Warriors Arise: March 4, 2021
Daniel 5:29 - 6:3 (NKJV) Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Daniel had just been given the gold necklace, the purple robe and made third in the kingdom of Babylon. That very night everything changed. Daniel didn't want the gold necklace nor the purple robe and he sure didn't want to be third in the kingdom. He told the king he could keep his gifts before he even read the writing on the wall. But the king didn't listen to Daniel when he said he didn't want the gifts and it would appear that he didn't listen when Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall.
We do not know how Daniel responded when he found out the news that Darius the Mede was now set to rule over the kingdom. This is a tremendous change and what would this change mean for him. Should he hide the purple robe and gold chain? What if someone pointed him out and told Darius of Daniel's rank? Would Daniel be killed? What had Belshazzar done! He told him he didn't want the gifts. He had no need to be made third in the kingdom and he certainly didn't need someone to rat him out for something he didn't want paid to do. He told Belshazzar he would read the writing on the wall and give the interpretation without the reward. It might have been another way Daniel was trying to keep himself pure. Remember when the captives had arrived in Babylon from Jerusalem. They had been given food from the king's table but Daniel had asked to not be made to eat the food. He wanted to keep himself pure. He didn't want to eat meat that had been offered to idols and meaningless gods. By making this request and taking stand for purity Daniel and those who stood with him were found to be 10 times wiser than any of the others.
What can Daniel do? Everyone who was at the feast would know who he was. Belshazzar didn't even know him until that night. Would anyone who was there remember him? Would they tell Darius he was made third in the kingdom?
There are some changes in our life we cannot control. For Daniel, this was one of them. He had refused the rewards of Belshazzar but they were disregarded. He had to take the promotion. Most people would flaunt about their new position and take their place next to the king. I picture Daniel, shaking his head and leaving the feast with a sigh. He had done what God had positioned him to do that night. He could only do what God told him to do, nothing more, nothing less. Daniel honored God. God had delivered Daniel that night and the next day.
Psalms 107:19-21 (NKJV) Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
I am thinking Daniel went back to his room and prayed. God delivered him that night from his distress and that day from the destruction of the Medes. Somehow Daniel was able to walk into the feast, summoned by Belshazzar and deliver the judgement of God and walked out with the king's reward! Who would talk to a king like Daniel? And get away with it?
Psalms 86:10 (NKJV) For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.
This is a wondrous thing the God has done for Daniel. He called him, spoke truth followed by judgement to the king and no one tried to silence Daniel. No one stepped forward to strike him down for what he was saying to the king. And still Daniel is rewarded. You should be astounded because Daniel should not have lived. He probably should have been struck down before he even had the chance to interpret the writing on the wall. Then to have the king reward Daniel. That is truly absurd. But God. God did a wondrous thing.
I imagine Daniel praying well into the night. Maybe he didn't even go to sleep. When I get to heaven I am going to want to hear the details here that are missing. Maybe he turned it all over to God and went to bed. Maybe he was so tied up in knots from standing before the king, knowing what he said and astounded that he walked out of there alive. Now he is looking at the gold chain on the table and the robe slung over the chair wondering, what am I going to do with those? Since he made me third in the kingdom maybe I will get another chance to speak to him about God.
But that would not be. Come morning Daniel had to face another change. Belshazzar had been killed. Darius the Mede is ruling. What would that mean for Daniel?
Daniel 6:1&2 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
God had protected Daniel. Even though he was third in the kingdom the night before he remained for the service of Darius the Mede. God intervened and did a wondrous thing. He was not done with Daniel.
Father, change can be so difficult. Generally I only want change when I am assured it is the best thing for me. Change brings an entirely different level of trust. I ask to have the courage to receive change. I ask for have the wisdom o know how to carry myself. There are times I can't stop change just like Daniel couldn't stop Belshazzar from promoting him. Then to think what Belshazzar had done would have put a target on Daniel for Darius the Mede. Do I trust You to protect me?... I do not understand nor do I have to understand what the change will do for me. I have to trust You and follow You. I need You to lead me, give me the courage to make the change, and stay calm when chaos strikes. When You have brought we into a situation I trust You to bring me through a situation. You are faithful to those who call upon Your name. You give wisdom for situations I don't know how to handle. I listen for You and receive strength from Your perfect love that casts out all fear. You are holy and just. You are wise. Your strength keeps me steady. I will trust You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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