Lifestyle is the sum total of who we are inside and our attitude
toward life. Let us read Daniel today, my spirit cries out. What makes
Daniel different and worthy as an individual to be so well recorded in
heaven and written with such great length in the Bible? What does God
say of Daniel? Why is he considered so special and highly respected and
honored by even the powerful pagan kings? What is the key success factor
word if we have only one sentence or one word to describe him? I shall
try to summarize the book of Daniel to answer these questions.
The physical Daniel: a noble (royal family) young man taken hostage
from Jerusalem in 605 BC to the Babylonian court. He qualified for the
pagan king’s requirement: an Israelite from the royal family and
nobility-young man without any physical defects, handsome, showing
aptitude for every kind of learning, well-informed, quick to understand,
and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. The Babylonian king
considered Daniel as a person with insight, intelligence and outstanding
wisdom, ten times better than his counselors (all the magicians and
enchanters) in his whole kingdom. (Daniel was taken hostage probably in
his teen, and subsequently lived through the captivity period 605-530 BC
in the courts of the Babylonian kings and the Medes and Persian kings
respectively.)
The spiritual Daniel: He knew his God. All his actions were
persistently and consistently based on this reality of a living God in
his personal total life (inside and outside). He described God as “the
Lord my God”. He addressed God as: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who
keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His
commandments.” He knew God as absolutely holy. Therefore he resolved not
to defile himself with the spiritually ‘unclean’ (including pagan food,
drink, idolatry religious practices and rituals). He knew God as
awesome and the only God for him. Therefore he remained calm and
composed despite threats of his life. He remained faithful and loyal to
his God. He knew God’s spiritual reality. Therefore he could understand
visions and dreams of all kind. He could even ask God to reveal
mysteries (beyond the human realm) to him, about things to come.
For example: He even knew the details of a dream of the Babylonian
King Nebuchadnezzar and correctly interpret them The king heard and fell
on his face and prostrate before Daniel and declared that Daniel’s God
is “the God of gods, the Lord of kings.” The queen mother described
Daniel to her son King Belshazzar that Daniel was a man “in whom is the
Spirit of the Holy God. Light and understanding and excellent wisdom
were found in him.”
The Daniel as a role model of an overcomer: He knew God. He testified
for God. He was not afraid of death because of his testimony and faith
in the living God.
What does God say about Daniel? From the conversations and messages
the angel (Gabriel) held with Daniel, we know that Daniel was a man
greatly beloved of God, and from the first day he set his heart to
understand God’s mystery, God heard his words (prayers), replied,
granted his requests. God even sent His mighty angel in reply. God also
saved and preserved Daniel from harm. Daniel lived to a ripe old age
before the living God.
Daniel’s spiritual, godly and prayerful lifestyle was entirely based
on his lifelong unwavering belief in the living God and attitude toward
God. Indeed, he has the Spirit of the Holy God in him.
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“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
The Time of the End
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those
who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those
who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
(Daniel 12:2-3)
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