Servant of the Most High God

Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. - Daniel 6v18-23

The king was truly distraught because of what had happened to Daniel. He could not sleep and early the next morning the king got up and ran to the lion’s den to see what had happened to Daniel.

There is a hint here as to Daniel’s testimony – ‘Daniel,’ the king cried out, ‘servant of the Most High God…’

There is no doubt in the king’s mind that Daniel’s God was the ‘Most High God’ and that Daniel was His servant. The end result is that God did choose to show His power be delivering Daniel and protecting him from the lions.

This is a story we are all familiar with. I think this is the first time though that I have noticed the impact that Daniel’s testimony had even before the lion’s den. I wonder how many people could look at my life and know the power of the Most High God and know that I am His servant.

Do we live lives that reveal the Most High God? Do people know that we serve Him? 

Your God will deliver you

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. – Daniel 6v16-17

Here we see still more of Daniel’s character and his testimony before a pagan and lost world. It is easy enough to maintain our lives and testimonies within the body of believers. It is quite another to stand for the Lord and still have he high regard of others.

The king was appalled when he realised what had happened. But it was too late, the law could not be changed and the penalty had to be carried out. He had to sentence Daniel to death.

When Daniel saw the king to receive his sentence both men were amicable. David respectfully addressed the king (that in itself is a challenge to us) and the king addressed Daniel kindly.

Here is where we see Daniel’s testimony. He knew that Daniel’s faith was genuine because he told ‘served his God continually.’ That is the greatest test for all of us. Do we serve God continually, no matter what comes our way? The very fact that he was not deterred from praying was the reason that the king could say with confidence ‘your God is able to deliver you.’

Our faith may be real to us. We have to ask ourselves if our faith is real to those we know. Do they see that we serve God continually? Do they know that our God will carry us through our own dens of lions? 

Undeterred

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. - Daniel 6v10

Here is another instance of a man who does the kind of thing that I really desire to happen in my life. I am always challenged by my response when I get bad news.

Let’s get a little background. The other leaders under King Darius were jealous of Daniel. He just kept getting promoted. Who was this blow-in to keep moving up in the ranks? (Yes, I realise he had been there many years, but a foreigner is ALWAYS considered a foreigner by those who don’t like him. Trust me.)

They tried everything to catch him doing something that would get him brought down to size. Daniel, however, had such a testimony and such character that they could find not find anything.

So they were forced to change the rules.

The flattered and cajoled the king into making a new law that no one could pray to anyone but him. That would either cause Daniel to compromise, which they knew he wouldn’t do. Or, they would have him break a law and receive the death penalty.

So what did Daniel do when he got the notice? His custom was to pray before an open window. Surely, the next day he at least shut the window and pulled the curtains before he prayed.

They had him! They ran to the king to report him.

What sticks out to me here more than anything else though is Daniel’s consistency. When Daniel knew that the law had been passed. He opened his window that faced Jerusalem and he prayer three times – as was his custom.

The great thing is that Daniel was not deterred. He knew what he had to do. He knew what was right. He knew the consequences. And he still prayed like he always did.

Undeterred is a vital character trait. In 1 Corinthians it is called ‘steadfast and unmovable.’ I really desire to have that kind of character.

Undeterred. How many of us can claim that trait! 

Selfless service

Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. – Daniel 5v17

‘Keep all of your gifts and rewards king.’

That was Daniel’s response when the king trued to pay him to interpret a mysterious dream. Belshazzar followed Nebuchadnezzar as king. Apparently Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams was still well known and Belshazzar had a dream than no one could interpret. When Daniel was called before him he offered great wealth and great reward for his interpretation.

Daniel told him that he could keep all of the rewards or give them to another, but he would still interpret the dream.

Daniel was in an interesting situation here. He was not ministering to God’s people who would have a responsibility to care for him. He was going before a pagan king to represent God. He had to be very careful about a financial reward. When someone is paying there is always to temptation to slant the message to suit them.

So Daniel did what was right. He simple refused payment. That way both he and the king would know that there was no bias in his interpretation.

It is easy to get caught up in reward and remuneration. There is nothing dogmatic in today’s thought. I was just reminded that we need to be careful that our service should never be motivated by money or reward. 

Those who walk in pride...

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. - Daniel 4v37

Nebuchadnezzar proclaims a truth here that he had to learn the hard way. To see that we need to go back just a little bit for some background.

One day the king was out walking in the beautiful gardens of Babylon. To parrowphrase his thoughts he said something like this – ‘Look at all I have done! I have this wonderful palace and these beautiful gardens and I am the ruler of a great kingdom. I, me, myself did all of this and it all shows just how great I am!’

I don’t know about you, but I don’t even need to be a powerful king walking in beautiful gardens to have those kinds of thoughts. Pride is a terrible thing that takes the least accomplishments and turns them in to something to be proud of. We, or at least I, can often think more highly of myself than I ought to think.

God used some an unusual method to teach Nebuchadnezzar that he wasn’t quite as great as he thought he was. For more on that read the verses just before the one above.

Suffice it to say the king was sufficiently humbled. When he was done he acknowledged that God was indeed the one in control. His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to put down those who walk in pride.

I suspect there are times when we all think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. I suspect there are times when we forget the warning that those who ‘think they stand take heed lest they fall.’ When that happens God us quite able to bring us back to earth.

We don’t like it, but humbling is a good thing. When we go through it we learn that we are not nearly as wonderful as we thought we were. We learn that we need to depend on our gracious Lord. Being knocked down always helps us to look up. 

The Most High rules

‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’ – Daniel 4v17

It is really easy to get caught up in news and politics and elections and all that stuff. At least it is for me. I really like all that stuff and can get consumed with it.

While I don’t see as much of it here in our churches I do know that in some places churches can be absolutely consumed with politics, elections, candidates, and laws. In election years the gospel can sometimes compete with politics in the pulpit. There seems to be a mind-set that part of the church’s role is to make sure that the politicians are in line with their views. It can go way beyond Bible principles and become a matter of personal preferences. Neither political side is exempt, both sides are guilty.

I guess to a certain extent Christians who have a voice in their governance need to be concerned and to use their liberties reasonably and in good conscious, Far too often it goes far beyond that and political views can affect fellowship in the body of Christ.

I don’t think there us anything wrong with following politics and doing the right thing when it comes to being a citizen, but we do need to remember what Nebuchadnezzar learned here. ‘The Most High rules in the kingdom and men, and He gives power to whoever He wills.’

It is good to keep up with what is going on, and even to exercise human liberties. However, we need to remember that God is in control of all of this. The church has a much bigger job to do than to focus itself on who is going to be in office.  Let’s preach the word and leave the rest up to the One who is in control. 

The impact of doing right

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. – Daniel 3v28-30

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived the fiery trial. Someone, either an angel or possibly Jesus Himself, appeared in the fiery furnace to deliver them. Somehow, they had come through a seemingly impossible trial and stood before the king again.

God could have been glorified and His cause advanced no matter what happened. We know that. Many have turned to Christ as a result of the faithfulness of God’s people even as they perished for Him.

But in this case God chose to deliver them. The king saw that there God had delivered them when they trusted Him. They would not obey the king and put themselves at risk rather than serve God. Therefore, the king passed a law saying that no one could criticise God and he promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

As I mentioned above sometimes God chooses to use the death of His saints to draw men to Him. Sometimes, like here, God lifts them up to positions of prominence.

Either way God honours doing right. Either way, if the men had given in and bowed down God’s cause would have been damaged.

Let’s just do right and trust God enough to leave the results up to Him.