We can scarcely conceive of a greater upheaval in young lives than that which Daniel and his companions experienced. Although doubtless they themselves were faithful to the Lord, they were destined to live in the day when Israel’s sin had come to a head. Having been deaf to all of God’s repeated entreaties through His prophets, Israel could no longer be owned as His people in an outward way. They were carried away captive into Babylon, and a foreign king now ruled over them. Most of the wealth was taken as well. More than this, as a result of treachery by their puppet king and his breaking of an oath sworn in the name of Jehovah, Nebuchadnezzar finally destroyed Jerusalem. The temple was also destroyed, as well as many of the houses, and the wall was broken down. The entire outward framework of Judaism was broken up, and the visible glory departed from Israel.
Daniel and his friends, as young men, were taken to Babylon, most likely deprived of the ability to sire children, given new names, made to learn a new language and embrace a new culture, and then pressed into the service of the foreign king who now ruled over them. It is true that they were sent to the best school, given good food, and doubtless treated reasonably well, given that they were captives. However, everything that they had held dear — homes, loved ones, associations, to say nothing of the outward worship of God — was violently taken away from them.
Fresh Challenges
In their new environment, they were constantly presented with fresh challenges and attacks, any one of which might well have shaken their faith and purpose. First of all, they had to choose whether to eat the king’s food contrary to the law of Moses or face the consequences. Later, the king asked his wise men not only to interpret a dream, but to tell him the dream itself — an unbelievable request. Daniel and his friends, as part of that company, faced certain death if they could not comply with this request. On another occasion, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to decide whether to obey the king’s command to worship an idol or face death. All of this severely tested their faith.
In Daniel’s case, the trials were not over when he became old. He was called to pronounce God’s judgment on King Belshazzar when he must have been well over eighty years of age. Then Darius, the victorious Medo-Persian king, called him to take a leading role in his government. His trustworthiness and high position resulted in a plot against him, and once again he must decide whether to be faithful to the Lord or face possible death in a lions’ den. Yet the Lord delivered him out of it all and gave him wonderful prophecies concerning Israel’s final blessing.
Encouragement for Today
Surely all this is a real encouragement for us today. We too live in a day of outward ruin, and while God was pleased to give a most merciful revival of the truth of the church less than two hundred years ago, yet as the Lord’s coming draws near, we find a continual downhill slide, not only in the world, but also among God’s people. As a result of this, we too may suddenly face the disintegration of that which we thought was stable. As God and His claims are given up, the world seems to be spinning out of control. The moral breakdown during the past fifty years has been nothing short of precipitous and shows no sign of abating. Instability in governments and other institutions, combined with economic forces that man is unable to control, threaten to derail everything that was once considered to be secure. Add severe climate change to all this, and it is no wonder that men’s hearts are “failing them for fear,” as Scripture foretells.
In the spiritual realm, things are no better. The onslaughts of Satan have brought on the “perilous times” foretold in 2 Timothy 3, and bad doctrine and wrong practices are very evident in the great house of Christendom. In the midst of this disorder among those who profess Christ, we are finding a partial fulfillment of the word spoken by the Lord Jesus: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:1212And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12)). Troubles of various kinds seem to succeed one another, and as fast as one is settled, another develops.
A Beacon to Follow
The example of Daniel, however, shines as a beacon for us to follow. He too had to see the breakup of all that he held dear, yet he and his friends remained faithful to the Lord in Babylon. Not only did they refuse to disobey the Lord’s commandments as given in the law, but they evidently took upon themselves the vow of Nazariteship, in order to be completely devoted to the Lord. This is clear from their refusal to drink the king’s wine, as well as not to eat the food he provided. The food supplied to them might well have contained that which was forbidden by the law, but there was no prohibition against drinking wine, unless one had taken the vow of a Nazarite. In all this they submitted fully to the circumstances in which the Lord had placed them, while trusting Him for strength to be faithful. The trials never seemed to end, and even in old age Daniel was tested as to his faithfulness and trust in the Lord.
In all of these experiences, Daniel and his friends might well have given in, excusing themselves on the ground that since all was lost as to Israel outwardly, they could hardly be expected to carry on as a faithful few in a foreign land. Yet God not only sustained them, but rewarded them, even in this world. Surely the Lord is the same today, and He will not only give us the strength to honor Him in a day of giving up, but will reward us, too. We do not look for present reward, but rather wait for the judgment seat of Christ. However, the word that was spoken in 1 Samuel 2:30 remains true today: “Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” God did reveal the secret itself: He walked with them in the fiery furnace; He shut the lions’ mouths! Those who seek the Lord’s interests in the day of His rejection will not only feel His mercies now, but, like Daniel, will reap a reward that will last for eternity.
W. J. Prost