T-28: Things to come

Luke 1:31-33 (NIV)
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
[1]

The angel Gabriel patiently explained to Mary the manner in which she had found favor with God. Looking ahead in scripture to Romans 12:2, I believe Mary personified the concept of being ‘transformed by the renewing of her mind.’ According to that passage, ‘then you will be able to test and approve God’s will.’ I believe that Mary, who ‘conformed no longer to the pattern of the world’ was graced not only with the task of bearing the Son of God but was blessed by the revelation of Gabriel. God’s will was revealed to her because of her obedient submission to God which was accomplished by the renewing of her mind.

Further, this explanation from Gabriel was at the instruction of God for Gabriel did not deliver his own messages, revelations or explanations but only did as instructed. This reveals the omniscient nature of God who knew that Mary would be frightened and knew that an additional explanation would be required in order to assuage her justifiable disbelief and astonishment. God cared enough about Mary to provide the explanation she needed to overcome her fear.

God cares about and loves us enough to not only send his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins but to record, in the form of scripture, the explanations that we need to be able to overcome our own fears and receive His wonderful gift.

Mary had been chosen to bear Jesus. We have been chosen to receive the Christ.

Mary was fearful and her fears were addressed by the explanation from Gabriel. We are fearful and our fears are addressed by God’s Holy Word.

Mary was ordained to experience physical birth pains in the process of bringing Jesus into the world. We are ordained to experience spiritual birth pains as we are reborn into the image of Christ in order to bring Him into our hearts.

In this revelation and as recorded in scripture, Christ was coming by way of the virgin birth. The moment that generations of Israelites had hoped for was drawing nigh. In His infinite wisdom and by His mercy and grace, God had chosen a servant girl as the vehicle by which Christ would enter the world. That’s all historical fact. God still uses His servants in this manner; to bring Christ Jesus to the world.


Regards,
Carl
P Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-33: Calming Fears

All of us know fear, some more than others. Whether we fear for our own safety, for the safety of our children or fear whether we are doing the important things, we all have this in common. Intellectually, we know that we need not fear but emotionally, ah, there’s the rub.

In our text today, we see a type of fear to which I’m sure we can relate. Consider…

Luke 1:29-30 (NIV)
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [1]

In the presence of the angel Gabriel, Mary knew fear. She was ‘greatly troubled’ at being greeted by an angel and who wouldn’t be! But Gabriel consoled her “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

The favor that Mary had found was the result of her faithfulness and her obedience. It is a favor that you and I can also know. Oh, true that we will not become pregnant with the Son of God (because he’s coming back via the clouds) but we find favor with God through our belief, our faith and the practice of our faith.

Throughout the Bible, people found favor with God through faithful obedience. Throughout the Bible, people came under the wrath of God through sinfulness. Thus, as Christians we immediately find favor with God. At a practical level, we can grasp this by considering how we feel about the friends of our own children.

When my children introduce me to a friend, they are immediately counted among my friends. As my relationship with them develops, I discover their character and their influence and it is only then that they may come under my wrath. Love my child, do what is right and you remain in my favor. Hurt or despise my child, do what is wrong, lead them astray and the gloves come off. It is an imperfect analogy for our relationship with God through His Son Jesus but it is within our understanding.

And throughout scripture we are repeatedly reminded that if we have God (and his favor) then we need not fear anything or anyone. So it was with Mary. Though she was troubled by the greeting of Gabriel (perhaps as much by the fact that he was ‘masculine’ and she was, well, feminine as by the fact that he was an ANGEL) she had no cause for fear because God was with her.

Last night, a friend of mine revealed that his testimony of brokenness was to be presented before an entire congregation tonight. He expressed his trepidation and fearfulness and as quickly as he acknowledged them, he remembered that God was with him and he need not fear.

We too need only acknowledge our fears before God that we may be reminded by The Spirit (no angels required) that we are children of God and that we too have found favor in his sight. What a wonderful and awesome God we serve!

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-34: Something Special

Every day I have the opportunity to greet people. Sometimes it’s a simple ‘hello’ or ‘how are you?’ and other times it might be ‘wow, it’s really good to see you!’ These greetings are sometimes accompanied by a handshake or a hug and some are followed by sincere conversations. Our text today is about a greeting. Consider…

Luke 1:28 (NIV)
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
[1]

Gabriel, who is to deliver the most glorious message of all times is standing before a 13 or 14 year old girl. I can imagine his excitement since he is full aware of the implications of the message he is about to deliver. Obviously, he has to greet Mary in some manner and a simple ‘hello’ or ‘shalom’ simply will not do. Instead, he greets Mary with the declaration “Greetings, you who are highly favored.”

Mary had been noticed. Scripture tells us that the “eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” I can imagine that as the Lord searches the earth, those whose hearts burn brightly for him stand out amid the darkness of the fallen world. Mary had been noticed. Mary was a girl, nothing more, who was committed to God and lived a life of obedience, nothing less. When God decided that it was time to deliver the Savior, he found Mary to be a suitable and preferred servant to accomplish his will. She was ‘highly favored’ by God for this purpose. God honored her commitment to Him with His favor.

Gabriel continued with ‘The Lord is with you.’ What joy in my heart when I consider that the Lord is with me! What happiness I feel for that little girl to find out that the God she worshipped and adored was not only real but was present with her.

What a wonderful realization in the heart and mind of the repentant sinner to know that God is with them. We are more than lucky, we are blessed!

Regards,
Carl
P Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-37: Appointed

I begin my study of Luke 1:26-38 with today’s text…

Luke 1:26-27 (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
[1]

As usual, it is of utmost importance to consider this passage within the appropriate context by reading the preceding passages. Otherwise, the first four words “In the sixth month” may lead one to a misunderstanding of the timing of the blessed event which we study.

The sixth month to which the scripture refers is a reference to how far along Elizabeth was in her pregnancy and not to the calendar month. The relationship between the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus is important in that through this birth ordering, prophesies were fulfilled. For purposes of our study though, it is sufficient to understand that Elizabeth was sixth months pregnant with John.

At that time, God “sent the angel Gabriel…” The angel Gabriel is mentioned by name four times in scripture (including this reference). In each of these references, Gabriel is functioning as a messenger; twice to Daniel, once to Zechariah and once to Mary. I think this is important to take note of how Gabriel served God, never revealing anything unintended but always in response to an assignment from God.

This heavenly messenger, Gabriel was sent ‘to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,…’ It is important to note that the citizens of Galilee were frowned upon by the Jews of Judah as being unclean or ‘not kosher’ because of their interaction with the gentiles. And Nazareth was a small town which means there is nothing about which to boast for this village. However, it was only an hour’s walk to a large, relatively modern city (Sepphoris) and Nazareth was situated on a major trade route. This was no backwoods or remote village. I think it is fun to speculate that God chose this location to deliver the Messiah in anticipation of his rejection by the Jews and acceptance by the Gentiles; but that is only speculation.

Factually though, Gabriel was dispatched to deliver a message “to a virgin..” a young girl who had never had sex. Her purity was no passing matter; maintaining her purity was critical in her culture and signified her devotion to God. Though a virgin, she was ‘pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.’ In that time, ‘pledged’ meant more than dating or even engaged. In fact, Joseph and ‘the virgin’ were considered to be married and were referred to as husband and wife. However, during this time, it was forbidden for the two to have marital relations. Thus, ‘the virgin’ had been set apart as the wife of Joseph. Based on what we know of the culture of that time, this would indicate that she was thirteen (13) or fourteen (14).

Both ‘the virgin’ and Joseph were descendents of King David but it is “the virgin’s” lineage that secures Jesus’ ancestral ties to David and the tribe of Judah. “The virgin’s name was Mary.”

Thus, Mary is introduced to us as casually as meeting a friend of a friend. I’m trying, diligently, not to skip ahead but I have two virgin daughters, fifteen and eleven. When I consider that God chose Mary, I can’t help but consider that God can use my daughters for his purposes too. God chooses those who choose Him, who are committed to him and filled with His grace. Their hometown, state, country and age are non-factors. God uses normal, common people to accomplish wonderful and uncommon purposes. Let’s be sure to keep that in mind as we learn more about this little girl named Mary in the coming days.

שָׁלֹם

Carl



[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-39: Promises Fulfilled

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be calleda the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
[1]

Contemplate this passage today and tomorrow we shall begin to divide the word of truth into smaller pieces in an effort to extract from it the many lessons and wonders it represents. While I already have identified six or eight important points to explore, I am eager to hear what The Spirit may be speaking into your soul about this passage. As you read this passage, take a moment to type out what comes to your mind and then graciously bless me with your reply.

Warm Regards,
Carl 'Chief Running Water' Schultz
a Or So the child to be born will be called holy,

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-40: Fruitfulness

Four young men, captured by an invading army, separated from their families, led away to a distant county and set apart for special service to the pagan king; exercised amazing self-control and chose a life of obedience, even in the face of extreme adversity, received the blessing of God in the form of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. We come now to the end of the beginning of this story.

Our text today is… Daniel 1:18-20 (NIV)
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
[1]

According to the scripture, these four young men were trained for three years and during that time, God gave them wisdom and understanding; He gifted them so that they could excel all others (Tsungani!). As indicated by our text today “At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.” I can only imagine the pride the official must have felt as he brought forth his ‘star pupils’ and presented them, as a gift, to the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar! Of course, the official would have been oblivious to the fact that it was GOD who had prepared the boys and not himself. Nevertheless, the young men were presented for examination and approval.

Our text states that ‘the king talked with them.’ Keep in mind that these boys were somewhere between 14 and 18 at this time, yet there they were in the company of the king having a conversation. Not only that but the king “he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.” He didn’t just like them, he was impressed by them and they met his approval. Consequently, they were accepted for service “so they entered the king’s service.” We are then informed that “in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Surely, they were amazing examples of God’s handiwork.

I am encouraged by this passage to redouble my efforts as a disciple of Christ. You see, these mere boys, set an example that I (a fully grown man) can continue to learn from and be encouraged by. Their examples of self-control and obedience have been noted, not by the authors of scripture but by God himself, preserved, translated, printed and distributed for the benefit of the multitudes of Christians which have followed. There were none equal to these godly men. This was not a function of genetics or of education but rather the product of love for and obedience to God Almighty. Had they not exercised self-control, had they embraced the Babylonian culture and customs, had they set aside their devotion to Jehovah, had they in any way compromised their relationship with God, the gifts of understanding, wisdom and interpretation would never have been received. Consequently, we would have never heard of them. But they were steadfast and faithful and now, thousands of years later, they are heroes of the faith. I am encouraged by this in that I love, obey and serve the same God as they! Our God continues to bless his followers who are committed to him with gifts just the same.

Additionally, there is the matter of ‘ten times better.’ I do not consider myself to be ‘better’ than anyone else but, the fact is that God blesses His children in ways that non-believers cannot understand. So in a culture that is dying because of idolatry and disobedience, a Christian compares favorably. In this, filled with the Holy Spirit and reborn into the likeness of Christ, I am more equipped than the pagans. Evenso I must not lose sight of the fact that it is ‘yet not I but Christ.’

I conclude my study of Daniel 1:1-20 today. I go forth into the world encouraged and exhorted to exercise self-control, practice obedience and to serve the King. It is my hope that those I serve in the course of my day will find me to be “ten times better.” May God be glorified!

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-42: God's Equipping

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah lived in Babylon and were prepared for service to King Nebuchadnezzar. Scripture teaches us that the period of training and preparation was three years in length yet it does not tell us anything about how they were prepared by their Babylonian captors.

Our text today does give us great insight into this period though…

Daniel 1:17 (NIV)
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
[1]

During the period of training, God was busy preparing these young men. I’m quite certain that the Babylonians thought that the young men were being prepared for the purposes of Babylon but apparently, God was preparing them for service to Him.

Our text reveals that ‘To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.’ I find it interesting to note that God had not ‘given’ as in ‘prior to their captivity’ but rather that ‘God gave’ which connotes a contemporaneous giving during the time of their training. In their situation, God gave them exactly what they needed.

Our passage begins by speaking of how God met their physical needs by means of vegetables and water. Too, it speaks of how God honored their obedience to his commandments by giving them increased health and a visibly superior countenance. Having delivered these young men into the hands of their captors (and indeed the entire country of Judah) God continued to refine and to provide for these young men in the way that accomplished the will of God. How fortunate for King Nebuchadnezzar!

God, the source of all things, all knowledge and all wisdom saw fit to impart knowledge and understanding to these young men. In considering my own experiences with education I remember how often I would read or study something and just ‘not get it.’ I now understand that was because I was outside of God’s will and that no amount of intellect can make up for that deficiency. But now that I surrender to God (every day), He sees fit to give me knowledge and understanding in ways that I cannot explain. Rather, I cannot explain them in earthly terms, I can only explain them as being by His hand. So these young men set their minds and bodies towards the task of learning the ways, culture and knowledge of Babylon. God favored them and gave them knowledge and understanding such that they excelled all others. TSUNGANI!

“And Daniel received the ability to understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” The portion poured out to Daniel exceeded that of the other three and pleased God.

From these two sentences, rightly contextualized, we can learn that even in dire circumstances God equips his servants to not only survive but to excel. We learn from the context that obedience is an enabling posture before God and that we must be in the correct posture before the King in order to receive His blessing. First, obedience, then… blessing. Our God is an extravagant God whose riches surpass definition and who pours out gifts upon His people. In the case of Daniel and his friends, He poured out gifts of knowledge, understanding and interpretation. What gifts has God poured into you? Certainly, if you live a life of obedience to God you have been enabled. Having been enabled, God has equipped you to accomplish His plans for your life.

If you know the gifts God has given unto you, I challenge you to consider whether you have put them to work for His glory. If you have not yet discovered your gifts, I challenge you to seek them out and identify them that you may praise Him for His rich blessing. If you have not yet exchanged the yoke of sinfulness for the yoke of Christ, I challenge you to repent right now and begin a new life in service to the King.

Regards,
Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-47: Measurable Results

Ten days of vegetables and water instead of meat and wine; that’s what Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah asked for and were granted. Their request was not predicated upon any desire to lose weight but rather to please God. Yet the test results were to be determined visually by a biased non-believer.

The boys believed that after ten days their countenance would bear out the assumption that God would take care of them. The Babylonian official expected that after ten days he would be able to put them on the king’s rich diet to overcome their emaciated condition.

Our text today reveals the outcome of this dietary experiment. Consider…

Daniel 1:15-16 (NIV)
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
[1]

At the end of the experiment, the God-fearing group of boys “looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” There you have it; proof once again that obedience to God is good for you.

I cannot say that ten days of vegetables and water will have an immediate and noticeable effect on how you appear. But I can say that a life of obedience has a profound and noticeable effect on your countenance. I also submit that ten days of ‘belly-to-the-bar’ buffets will have a noticeable and undesirable effect on you. Thus, the comparison was between four boys who lived a life of obedience and for ten days were nourished by healthy food as well as God’s word and a group of young men, their peers but not equals, who set aside what they knew to be right and indulged in Babylonian living. That at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his friends would be proven to be right should be no surprise.

Confronted with the stark reality of the effect of a god-honoring diet, V16 tells us that the guard took away all the king’s food, all the temptations and continued to feed the boys on vegetables and water. While this was a practical consideration on the part of the guards, it is also an acknowledgement that God knows best what our bodies need and what will keep us healthy.

I’ll stop short of saying that we live in a modern-day Babylon but I will categorically state that we live in a country that is wrapped up in excess. This passage convicts me of my own gluttony and my own shortcomings in the stewardship of God’s temple; my body. As intended by God, I need to take heed of the example of ‘four amigos’ and take to heart their commitment to God and the good choices they made. I must claim for my own their testimony that obedience to God is always rewarded.


Warm Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-48: Let's Make a Deal!

We know that God uses all things according to his purposes but I think that sometimes we forget that God is sovereign over believers and non-believers alike. He IS whether someone chooses to believe or not. It’s the same with gravity; denying its existence no more removes you from its effect than accepting it, it simply means that you are surprised when you find yourself smacking into the ground after jumping from a height. I know that there will be many surprised expressions when judgment day arrives.

Our text today illustrates the manner in which our sovereign God effects and uses non-believers to accomplish God’s will. Consider…

Daniel 1:9-14 (NIV)
9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned yourc food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
[1]

You may recall that in V8, Daniel has asked the chief official for permission to forego the king’s buffet and wine so as not to defile himself. In the normal course of events, the captor would have no interest in accommodating the requests of the captives. Were it not for the hand of God the book of Daniel would have been very short; no more than nine verses. ;) But God was moving among the Babylonians and as V9 tells us “God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel.” God stirred the heart of the unbeliever to be receptive to Daniel’s request.

That is not to say that this unbelieving official was wholeheartedly in support of Daniel and his friends. To the contrary, this official’s chief concern was for his own safety! This should be of little surprise for the chief concern of the unbeliever (and sadly that of many believers) is self. The official expressed this concern by his reply “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” As stated, this official is afraid of the king knowing full well that if he failed in his assignment, it would not be detention hall or remedial training, it would be death. And we can see in the official’s statement his presumption that the king always knows best in that the official assumed that if the boys did not eat what was prescribed for them, they would, by comparison, be in worse shape than those who did follow the kings orders. But I will also point out that the fact that the official even considered the question and gave Daniel an opportunity to ‘make his case’ is proof positive of God’s power in this situation.

And so Daniel offered a deal. In respectful tones and with words chosen so as not to offend, Daniel requests that the official participate in an experiment; vegetables and water for ten days and then a visual inspection. And beyond that there were no conditions! The official was ‘free’ to adjust his treatment according to his interpretation of what he observes. No assumptions, no presumptions, no arguments, no demands, just a simple and non-threatening request.

So the official agreed.

God had predisposed the unbelieving official to be favorable towards Daniel. Daniel had resolved to be faithful to God. Daniel conducted himself in a reasonable and gracious manner such as becomes a believer. God honored the discipline of Daniel and stirred the heart of the official to accept the challenge.

How many times have we, as believers, come into the presence of an unbeliever who is sympathetic to our cause? How many times have we disrupted God’s plans by not showing the faithful obedience that Daniel exemplifies for us in today’s text? How many times have we ‘made our case’ by way of argument, badgering and generally bad behavior? How many blessings have we foregone because by our actions and our words we have created situations where God is not honored and therefore cannot honor us? How many times have we, by our words and actions, served only to harden the heart of the unbeliever?

Daniel, a mere boy, teaches us volumes about faith, discipline, courage, grace, humility, meekness, self-control and respect. I’ve got a long way to go to be like Daniel.

שָׁלֹם

Carl
c The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-49: Decision Time

Four young men from Judah face a tough decision. They’ve been taken as captives by King Nebuchadnezzar when Babylon conquered Judah. They survived the journey to Babylon and they have been selected to be prepared to serve in the king’s courts. Their Hebrew names have been replaced with Babylonian names; they are strangers in a strange land. Before them, a feast has been prepared; a sample if you will of how they will eat from this day forward. The finest foods and choicest morsels from the king’s table, along with the king’s wine, have been laid out for their sustenance. Of course, there’s that whole thing about the food having been sacrificed to idols and the fact that consuming that food will render them unclean before their Lord.

So, like many of us, our protagonists are faced with a hard decision; yield or stand resolute. Our text today is…

Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
8 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. [1]

Daniel was faithful. Being only a young man, a mere boy, Daniel had been ‘trained up’ in the way of the Lord and in this moment of temptation and adversity, he did not depart from it. From this we can learn that age is not a requirement for obedience and that Daniel, the boy, is set before us as an example for our emulation. If we can learn that lesson, to emulate the faithfulness of Daniel, from this passage then we shall have done well in the sight of the Lord.

But, to say that Daniel was faithful in his resolution not to defile himself, does not adequately describe the nuances of his decision. There is the matter of the decision that we need to explore. The text states “But Daniel resolved…” It sounds so simple yet it does not reveal the desire or the dialog that preceded the decision. No doubt the food, the wine, the courts themselves were appealing. To a young boy the food must have been very attractive. To a slave the exotic nature of the food must have been intoxicating. To someone who has only recently completed a cross-country journey, the food must have appeared nourishing. I believe Daniel wanted the food and also the favor of the king. Though there is no mention of Satan’s presence I have no doubt that he was chattering into Daniel’s ear, encouraging him to eat, assuaging and deceiving. But Daniel was not swayed and he made his decision accordingly.

Some might argue that in light of later scripture, the prohibition against certain foods or against consumption of food sacrificed to idols was meaningless. Some might read this passage and breeze through this with hardly a thought. Some may think that considering the circumstances, the food and the wine proffered by the king’s men is a small or trivial matter. But in the matter of obedience to God, there are no trivialities. Obedience in the small things forms the underpinning for obedience in the larger things. Do not deceive yourself by the false comparison between what we perceive to be ‘big’ or ‘small.’ Failures in the ‘small’ things certainly undermines our ability to be faithful when confronted with the ‘large’ things; faithfulness in the ‘small’ things leads to greater and greater responsibility and trust with the ‘big’ things. This is a fundamental concept of stewardship. When it comes to obedience, partial obedience is disobedience; delayed obedience is disobedience. It is only by obedience in all things, great and small, that we honor God. Daniel was faithful and ‘resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…’

Not only was Daniel faithful and resolute but he was also gracious to the authorities. Scripture does not record that Daniel and his friends refused the food nor does it record that they wailed, lamented, protested or otherwise made a scene. Scripture records for our benefit that ‘he (Daniel) asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.’ He ASKED. In this is revealed that Daniel was meek. Take care not to confuse weak with meek. Daniel was not timid nor was he operating from a position of weakness. Though enslaved, Daniel showed amazing strength and a degree of control to which we all should aspire. That’s what I mean by meek; strength under control. My mentor offered this word picture to me to help me understand this concept. A wild horse is not broken that he may be ridden, rather he is ‘meeked.’ The strength is brought under control, not compromised nor diminished; channeled. So it was with Daniel.

Not only was Daniel meek (and humble) but he displayed great consideration for those in authority over him. God has charged each of us to yield to the authority which God has placed over us. God had placed king Nebuchadnezzar in authority over Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar had placed Ashpenaz in a position of authority of Daniel and his friends. Daniel, nor his friends, challenged that authority. It is true that they resisted the law in order to obey the Lord but they did so in a compassionate, considerate and conciliatory manner. It’s the original non-violent protest! In this behavior we see the power of God overcoming the will of the flesh. Again, the example of Daniel is preserved and presented for our emulation.

As much as we see the power of God overcoming fleshy instinct, I see two further facets of God’s hand in this matter. God gave Daniel the strength to be delivered from compromise. In my own struggles with worldly desires, I often look for the way of escape promised me in 1 COR 10:13. I note in this passage that Daniel did not look for the way of escape; unlike me, he was not looking for ‘how to get out of it.’ He looked for what ‘he could get out of it.’ Inasmuch as God delivered these boys from compromise, he developed them in character. These boys, being confronted with this situation or temptation, was being tested and refined. Their response in this situation would further prepare them for the ever-more-difficult situations that they would face in the coming years. Just as my decision today affects tomorrow, so it was with these boys.

I close today with this charge… lead your lives in obedience to God in all things. By the indwelling Holy Spirit be delivered from compromise and allow your godly responses to temptation to be used to develop your character that you may be perfected in the Lord, equipped for good works.

Warm Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-53: What's in a name

Thus far in my study in Daniel, an insidious plot has been perpetrated against the young men from Judah who are captives in Babylon. The king, Nebuchadnezzar has ordered his people to identify likely candidates for service to the king and to prepare them for his courts. The selection process has occurred and we pick up in…

Daniel 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
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About this passage, I offer a few observations. First, concerning the Hebrew names of those selected: “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.” It is important to note that these young men were devoted to Jehovah, the one God. This is revealed to us by their names which, according to commentary sources, contain some form of the name of God in Hebrew.

Daniel: God is my judge
Hananiah: God has favored
Mishael: who is what God is
Azariah: Jehovah has helped

Wow! You know the story, you know what is coming. But have you ever considered the implications of these names with respect to the trials, tests and temptations that these young men face? God had selected these boys long before King Nebby-nezzar. Their names, given to them as mere infants, reveal God’s plans for them. I will try to remember to come back to and explore this concept further as our lesson unfolds but for now, it is sufficient to understand that these boys had been set apart by God. The servant of the Babylonian king only endorsed by his selection, the selection already accomplished by God himself.

Secondly, I observe that each of these young men were renamed; this was part of the indoctrination process to which I have previously referred. Daniel (God is my judge) is renamed to Belteshazzar which in the language of the Babylonians means “lord of the straitened’s treasure.” (straitened: to make strait or narrow, to hem in, to restrict in freedom or scope, to subject to distress, privation or deficiency) Hananiah received the name Shadrach meaning “royal” or “great scribe.” Mishael is renamed to Meshach meaning “guest of a king” and Azariah receives Abednego which means “servant of Nebo.”

So our four protagonists have their God-honoring names stripped from them and replaced with names that are meant to bring glory and honor to the Babylonian king and the false idols he worshipped. This is not unlike what happens to us in our own lives. As an example, I named by eldest “Gabrielle” which you may recognize as homage to ‘Gabriel’ and it means “God is her strength.” Her friends have renamed her ‘Gabby’ which has implications that are far less flattering. As she matures, she may pick up additional names and titles that reflect her role and accomplishments in this life. From Ms to Mrs, perhaps some initials behind her name. When she marries, she will exchange her family name for the family name of her husband. But no matter by what name she is called, the fact remains that God is her strength. So it was with the fabulous foursome revealed to us in this passage.

The world, Babylon, forced new names upon them. This was done for several reasons that bear mention. First, the Babylonians certainly did not want to be using any language or names that included references to the God of Israel. Secondly, the Babylonians wanted to honor their own gods (idols) by consecrating these boys to their service. Thirdly, as part of the indoctrination and subjugation process, they did not want these boys to have anything upon which to fasten themselves so as to maintain a connection to their own heritage and their God.

I will mention that this is the exact inverse of what happens to those who come to The Lord through Jesus Christ. At birth, I was named after my grandfathers “Carl” and “Bryan.” Carl is my first name and it means “manly.” My last name is Schultz which is derived from a German word for Sheriff or Protector. Thus, my name means “manly protector.” As far as names go, that’s not too bad. But, when I came to know Christ as my Lord and Savior, I received a new name! I received the name Christian (one who follows Christ). I received this name to signify the death of the old sinful Carl to be reborn into a new creation. By comparison to the renaming process revealed in our text today, I submit that washing out the world from the heart of a repentant sinner (Christian) is far more effective that trying to wash out GOD from the heart of his servant.

Lastly, I observe that we remember these boys, these godly men, primarily and sadly by their Babylonian names. Obviously Daniel is the exception but for the others, we name them according to the names given by the Babylonians. Though there is something wrong about that, I will not belabor that point here. I only mention it to heighten your awareness to the powerful effect of the world over all those who live in it.

I close today with a challenge for you to consider your own names whether given, earned or forced upon. But mainly, I ask that you dwell upon the new name given you by God, Christian. What does it mean to you? By observation, what does your new name say to the world?


Warm Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.