Political
play vs. the sovereignty of God.
Daniel 1
Rather than asking 'What in the world is happening to Christianity
today?', we ask instead, 'What in the United States is happening to
Christianity today?' It is a historical fact that basic Christianity
shaped the founding of this country, and influenced its subsequent development.
Christian thought and practice were the underlying principles and undergirding
support of laws and rules of conduct. America grew and developed and prospered
and soon became a world power.
From being the single most influencing factor on the nation and
its development, Christianity has slowly
but surely given place to rebellious outbreaks of ungodly influences, false and
opposing philosophies, and outright defiance of God, church and the Bible! Evil
men and women have waxed worse in each succeeding generation, seducing,
deceiving and being deceived.
The population has sought to erase God from all aspects of public (and
private) life, and elevated man on the throne from which they have displaced
God. Instead of acknowledging the sovereignty of God and finality of His Word,
the people have joined together in rebellion against Him! And like at Babel of old, God has confounded
the language of the country, so that we do not understand each other, and don't
have time to listen to God. As man becomes more and more obsessed with
himself, and his own grasp on power, and his own dubious achievements, even so
he has slowly and gradually let go of God, and denied His sovereignty while
slowly deifying himself!
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The
kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens
shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto
them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Psalms 2:1-5 KJV
The book of Daniel is an awesome
demonstration of power of Almighty Yahweh over all nations, irrespective of the
rulers and their policies. It was God who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to hold sway
over the nations, as He demonstrated! And the Lord
gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the
house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god;
and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. Daniel 1:2 KJV
It was God who allowed Judah to be made
captive, after they had ignored His continuous warnings. Jeremiah was a
despised prophet, because of the warnings that he faithfully brought from God!
He complained to God that God was making a fool out of him, but was told to
continue faithfully, even though no one listened to him! He was threatened, imprisoned and charged
with treason for his message, and almost executed! No one wanted to listen to
him! They preferred those that constantly told them good things about
themselves! They wanted positive messages and words that made them feel good
about themselves. Despite what the world and the masses may think however, God
will have His way!
World history and politics may say it
differently but the whole movement of Judah to Babylon was orchestrated by God.
Judah's fall to Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar was a result of their
continual disobedience and rejection of God, and their despising and
persecution of His messengers. Man
always tend to view world events in relation to physical events, political
strategies, and social reforms etc. Practically all the time he fails to
realize God is behind the scenes, in absolute control of all things.
Proverbs 21:1 The king's
heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will.
God usually gives people a leader they
deserve! It's God who allows a ruler to be in position, despite the elections
and popularity polls. God allows thing for a reason, and the subsequent actions
of said leader allows God to be glorified in heaven and earth! Despite the fact
that God allows these leaders to be in power, they are responsible for their
actions, and will be brought into account. Zechariah the prophet gives some
insight into this: And the LORD said to me, "Next, take
for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd. "For indeed I will
raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off,
nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still
stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.
"Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be
against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And
his right eye shall be totally blinded." Zechariah 11:15-17 NKJV
Imagining the chess pieces moving
themselves does require a stretch of imagination. It's much more sensible to
realize someone is moving the pieces. Many persons of some influence and power
believe that they are the players on planet earth, and usually live without
realizing that they are being played! God moves and allows movement and action
as He sees fit. Because men have failed to acknowledge the sovereignty of God,
and rejected His rule of law, they have
been allowed to fall prey to their own schemes, plots and devices.
The
character of Christians on display in a hostile environment.
The book of Daniel is both political and prophetic in nature. Also
running right through from its first to its last chapter is the theme of what
is pleasing to God! Right from the first chapter Daniel and his companions are
tossed into a totally foreign fantasy of cultural shock, religious challenges
and political intrigue! Brought under the shadow of the megalomaniac despot,
Nebuchadnezzar, they are challenged in patriotism, faithfulness, and politics.
Remember these are just teenage boys probably 14 to 16 years old
torn from all that they hold dear, from all that is familiar and in a sense
tossed into the melting pot of paganism where anything goes. In
a country and world that expects certain results in answer to prayer, there is
much puzzlement and denial when it appears that God has not answered, or the
answer received is unexpected and disappointing. Wouldn't you think that
with all their loyalty to Yahweh, and devotion to his laws, they would have
been spared? Would they have been justified if after the disaster that befell
them, they yielded to the environment in which they found themselves? Yet we
see that despite all that happened they resolved that regardless of the
environment they will not let go of their convictions and beliefs.
God
honors the faithful and steadfast!
When faced with the dilemma of dealing
with new anti Yahweh policies and practices, Daniel and his friends did not
take up placards and go on marches! There was no rudeness to those in charge
nor display of fanatic behavior. And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have
not love, it profits me nothing. 1
Corinthians 13:3 NKJV. There
was no 'holier than thou' attitude. He insulted no one and despised no one! At
the same time he does not disregard his devotion to principles and godly
conviction. This teenager reasoned in a respectful and peaceful manner. He
sought a solution that the other side was also satisfied with, and still
maintained his principles and convictions.
Now God had brought
Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. Daniel 1:9 NKJV
God is in complete control! God honored
Daniel! He and his friends were found to be superior in physical condition,
knowledge and wisdom. They were found to be 10 times better than all the
experts of those fields, in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar.
As a very young man in a foreign land
that was hostile to his way of belief and life, Daniel did not panic, and did
not despair. His life was guided by the law of God and as we see later on he was
very familiar with the prophecies of the prophet Jeremiah. He paid attention to
the Word!
Submission to God is not in expectation
of being bailed out of trouble. Submission does not lay down conditions.
Submission accepts whatever God has decided and determined to do for His glory.
For man to try glorifying himself in place of God is an unacceptable and
detestable abomination before heaven's throne
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