Daniel A HERO FOR ALL TIME MAY 29, 2015
INTRODUCTION
Daniel’s heroics have been inspiring brethren for over 2,000 years. His victories have helped us all get stronger. Daniel was blessed and protected for his courage and so can we also be so blessed. He was fifteen when Jerusalem was first under siege and carried away captive in 605 B.C. The Emperor took the cream of the crop of this first batch of captives and wisely enrolled them into the ‘Babylonian Royal Academy ‘. Daniel and his three friends are the only ones mentioned as to defying the raw paganism. Probably other Jewish captives were not as dedicated to God especially when it came to dietary issues and bowing to idols. We must be among the strong and faithful like those four young men.
PREPARE OUR HEARTS IN ADVANCE LIKE DANIEL DID TO REMAIN FAITHFUL AND TRUE
Note Daniel verses 1:8 and 6:10 that he determined in his heart NOT to defile himself before the trials began. We can learn a lesson of being prepared before the crisis. Like sailors on warships practice fire drills many times before going into where enemy bombs ignite fires. We should learn to be prepared in advance and be determined now and every day to be like heroic Daniel. Daniel had determined to not compromise with the evil side of paganism from the beginning of his captivity.
Daniel, and probably his family, were among the faithful Jews prior to captivity. See Jeremiah 24:3-5. God gave these good faithful Israelites a heart to know God. See Jer. 24:7. No doubt, through Bible Study and Feast attendance and obedience to God, Daniel and his family were the best of the Jews and prepared themselves to be strong and faithful. We too, should prepare ourselves and our families in advance to be strong.
DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRAYER AND FASTING AS NEEDED
When he learned of the death threat from Nebuchadnezzar he went to his three friends. They all petitioned God for favor which they received. Additionally, they received the meaning of the infamous dream. See Dan 2:17-18. Even under threat of his life, Daniel refused to modify, or get overly secretive about his prayers. He was more concerned with offending God than the political leaders. (See Dan 6:10 again.) Again he was blessed, promoted and rescued because of his courage and faithfulness to the God of Israel the true God.
Chapter 10 is a record of Daniel’s fast with water and unpleasant vegetables for a minimum of three weeks. During this fast, we learn that princes within the evil, spiritual world control worldly empires. Further, we learn in chapter 11 many details about the empire of Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire including the abomination that makes desolate. Christ himself verifies Daniel prophecies by mentioning them. See Math 24:15-16.
DANIEL WAS A MAN OF TACT, COURAGE AND ACTION IN FACE OF BULLYING AND DANGER
We all need to learn to act and to trust God to rescue us. But note, Daniel was tactful and did not foolishly stir up trouble. See Daniel 2:14. We all can learn to answer with wisdom and reduce conflicts but when conflicts cannot be avoided we need stand strong like Daniel. In Daniel 1:12 regarding the unclean and overly rich and decadent foods he was decisive. Daniel was so wise and courageous that he had the emperor hoping for his rescue. See Daniel 6:14-18. Again Daniel gains a great victory over the lions of promotion and favor. See Daniel 6:23-28. We should assume that God will give us the victory as He did Daniel when we are in a trial caused by the evil one.
