BIBLICAL HERO OF THE WEEK: DANIEL

Daniel, which in Greek etymology means “God is my Judge” was born in Jerusalem in Judah. However, his kingdom was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in the third reign of Jehoiakim, King of Judah dated 605 BC. Thus, he became a slave in Babylon.

But a time came when the King decided to raise special advisors out of the children of Judah by teaching them the learning ways and tongues of the Chaldeans, which were the customs of the Babylonians. The criteria for selecting these men were that they should be without blemish, skilful in wisdom, cunning in knowledge, outstanding in the understanding of science, and courageous enough to stand before the king.

Among the persons chosen, Daniel was also selected alongside his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah who were also from Judah. This was the genesis of Daniel’s ability to stand out of the crowd with a distinguished personality. Ashpenaz, the King’s head eunuch who made the selections gave Daniel a Babylonian name which was Belteshazzar while his companions were given the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The training was to last three years with constant nourishment and provision from the King’s banquet. But Daniel and his friends purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves with the King’s meal having a consciousness that the banquet was often blessed before an idol. This was the second record of Daniel’s ability to stand out wherever he found himself by mapping out his path in life and not being swayed by bodily pleasures like food or wine. (Dan 1:8)

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After the first ten days, it was bewildering that Daniel and his friends who had chosen not to defile themselves with the King’s meal were fresher, stronger, healthier, and better in countenance than those who had taken the King’s meal. After years of training, Daniel and his friends were brought to the King, and in all matters of wisdom and understanding he enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the kingdom.

Years later, Daniel will go on to interpret prophetic dreams and visions for both King Nebuchadnezzar and his successor, King Darius the Mede concerning the Kingdom. He would also triumphantly enter and escape from the Lion’s Den unharmed and alive.

But what was the secret behind Daniel’s excellent spirit that made him stand out? Below we list out principal factors that made Daniel excel exceedingly above his peers:

1. A Resolved Spirit:

God’s people are a distinct generation that will defy even the laws of the world if they must, just to please God. We should abstain from whatever addictions or sin will lead us away from God and stay committed to abstinence in honour of God. Salvation is not a one-day experience. It is a lifetime of constant renewal of our minds: staying steadfast in the holiness that God has fashioned us into.

The fruits of the flesh, no matter how pleasurable they may seem, only destroy and sever our connection to God. Daniel knew this. This was why he chose not to defile himself with the King’s meal which is a symbol of idolatry. God is a jealous God and his desire is for us to serve him and him only, nothing else, not Mammon, not money, not food nor wine. Sometimes, gluttony can be a sin. Mortal lust for money too can be a sin; if it means making them an idol in our lives. God detests this.

2. A Thirst for Knowledge:

Daniel would never have been elected to be one of the King’s advisors if not for his insatiable quest for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. In Daniel 9:2, he says: “…I Daniel understood by books…” Daniel was an ardent reader. From scrolls to Epistles to journals to prophecies to history memoirs, he consumed them all and this became the bank of his knowledge. This illustrates that: “Blessed are those who thirst for knowledge, for they shall be filled, to apply.”

Most importantly, wisdom is principal. It is one thing to know. It is another thing to have wisdom: which is the application of knowledge. Daniel could house all the knowledge in the world in his cranium but without a pious spirit and reverence for God, it would all be nothing. Why? As the scriptures have made clear, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As we progress in the school of learning, we must endeavour to live with the consciousness that sense without God is nonsense. Only by imbuing the spirit of the wisdom of God in us can we live a wise life.

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3. Steadfast diligence: Daniel was a hardworking man. He took his duties to the kingdom seriously and made sure he never played negligence in any of his roles. As believers, whatever tasks our hands find, we must ensure that we do it with a diligent heart. Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Daniel was faithful to his course in life and unwavering with the purpose God had ordained unto him.

4. A Praying Spirit: It is comical that the main reason why Daniel went to prison was for being fervent in prayer. The King had made an idol and decreed that no one should pray to any God other than it. Daniel, in his obstinate will towards serving the true and only living God, did not worship the idol and neither did he stop his custom of praying thrice a day (Dan 6:10).

He refused to compromise his standards and that was his saving grace when he was thrown into a den of hungry lions.  He could have grown fearful and denied his precepts—losing his integrity before God but he didn’t. He remained steadfast in prayer which helped play a functional role in his life.

One of the advantages of prayer as believers is that it fosters our fellowship with God. We can only know the expanse of God’s personality by tarrying in the place of prayer which by definition is communication with God.

Another merit is that it spurs transformation, allowing us to access newer realms of glory. Jesus, by prayer, was transformed in the transfiguration story. Similarly, prayer is the master key to accessing some doors of glory. Some miracles will never occur unless you pray for them. Prayer is our spiritual duty and our sustenance in life. A prayerless man is a powerless man.