Warriors Arise: February 7, 2021
Daniel 5:17-22 (NKJV) Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. 22 “But you his son
Did you feel the sting? You should have felt the sting. Daniel is honoring and following court etiquette when he refuses the reward Belshazzar offers for his services of interpreting this enigma, the man's finger writing on the wall. Daniel proceeds with the history lesson of how Belshazzar would have learned from the history of his country and if not that at least from his family history of God's authority in the rise and fall of kingdoms on earth. And this is where the sting comes from, but you his son...
There are times when we try to plead ignorance. To alleviate responsibility in a situation we may quote "ignorance is bliss". However, ignorance is only bliss until the responsibly of knowing hits you between the eyes. You can no longer ignore what you know you know.
But you his son, does that not sting? Daniel knows Belshazzar knew what Nebuchadnezzar went through. He knows Belshazzar not only knows what happened but heard from his father's lips of the years he spent in the wild eating grass! Don't you think Nebuchadnezzar told how hard life was in the wild? How terrible it was to have his kingdoms stripped from him? How he came to himself when he recognized God is God and he isn't and would never be?
These words, but you his son, they are a sting, they are to get Belshazzar's attention. I wonder if Daniel, while being escorted to the king was told of the evenings events. Did someone tell him what Belshazzar had done? Did Daniel know of the blasphemous treatment of the gold and silver vessels from the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem? Did Daniel know Belshazzar had used the vessels for his wives, concubines and lords to drink from? Did he know they praise the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone while drinking from God's vessels?
Even Nebuchadnezzar had not used them, but Belshazzar had no regard for God. I wonder if it took everything in Daniel to remain calm, cool and collected while standing before this arrogant pompous brat of a king. I imagine Daniel keeping his voice low and words precise. I picture fire from his eyes at a simmer as he controls the indignant rage within. What would it be like to be in Daniel's shoes, to see the gold and silver vessels from the temple of God abandoned, cluttered on the tables, and clinched in the hands of the lords sitting nearby?
I've heard people talk about the patience of Job, but what about Daniel? Each of us, if we haven't already, will find ourselves in a situation where we need God to give us patience. Honestly it irks me when someone says, "Don't pray for patience because then you will be tested." They are TOTALLY missing it! We are this side of the cross, therefore, we have the Holy Spirit within us, therefore we have access to the ability to be patient in all circumstances. It isn't a lack of patience; it is a lack of self-control. A believer who isn't patient either doesn't know what they have or they are too used to giving into the their flesh. They may have peel around those who provoke them and that will be on their head when they face Jesus. But those who call on the Lord will have the patience they need to work through the irritating situation and the provoking people. If you think what Belshazzar hadn't provoke Daniel, you don't know Daniel. Daniel would honor God even unto death. For Daniel to see Belshazzar disregard his father's instruction and dishonor God would have challenged every fiber within him to remain calm.
How do I know Daneil remained clam? Because there are not exclamation points. Remaining calm doesn't mean that he didn't deliver the rebuke. A rebuke delivered by someone without rage taking over can sting more than a person who rants. Another reason I do not believe Daniel lost his cool is because the king could have sent him out, but he continued to listen to Daniel's rebuke.
I'll never forget listening to a message by Patsy Clairmont. She said, "There's nothing worse than a whoopin' from the Lord." She is right.
Father, I ask if there is any action I have taken that has dishonored You for You to remind me. I want to repent of my sin of arrogance and living my life unto myself. I ask for You to come and speak to my heart and my mind. I want to represent You with truth, honor, and love. I pray You would continue to strengthen me to walk in godly character. I want to represent You to the nonbelievers. I want to be able to speak the truth in love. I pray they would be ready and receptive. I pray they would repent of their sin and change their ways. I pray they would see You and honor You in all their ways. I would not think that I am perfect but that I would be filled with Your Holy Spirit so I can be ready when I am called before nonbelievers to share Your truth. I ask that I would not let my flesh respond but I would speak from Your truth. They do not need me to be out of control with my words. They need to truth. They need exactly what You would say to them. I ask for You to come and strengthen me to take a stand when I am given the opportunity to speak of Your truth 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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