I mentioned previously that our church has started a series in the book of Daniel. When the study started it turns out that my daily Bible Reading Plan (ESV Gospel Transformation Bible) was in the book of Daniel. One day was chapters 1-6 then 7-12. It became a strong confirmation that reading Scripture in big chunks is beneficial. You get a better picture of the plot and story line.  When I read chapters 1-6 I noticed an interesting pattern.

As I stated in my last blog Daniel is NOT the hero of the book of Daniel. God the Covenant Keeper is the hero. In chapters 1-6 there is a picture of how God’s people face challenges, including an ungodly government and in the end God is glorified. Let me lay out some context.

Chapter 1. The king, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon offers the Hebrew exiles the best foods of the kingdom, and the Hebrews refuse and chose to maintain their OT dietary ways. In the end they were better off than those on the king’s diet.

Chapter 2 the same king has a dream and demands his advisors, including Daniel, to recite and translate the dream or die. Daniel succeeds and they are spared. Daniel is promoted.

Chapter 3. King Nebuchadnezzar builds a statue and demands that all in the kingdom bow to that statue. The three Hebrews refuse to worship any but God and are thrown into a fiery furnace and there a forth being appears, they are spared and when they emerge there is not even a stench of smoke on them.

Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar has another dream of how own greatness. Daniel calls the king to humble himself before God. Instead he declares his greatness in building a great kingdom and God strikes him. Eventually he responds to Daniel’s call to repent and he is restored.

Chapter 5 Belshazzar has desecrated the Hebrew Temple vessels and God sends a message of writing on a wall. Everyone is afraid. Daniel now has a reputation as a man of faith and power and is summoned. Daniel again interprets the writing warning Belshazzar of his impending fall to the Medes. Belshazzar honors Daniel and by morning Darius the Mede defeats Belshazzar.

Chapter 6 the King states that prayer is to only be offered to the king himself no other gods. Daniel continues to pray only to God and is thrown into a den of lions. The lions have no appetite and Daniel lives.

6 chapters with 6 challenges from two gentile governments and three pagan kings.

All that leads to what really struck me about these 6 chapters. At the end of each chapter and its challenge the king starts by honoring Daniel, or Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and then these pagan kings praise the God of these men and call their people to acknowledge the same God.

Each chapter ends with a pagan king acknowledging the faith of the Hebrew captives, their difference, their character and their righteousness. Most of all the true King and God is acknowledged.

How did this happen? How did a group of 4 guys live a life that caused pagan kings to [seemingly] acknowledge and worship the true God? 4 guys who were kidnapped as teenagers are now influencing the very governments who kidnapped them. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.

First, what did not happen. Nowhere was there a campaign to discredit or insult the government or its king. No photo shopped pictures of a king with his wrong hand over his heart at the passing of the flag or no hand over the heart. No social media campaign counting down the days of his impending departure. No boycotts. No accusations of discrimination or persecution. No TV commercials, bumper stickers or T shirts saying the wrong guys in charge and it’s not my fault

What did they do. Let me lay out a few observations. I believe this is a perfect example of 1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They knew their Bibles. Jeremiah prophesied they would be here in this land. They really did know God put them in this culture at this time. As much as they may not have liked the circumstance they knew God was in control and God brought them here in these cultures. They knew not just Jeremiah 29:11 but the verses leading up to it saying to live in the community, work hard, serve the community where God put you. Even if he sent you there as an exile. Even if they are pagans. Live there and serve them well.

Humility. In each case these men approached the king with respect and humility. They recognized these were men of authority and as such deserved respect. They did not come with arguments and arrogance but respect.

Confidence. They knew who the true God was, He was their God and they trusted Him. They knew what He expected (faithfulness) and what He promised, His presence. So even when their life was on the line as it was in almost every case they choose faithfulness. Over and over when asked how they could do what they did they never spoke of themselves but as in 2:27 “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” Or in 3:17-18 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Here is how each chapter ends.

Chapter 1:19-21 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Chapter 2:47-48 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon

Chapter 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Chapter 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Chapter 5:29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom

Chapter 6:25-28 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius. Three mighty men influenced by the faith of 4 Hebrews who were captives in a foreign land. Four men who had no social media outlets. No advertising campaigns, no political machine behind them. They were faithful and they had the Covenant Keeping God caring for them.

Four men who lived out Jeremiah 29. When you work to serve and love your community it will prosper and so will you. We quote verse 11 and speak of Gods plans of well-being for us but forget the earlier verses that tell us part of that plan just may be to place us as citizens in a hostile community and we are to love and serve that community and work for its good.

What if we take all that energy we spend complaining and crying conspiracy and sharing posts and tweeting our gripes and channel that energy into loving and serving your community, working hard for its success and trust that God will have His way.

When the government calls for them to deny their faith and compromise their worship they stated their case respectfully, trusted God and accept the consequences for disobedience. That is when God steps in and even the most powerful men in the land have to acknowledge that these 4 captives have more to offer than their own powerful advisors.

These four knew where to draw the battle line. When they were called to compromise their faith, pervert their worship or even deny their God, they stood willing to die

The kings noticed their character. And instead of saying look at Daniel and his companions that result was look at the God of Daniel and his companions.

Very different than today. Instead of Christians calling a press conference to complain about their leaders and how they are being treated, pagan leaders are calling press conferences to speak of admiration for the people of God and the God of the universe.

I could go on and speak more of Christianity and culture, civil disobedience and cultural involvement but space is short. What I recommend is pick up a copy of Russell Moore’s book Onward. He does a fantastic job of laying out the Christians responsibility to His God first and how that looks in his community, regardless of it being a Christian country or a moral leader.

Do you want to influence culture even at the highest level?

Know that God has placed you where you are for a purpose. Stop complaining and start serving. Maybe evaluate your use of social media as a way of undermining the government and use it as a way to pray for their prosperity and success.

Know your Bible. Know that God has called you to faithfulness to serve in humility and compassion. Know where to draw the line. Know when to speak up and even stake your life and where you can quietly serve and pray.

Know and trust your God. He has a plan for you, a plan for peace and well being. But that plan may unfold in very difficult and trying ways. God (not you) is building a kingdom. You are a citizen called to live in and among this world to pray and serve by the grace He provides until He arrives to finalize the building of that kingdom.

And just maybe one day the news networks will cover a press conference where men of great power and influence, kings and presidents, will speak of the greatness of God and His people.