Musing – Is there a message for our times in the book of Daniel?

Hebraic Musing – Is there a message for our times in the book of Daniel?

Do we need to look and plan ahead in light of the recent prophetic “end-times” messages and the growing threats to our Christian churches as we know them?  What if we no longer have churches to go to in order to “keep the faith”?  What if we are told not to profess our Christian faith?  Here are related perspectives we might garner from the book of Daniel.

First, if we don’t have our traditional churches to attend we will not have others to lead us in praise, giving thanks, repenting, study, or praying.  When Daniel was taken away into captivity, he did have Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah with him for a while.  He had a semblance of fellowship during the initial training. After telling the meaning of the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, we note that Daniel was not mentioned when the three were put in the fiery furnace for failure to bow to the statue.  Nor were they with Daniel when he was caught praying the Shema three times a day resulting in the lion's den miracle.  It seems Daniel may have been isolated from fellow Israelite friends at those times.  We Christians have been trained and taught to rely upon a pastor to lead us in worship, prayer and teaching in traditional church services.  Daniel found himself cut off from the priests, the temple and the fellowship of Israelites as he served in the king’s court.  Are we prepared to walk a Christian walk in the kind of isolation Daniel experienced?  Has our relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach been tested to that degree?   Maybe we should be better prepared to rely less on others by focusing on our direct relationship with God Almighty?

Second, Daniel and his friends were taken into a culture laden with false and strange gods.  We don't have to go far today to find strange but popular gods of idolatry, violence, glorification of evil, sexual freedom, universalism, intolerance, materialism, self-centeredness, etc. with whom we find ourselves at odds.  Daniel found himself in a country of strange gods.  Yet, in exchange for his refusal to taint himself with food from the king’s table, God gave “…these four young men … knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Dan.1:17    Thus Daniel was able to step out in faith by telling the king he could explain both the dream and its interpretation, but he continued to give God all the glory when he prayed -- see Daniel 2:20-23.  Remember what Daniel said to the king before he explained what the dream was and it’s meaning? "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” Dan 2:27-28   Daniel boldly and confidently gave glory and honor to the source of the truth.  Would we be so bold while living in isolation?  The result - King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel – the result of being bold and proclaiming faith in God Almighty.

Third, let’s consider the faith of his three friends. There will always be those who want to “throw us under the bus” like the Astrologers did by ratting on the three Hebrews.  I like their response. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Dan 3:16-18 NIV   Would we have sufficient faith to say that without our Church friends around us?   And the best part -- In the end, Nebuchadnezzar confessed his faith in YHVH. 

BTW - Daniel was not the only God-fearer to have to muster up his own faith while living in isolation.  Consider POW’s, Christian prisoners in hostile countries, missionaries working in foreign lands, etc.

Points to ponder

Are we prepared to not have anybody else to rely on, except God Almighty? 

Will we be as faithful as Daniel and his friends when the time comes?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 19, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Johanna Hocker, “What can we learn from Daniel When the going gets tough?” 1/11/16