Dare to Be a Daniel : An Old Testament Character Study

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Colton McDaniel | Springfield, Illinois

When I was asked to write this, I had not even considered my last name is closely connected to Daniel’s name. It hardly ever occurs to me that I share a name with this godly example. I do not know why. Perhaps when I think of the book of Daniel, I think of the back half of it and immediately wonder what else I could teach on instead. I have often neglected the practical examples contained in the front half. This ought not to be. As difficult as the visions may be, the life of Daniel is too thrilling to ignore.

He was living in captivity among the godless. Kings ordered him to disobey God, and they threw him in a den of lions. He was placed in positions of authority among his captors. Daniel sees it all and yet still maintains integrity. Daniel is the child of God each of us is called to be. He certainly did not expect all that took place, but he faced it all with courage.

Use What You Have

Daniel checked all of Nebuchadnezzar’s boxes. He was of noble birth, handsome, intelligent, discerning, and skilled (Daniel 1:3-4). Daniel had it all! Unfortunately, having it all may not have been helpful since it meant his capture. What Daniel “had” led him into a regrettable and perhaps terrifying situation.

Daniel used his skills and discernment and demonstrated himself worthy of the king’s trust. This proved profitable when all the wise men could not interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, especially since he was in a position to request an appointment with the king without being ignored (2:13-16). This led to him earning respect. So much so, Daniel could interpret the mysterious writing on the wall (5:10-14). Daniel leveraged his wisdom.

Perhaps that does not sit well with us—to leverage our abilities—but Daniel did not use these for his glory. Do we accuse the five-talent man of arrogance for using the financial assets given to him? Of course not! We recognize his humility before the king in simply wanting to use what was entrusted to him by the king faithfully. In the Talents, the danger is not personal pride but negligence (Matthew 25:14-30). Daniel reveals the essence of being a five-talent servant.

To be clear, Use What You Have should in no way encourage those who are attractive or intelligent to take an if-you-got-it-flaunt-it perspective. These qualities may have put Daniel in a more agreeable position than other fellow captives, but he in no way took pride in his advantage. Instead, he used his intelligence and wisdom, not with the intended purpose of “getting ahead,” but to glorify God (Daniel 2:19-23).

Choose Wisely, but NOW

Every king who met Daniel noticed him because of his wisdom, but his wisdom was not for their pleasure. If it had that effect, all the better, but he intended to glorify God. When Nebuchadnezzar ordered certain delicacies to be eaten, Daniel found a way to avoid the unclean meat. This was a non-negotiable in the Law, and Daniel would not defile himself (Daniel 1:8-19). Only by God’s grace did Daniel and his friends escape the king’s wrath. Such was not the case when an edict went out to only pray to the king (then Darius of Persia). Neglecting prayer to YHWH and diverting it to the king was also non-negotiable, and Daniel was not going to be dissuaded (chapter 6). Only by God’s grace did Daniel escape the lion’s jaws.

Regardless of God’s physical deliverance in these situations and which kingdom was in authority, Daniel continued in wisdom because he “made up his mind” to do so before he was called on to act (1:8). It is remarkable how casually Daniel seemed to be able to risk it all for God’s glory. When the time came to do what was right, he did so without hesitation. Though he attempted to “be at peace with all men,” he zealously desired God’s peace. He had predetermined who his King would be.

In my thirty years of life, it seems every year brings more warnings of looming persecutions in our country. Christians seem increasingly concerned about what is to come. Perhaps such concerns are warranted. But, ultimately, it does not matter. Taking an attitude like Daniel’s, we will serve if we are at peace. If not, we will yet serve. If we are under American powers, we will fear God and honor the authority. If under foreign occupation, we will yet fear God and honor the authority. All the while recognizing the preeminence of God’s authority (Acts 5:29). The circumstances will not change our walk. Decide this now. The doing of it will come much easier.

Keep Confessing

Daniel perhaps could have looked around and thought the terrible circumstances were because these Gentile nations were so wicked. He would have been correct, but Daniel knew better than to blame Babylon or Persia. He knew the problem, and thus he got on his knees to ask forgiveness for it (Daniel 9:1-6). The problem was not the nations but Israel. Around 900 years earlier, God had instructed Israel to be faithful lest they be carried away into captivity (Deuteronomy 28:41, 58-68). Jeremiah picked up on this curse to inform Judah that God would send Babylon to take them (Jeremiah 25:11). When Daniel read this, he knew this was all on Israel.

Yet Daniel includes himself in this indictment. Throughout his prayer, “we” is a constant reminder of Daniel’s recognition of personal guilt. The shame. The iniquity. The rebellion. Daniel owns up to all of it. We may look at this and brush it off as a rhetorical feature, simply taking the edge off of his actual pronouncement against everyone else in Israel. But I believe we would be mistaken. With all his prior demonstrations of humility, self-righteous rhetoric would seem misplaced. He feels the weight of guilt in himself. Even if he was not directly responsible for the captivity, he understood that sins such as his own sent them to Babylon. Daniel is in genuine remorse and supplication.

We, on the other hand, might rather pass the buck. “The reason our society is crumbling is because of the government.” “Our congregation is failing because of our elders.” “My marriage is falling apart because my wife will not pull her own weight.” When will we admit, “I am failing“? Others are failing as well, but my responsibility in this cannot be ignored. Self-promotion is not appealing to God (Daniel 4:30-33; Luke 18:9-14). Especially when all seems to be crashing down, I must look at myself, then look to God and say, “Forgive me.”

Keep Hoping

As intimidating as the dreams and visions in Daniel may be to any Bible student, they all offer a necessity during persecution—hope. In the first of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, the kingdom of God is established as a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Daniel 2:44-45). The saints receive this kingdom in the first of Daniel’s visions (7:18). Next, the Messiah was to come, make atonement for iniquity, and make a covenant (9:24-27). In the final visions, those written in the book are promised rescue and everlasting life (12:1-3). In Nebuchadnezzar’s second vision, even he is promised rescue if he will acknowledge God as “ruler over the realm of mankind.” (4:24-26). All of these (whether they have immediate or future fulfillment) bring the same message—hope for the humble.

Another common factor in all the dreams and visions is that God will bring down those who exalt themselves. Assuming we have humbled ourselves before the Most High, this comes as good news. The unrighteous may have ease now, but they will be brought down. Persecutions from the world are only temporary. God rules in the kingdoms of men. His kingdom cannot be shaken. Though I do not believe Daniel has much to say about the second coming, we are offered a similar hope as Israel was. Messiah will come and fix it all.

Knowing what we have now and what is yet to come demands gratitude and obedience: “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Your sufferings are not forever.

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Many have said it over the last century; we, too, dwell in Babylon. Therefore, we ought not to be surprised when Babylon transitions into its more heinous appearance and devours those opposed to her. Not being intimidated by her can only be the product of three variables: we have our head in the sand, we have grown accustomed to bowing to her, or we have the faith and courage of Daniel. Let us choose the latter.

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January 2022 | GROW magazine