Good People, Bad Places
This morning we traveled to Lakewood early to attend the Lakewood Vineyard church service. Our oldest grandson Riley was being baptized, so it was a special occasion. My mother was able to attend so we had four generations of faith present for the occasion.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “God gave these four young men wisdom and the ability to learn many things that people had written and studied. Daniel could also understand visions and dreams.…Every time the king asked them about something important, they showed much wisdom and understanding.” Daniel 1:17,20 NCV
The downfall of Jerusalem and Judah took place in phases. The final days were not the result of a sudden taken over but years of struggle. After the godly reign of Josiah his son Jehoahaz became king but was taken captive by the King of Egypt. Neco King of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother King and gave him the name Jehoiakim.
During the reign of Jehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and took possessions from the Temple and took a number of captive including young men from “important families, including the King of Judah.” These men included Daniel and his three friends. We don’t know for sure their family background, but we do know when Jehoiakim’s son was taken captive to Babylon his brother became King, apparently because He had no sons.
The bottom line instead of Daniel and one of his three friends perhaps being King in Judah, they were selected to be in prominent positions on Babylon. These four men serve as an example of how to be “godly leaders” in an ungodly land.
First we see they chose their identity based on their faith and heritage, not their culture. One of the first things that Nebuchadnezzar did was change their names. Names have meanings and those meanings in the Bible were of great significance. For example, Hannaniah means ‘Yahweh is gracious’, Mischael means “Who is like Yahweh?” and Azariah means “Yahweh has helped”. Their names were changed to Shadrach (purportedly means the command of aku, a Babylonian moon god); Meshach (supposedly means the servant of a Chaldean god) and Abednego (means the servant of Nabu/Nego, another Babylonian god). Daniel, whose name means “God is Judge” was changed to Belteshazzar (“Bel protects his life”).
We see in the history of these four Hebrews in Babylon that as they stayed true to the true God, He showed Himself as the One who the true judge, the gracious God, who protects and who is above all, “no one like our God.”
Next we see that they refused to be identified with the prevailing culture. For whatever the reason, they did not “defile themselves” with the King’s food. As a result the Lord granted them favor and status.
We see that these men became distinguished among all the leaders and wise men of Babylon through the knowledge and wisdom that the Lord provided. Scripture is very clear that “God gave them…wisdom and the ability to learn…”
God’s wisdom and insight gave Daniel the knowledge to know and interpret the King’s dreams and this was what Nebuchadnezzar said, “Truly I know your God is the greatest of all gods, the Lord of all the kings. He tells people about things they cannot know.“ (Daniel 2:47 NCV)
When God rescued the “three Hebrew children” from the fiery furnace Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their God has sent his angel and saved his servants from the fire! These three men trusted their God and refused to obey my command. They were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god other than their own.” Regardless of where they lived or how they were identified they knew where their “true north” was found and as a result God honored them and used them in their “alien” world.
We can learn and be encouraged from the life and example of these four men. Sometimes the Lord takes us away from our “comfort zones” and uses us in places that are “foreign and unfamiliar.” As that happens if we keep our focus on pleasing God and living according to His ways, He will provide the favor that is needed to be a person of impact and influence.
Then for all Christ-followers, it is important for us to know and identify with the “kingdom” that is our true home. In Jesus “priestly prayer” He said of His disciples, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.“ (John 17:16 NIV) Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18:36 NIV) However, the Lord desires to use us to demonstrate His power and reveal who He is and to be a source of wisdom and influence in the “kingdom” where we live.
As we observe the actions and attitudes of the prevailing culture, we need to adjust our attitude and perspective. Instead of complaining and being distressed because of “what is” – we need to seek the Lord how we can make a difference and even allow those in power to see that “God is the greatest of all gods.”