After
the fall of Babylonian Empire, Daniel was able to retain his high position and
continued to serve as one of Darius the Mede's top three men—presidents who
supervise the one hundred twenty satraps that help govern the kingdom (a
"satrap" is basically a state governor). But Daniel was favoured by
the king above the other two presidents. The other two presidents and the
satraps became jealous of Daniel and made a plan to destroy him. They could not
find anything to discredit Daniel’s life. But they knew Daniel was a very pious
Jew and worshipped his God faithfully. Since they could not find fault with
Daniel’s life, they sought to find fault from his religion.
They
knew about Daniel’s prayer habits. So, they convinced the king to sign a
document ordering everyone in the kingdom to pray to him only for thirty days,
or else they'll be thrown into a den full of lions. Of course, the king was
delighted. But Daniel paid no attention to the new rule and continued to pray
to God. His enemies went to Darius and told him what Daniel was doing. Though
the king really liked Daniel and made every effort he could to save him, but
those wicked men reminded him that he couldn’t change his own laws. So Daniel
was thrown into the lion's den. But God was with him and saved him from the
lions’ mouths.
Daniel’s
life was blameless even in the eyes of his enemies. His religious habits was
known even by his enemies. He was faithful to his God in spite of the
distractions of court life. He was never too busy that he had no time for God.
He found time for prayer in the midst of his busy schedule. Daniel practised
regular habits of prayer.
If
there is one who lived a sanctified life, it is Daniel. Daniel lived a life of
faithfulness and consecration. His enemies were filled with madness because they
could find nothing in his moral character or in the discharge of his duties
upon which to base a complaint against him. He was morally upright. How many of
us could stand such a test?
It
is difficult to live a blameless life. No matter how good you are, you will
have enemies. Yet, we should be evil spoken of for doing good and not evil.
Peter wrote: “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the
same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4).Those were
Christians who whom the world had an issue because they did not follow them in
their sinful lifestyle. And, this thing is still happening today. They still
call us weird, narrow minded, and silly, when we abstain from alcohol,
covetousness, and fornication.
Peter
wrote: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's
matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but
let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:14-16). It is good and
pleasant in the eyes of God when Christians suffer for right living than wrong
living. Let the world say what they like about us; we answer only to God.
Daniel’s
integrity as a man of God gained him favour with the king. As a result of his
faithfulness in discharging his duties, Daniel found favour with both man and
God. Those who live the true Christian life will be praised even by his
enemies: “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to
be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).
Daniel
is an example for us to be blameless before God and man. Let us desire to have
the same blameless character as Daniel: “Let no man despise thy youth; but
be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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