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.
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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.