Glen Head

I saw a meme on Facebook not long ago that accused Christians who support Trump politically of “selling their souls.” There was a long list of immoral things that Trump not only did in his past but continues to this day. Granted those who entertain this thought overlook the immorality of those whom they align themselves with, yet that doesn’t matter. They just want to point out the “hypocrisy” of the Christians and accuse them of not being like Jesus.

Let’s look at just one man in the Bible in a little bit of depth and see why God favors those who live moral lives even while under heathen authority. When I say moral in this writing I mean godly, spiritual, pleasing to God. Daniel gave glory and adherence to God’s law, not the immorality of the kings he served. Daniel served God first and foremost!

Let’s look at Daniel:

1. Even in Daniel’s early years he influenced heathen authority figures, while at the same time pleasing God. God was not ashamed of Daniel’s behavior. It pleased God and God used it for His purpose to change the hearts and minds of those in high earthly places. “Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus”. Daniel 1:16-21 
2. When Daniel went before king Nebuchadnezzar did Daniel attempt to “win the king over” as such would be the hope of any other man, or did Daniel bring glory to God and share with the king how great God was? After Daniel shared what the dream meant and who it was from what did the king do? “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” Daniel 2:46-49
3. Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were also noticed by the king, not because of their arrogance or glory to self, but because they trusted in the one true God and would obviously give their lives for Him. “Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:26-30
4. In chapter 4 of Daniel, the king is told what terrible thing would happen to him in the future because of his pride. In 12 short months the thing came about and it shows how forgetful humans are concerning the power and majesty of God. It also shows why godly men, spiritual men, men who are pleasing to God, are much needed in the kingdoms of men. “The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:33-37
5. In chapter 5, King Belshazzar gave glory to Daniel because of his interpretation of the handwriting on the wall, only to die that very night. “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” Daniel 5:25-31
6. So far Daniel has served under two kings, Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar. Now in chapter 6 we see his servitude under another king, Darius. Here we see jealousy and the mindset of immoral men trying to do away with those that are godly in the king’s court. Even today there are those that are trying to eradicate people who are moral, spiritual, and pleasing to God. They do not want them in positions of power or authority. And they will slander them and mock them and their God without any fear of backlash or retribution. But retribution will come. The day of judgment will come. The wrath of God will be executed upon them. “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Daniel 6:1-5
7. When Daniel went to the lion’s den, how did Darius take it? Note that there is no sarcasm coming from Darius. His words are of true concern and care for Daniel. “…Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. (Daniel 6:16) “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” (Daniel 6:18-20) Then Daniel said, “O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” (Daniel 6:21-22) “Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (Daniel 6:23-28)
8. In verse 28 we are introduced to Cyrus, the fourth king that Daniel served. There is no doubt that Daniel and his three friends were a great influence and help before these kings. They never sought fame or fortune, they just focused on pleasing God. Even at their own peril.

Yet the ungodly even today continue slandering, mocking and belittling those that are godly. Persecution in that way is widespread in our country and most assuredly we have or will feel it very soon. The true Christian will do that which is right and good and pleases God despite what evil-doers say. Even though Daniel was not a Christian, he did not live in the Christian age, but lived in the Patriarchal Age, he was a godly man, a spiritual man, a moral man and one that pleased and feared God. Peter leaves us with a simple yet complex thought/command: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:12-18)