Then, we need to trust in what it says. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. What gift did God give Daniel in the Bible? In the fourth chapter of Daniel, we see this principle in action as the proud King Nebuchadnezzar is utterly humiliated. If we are not willing to take a stand on smaller issues and face things such as criticism, disapproval, ridicule or damage to our careers, then we will never develop the levels of faithfulness that are needed to face up to the threat of martyrdom, or even the loss of our livelihoods or homes for Jesuss sake. ``But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words. They made a resolute effort to remain faithful to their culture, faithful to the Lord. Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful, Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697, Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling. 5. What is the true meaning of faithfulness? Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: ``King Darius, live forever! Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. Note that God did not show up for Daniel until after he made this decision to obey. When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The first test that we are told about arose shortly after they all arrived in Babylon, after being taken there as prisoners. Rev 15:4 and 11:18 is about fearing God and giving Him glory. `He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my life shall see the light.'. He punished those wise men who tricked him, and he ended the law. What are the characteristics of God's faithfulness? ``If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. God Rules: Ezekiel, Daniel Author: Ray C. Stedman Read the Scripture: Ezekiel, Daniel The two prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel are found back to back in our English Bibles, and the men who wrote these prophecies were contemporaries during the days of the exile of Judah and Israel. otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice. Theres a lesson here for Christians, too. In the providence of God, Daniel learned of the king's dilemma and was able to reveal to the king his dream and its meaning, sparing his own life and the lives of the other Babylonian wise men. Thursday: The Faithfulness of Daniel | Sabbath School Net Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. The same is true for usfaith grows as we take more steps of obedience. Thus, he was no longer to be called DanielGod is My Judgebut BelteshazzarBel Protect Him. Every aspect of Daniels education and identity, in fact, was designed to remind him that he needed to operate from a Babylonian worldview. Fourth, Abram, blessed for his faithfulness to God, gave tithes in recognition of God's rulership and providence. The chief eunuch (named Ashpenaz, 1:3) worried that it would cost him his life if Daniel and his friends didnt eat the assigned food and became unhealthy. To prove faithfulness in a culture that is hostile to the Lord, it is essential that you do not isolate yourself. This endowment soon made him an object of greater attention from the emperor, and he was raised to positions that enabled him to spend his life in service to the kings of the land. ``In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand. . What lessons can we learn from Daniel? Daniel 1 (English Standard Version): 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. 3:5-6. LESSON 4: A Reputation of Faith - kid's Sunday school Then Daniel spoke to the king, ``O king, live forever! Copyright 2023 In Touch Ministries. The latter is not in any way a good man, but a godless one . Table of Contents show. ``He will sing to men and say, `I have sinned and perverted what is right, And it is not proper for me. Participate in Socially Distant Volunteer Opportunities. Tune in any time to stream great Biblical teaching and encouragement. The law explicitly taught, for instance, that they could not eat foods offered to idols (see Exod 34:15). What lessons can we learn from Daniel? Prov. Growing in Our Love of God and Learning: Lessons from Daniel When the Babylonian king interviewed them . Daniel was arrested and thrown into the lions' den. I say that because I once heard a man say that, if faced with a man pointing a gun at him, he had no doubt that he woulddefinitely not deny Jesus.. Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. ``Does He not see my ways And number all my steps? He was known by everyone for his piety and for his faith in God, and in consequence he had many enemies. Dr. Stanley explains how our heavenly Father desires for us to obey Him. What is the true meaning of faithfulness? Daniel is from David's royal family 1. In this, Daniel does get what he's after, but not in the manner he expected. What was Daniel's main message? Regrettably, however, the very dream that led Nebuchadnezzar to recognize Gods hand on Daniel may also be what incited the king to build a golden image that he required all his subjects to worship (Dan. 3Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. And the indictment which my adversary has written. 4Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom; but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Proud member How did Daniel show faithfulness to God? God is faithful in comforting you. So, they removed from him any reference to the God of Israel. As a result, Nebuchadnezzar didnt merely find their counsel helpful, he found them ten times better than anyone else in his kingdom (1:19-20). Daniel 6:1-28. It is written: Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. But the Almighty God looked after His faithful Daniel and he did not get a scratch. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Those are the kind of words that real martyrs say. What can we learn from Daniel in the lion's den? 1:17-21 God gave these four men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom (1:17). In many ways his life was similar to the life of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, ``I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty that isn't easily swayed. 1. You can also change some of your preferences. Previously, they served as models of how to thrive by following God in a hostile environment. ``Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men. Even so, Daniel and his friends were about to suffer under a renewed fit of Nebuchadnezzars arrogance. "If our God whom we serve is able to deliver uslet him deliver us. We explore what the Bible has to say about the purpose of your work with guest Tom Lutz. Daniels friends knew the dangers inherent in their positions, and they were prepared to face the consequences of standing firm in their convictions. God is practical and He knows that our faithfulness and courage have to be developed over time, like a muscle. The story of Daniel in the lion's den, is one of the most dramatic incidents recorded in the Bible. ``All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions' den. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles feathers, and his nails were like birds claws. Its so difficult to prove that you were right, and people are so reluctant to get involved, that the institution may protect itself by getting rid of you alongside the true offender. How did Daniel obey God in the Bible? There was a lesson here for Daniels earliest readers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. 4 Legendary Lessons in Leadership from Daniel - 95.9 The Fish Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, ``Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed. When he arrived in Babylon, Daniel refused to eat the rich foods of the king's table and requested a simple diet of vegetables and water (see Daniel 1:12). This promise is found in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. ``Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay. ``If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me. Here are just four of the many powerful leadership lessons from Daniel that are needed now more than ever: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 6. This decision was made to avoid violating the law of Moses regarding the foods the Jews were not to eat. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. It is a great strengthener to faith, and a challenger to stand firm, in a time of testing and trial, and a marvelous demonstration of the power of prayer. a faithful friend. Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. If you suspect fraud in your workplace, what should you do about it? Therefore He starts us off with small tests and builds up to larger ones, stage by stage. How does the story of Daniel point to Jesus? Like Daniel, God's followers must serve in the wider world, but with limits on their participation in the customs of that world. 40. More importantly, the life of Daniel recorded in the Old Testament gives evidence of God's faithfulness. 37. All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. The one thing we absolutely must not do is to be presumptuous or over-confident. He was a person of exceptional character and capability. This episode is especially poignant because it shows that Daniel and his friends lived in the same world we do. What is the strength of Daniel in the Bible? So, the risk was less intense. of (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her). `He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.'. The Lord blessed him with the gift of interpreting dreams and visions. Todays workplace Christians seldom face such extreme hostility, at least in the western world. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Nebuchadnezzar responded to his humiliation by worshipping God, and God restored his status and glory over the Babylonian Empire. Does the Bible Advise Us about Dealing with Grief? While reading the book of Daniel, it's good to keep the big picture in mind: This is a story about the man's great trust. Once Daniel began to pray, God commanded the angels to go out and help him. `Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom. For a while, it appeared as though Nebuchadnezzar himself would renounce his arrogance, submit himself to God and spare his empire the need to be overthrown by Gods power. (Daniel 1), Theme A: God Will Overthrow Pagan Kingdoms and Replace Them With His Own Kingdom (Daniel 2), Theme C: Humbling and Overthrow of the Pagan King (Daniel 4), Theme C Revisited: Humbling and Overthrow of the Pagan King (Daniel 5), Theme B Revisited: Sufferings, Yet Rewards, for Faithful Witnesses to God in the Meantime (Daniel 6), Theme A Revisited: God Will Overthrow Pagan Kingdoms & Replace Them With His Own Kingdom (Daniel 7), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, Theme B: Sufferings, Yet Rewards, for Faithful Witnesses to God in the Meantime (Daniel 3). Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. While reading the book of Daniel, its good to keep the big picture in mind: This is a story about the mans great trust. 22. It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom. What does God give to both Daniel and his friends? ``Do not say, `We have found wisdom; God will rout him, not man.'. Daniel 7:13-14 says, In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the son of man (Messiah Matt 26:64; Lk 21:27; Jn 1:51), coming with the clouds of heaven (God's majestyEx 16:10; Ex 19:9; Rev 1:7). However, in wisdom, Daniel sought faithfulness to the Lord in a hostile environment alongside three Jewish brethren, as well as enlisting the help of the Babylonian eunuchs. ``Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, While you pondered what to say. It is evident that God's special blessing was given them because of their devotion and loyalty to God. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. . As it was with Daniel, so it is with you. Who says to a king, `Worthless one,' To nobles, `Wicked ones'; Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands? Daniel, therefore, appealed to the guard who was responsible for him and proposed a test (1:11-12). Knowing that Daniel was faithful to his God, they knew that they could convict him, and have valid reason to cast him into the lions den. Living with Lions: The Story of Daniel Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king's injunction, ``Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions' den?" Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! All rights reserved. 7. The Deliverance of Daniel and Darius (Daniel 6:1-28) ``Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words: `I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me. Now they had to serve as models of how to suffer in the same environment. Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. God had honored their faithfulness to him. Daniel 4:36-37. Memory recounted to the Theology of Work Project by an anonymous correspondent, April 2010. ``For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. I. Daniel's Deportation and His Faithfulness to God ( 1:1-21) 1:1-7 Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Judah in 605 BC was the first of his three invasions and deportations that ended in the exile of Judah. (See Bible Dictionary, Daniel.). Therefore not even his enemies could find any fault in him, even though they wanted to: 1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;2and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow. What the Bible says about Faithfulness of God - Bible Tools Prayer is the means through which God works in this world, and it is the duty of all Christians to intercede for others through prayer to God. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown. By God's grace, Daniel's humility enabled him to prosper in Nebuchadnezzar's court, even as God was preparing to cast down the king . 5 Times God Shows His Faithfulness | Jim Erwin - Patheos Explore what the Bible says about God's calling and your work. (Video) 1. We put our faith in God by believing what God tells us in his Word. Rev. He would have done much better if he had simply said:Lord, if I am tested today, please give me the grace and courage I need to stay faithful to you. Faithfulness requires us to submit our ways to God. What was so special about Daniel in the Bible? "The lesson is to keep your mouth shut and to trust in God in every way and every day," says Elizabeth, 11. This image is far removed from the powerful king of the Babylonian Empire as Nebuchadnezzar is so widely known. Daniel 4:33. Daniel's obedience was a loud statement not only to the Gentile world, but also to his fellow Israelites, that God is worthy to be worshiped in even the bleakest of times. When Darius the Mede took over the Babylonian kingdom, his leaders recommended that none shall worship anyone other than Darius. Why did Daniel ask God to "incline your ear and hear" in Daniel 9:18? All rights reserved. God's wisdom is pervasive in the book of Daniel. This has long been a beloved Bible story - and no wonder. Image by Thats because, even though they were living in an earthly kingdom, their allegiance was to a heavenly King. Unlike in the first and second chapters of Daniel, in chapter 3 their faithfulness to God led to their suffering. The faithfulness of God is demonstrated by sacrificing His one and only Son, Jesus, for those who come to Him. The final element to Daniel's success is found in verse 17; As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Proverbs 4:5 says, Get wisdom, get understanding.. 10. God Rescues Daniel from the Lions (Daniel 6) | Bible.org The Life of Daniel, (Video) 3. 34:15). ``My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.". And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. ``Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings? 3. ``Who gave Him authority over the earth? Used under license from Veer ``I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. The friends readily admitted their guilt and refused to worship the image, despite the kings threat to throw them in to a fiery furnace (Dan. How can you totally give your faith in God? How did God speak to Daniel? [FAQs!] - Wellbeing Port These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. 3:1). This they do with gusto. 2. Daniel in the lions' den (chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel) tells of how the biblical Daniel is saved from lions by the God of Israel "because I was found blameless before him" (Daniel 6:22). His dreams give a preview of God's redemptive story and absolutely point to Jesus as Savior. (And I may have used my favorite Bible software to make this list.) Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. Throughout life, he made small decisions in faith until his commitment to Gods way was habitual and unshakeable. II. In this they are indeed models for us. What is the prophecy of 2,300 days in Daniel? Four of the boys who came from Judah were different than the others. Gather a band of brothers and sisters, and together seek faithfulness and obedience to the Lord. 3:1, 5-6). What is the spiritual meaning of the word transformation? What Kind of Place Is Jesus Preparing for Us? Click on the different category headings to find out more. After years of successfully bridging the tension between the pagan environment of the Babylonian court and their fidelity to God, they faced a situation where no compromise was possible without violating their integrity. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned. Daniel was one of the many great men of faith. 15. He also witnessed the fulfillment of Jeremiahs prophecies concerning the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. Taylor, 6, best summarizes the lesson of Daniel and the lions: "To pray always and to forgive people." First, the tithe goes to God through His representative, the priest. So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Can a 14 year old date a 17 year old in Japan? 35. Begin Each Day with Morning Prayer or Meditation. Our faithfulness to God means trusting in Him and loving Him through all circumstances. 21 Daniel answered, "May the king live forever! The edifice signified the resurgent pride of the Babylonian king. Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. What is the main lesson to be learned from the story of Daniel in the lion's den? Daniel rejoiced, giving glory to the Lord who kept him safe. ``There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. However, we do know that he prayed to God for help. Its important for our overall study of Danielespecially for the later chapters when Daniel reveals his great prophetic themesto pause here and note that the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar and the deportation of the people to exile in Babylon began what Jesus called the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). 3 Lessons from Daniel about Living a Life of Integrity Daniel is a story of a person being faithful to God. 22, 2010. We should know where the ethical edges in our workplaces are and think through in advance what we would do if asked to do something contrary to Gods word. Daniel 6:1-14 - The Trap. In our suffering we gain and we . ``Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. Questions about Daniel | GotQuestions.org Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. What are the causes of adversity, and how should we view it? When Daniel was threatened for his faithfulness to God, he responded with growing intensity in his dependence on the Lord. If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering. When you think of the great leaders of the Bible, you probably think of Jesus, Paul, and maybe Moses. Or, more likely, we might wake up one day and realize that we are already compromising Gods desires for our work by the goals we pursue, the powers we exercise, the relationships we misuse or the compromises we make. 10. ", Then they answered and spoke before the king, ``Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.". And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. ``If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives. If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone Or the moon going in splendor. Womansclubofcarlsbad is a website that writes about many topics of interest to you, it's a blog that shares knowledge and insights useful to everyone in many fields. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. God revealed much of this coming history to Daniel, so this will become prominent later in the book. And who has laid on Him the whole world? Peter Pace, The Truth as I Know It, interview by Al Erisman and David Gautschi, Ethix 61 (September 2008), referenced online at blog.spu.edu/ethix/2008/09/03/the-truth-as-i-know-it. Strong trust like Daniels doesnt materialize out of thin air. For example: - Your boss gives you expensive front row tickets to a hit play. Daniel 1:17-20 New Living Translation (NLT) And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. In chapters 7-12 Daniel is given visions and dreams from God of what is to happen in the future. What can we learn from Daniel in the lion's den? Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 24. By Gods grace, Daniels humility enabled him to prosper in Nebuchadnezzars court, even as God was preparing to cast down the kings empire. Today we would say it was not kosher. We may request cookies to be set on your device. ``Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.". As a result, Daniel was thrown into a lions' den to be devoured. Why was Daniel successful? 3 Incredible Things You Can Do to Reflect Christ in Dark Times.