way. Which way do you choose?
Conclusion:
What test are you currently facing?
Like Daniel, will you patiently rely on God and refuse to compromise at every stage of your vision?
Remember, vision is fulfilled in stages. You can only unlock the next stage of God’s vision for your life by passing the test of the present stage. But, you do not have to do this alone.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever
John 14:16