Fit For Service (Part 9a-Daniel)

This is week fourteen of our study: Fit for Service. Today we will begin looking at the life of Daniel to see what made him usable by God. 

First, Daniel was steadfast (uncompromising). 

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines steadfast as: Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering. 

Example one 

Daniel 1:8, But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. (NIV) 

As we know from reading Daniel 1, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and besieged it. He ordered that some of the young men from the royal family and nobility to be taken to Babylon to be trained for his service.  The men chosen were “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.” (Daniel 1:4a NIV) 

Daniel along with three others, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) were among those taken captive. One of the first things the Babylonians did was to begin feeding them rich food and wine.  All the captives were Hebrew young men.  They all come from the same culture, and all had lived under strict Jewish dietary laws all their lives, however, I find it interesting that the scriptures point out that only Daniel and his three friends chose to take a stand for what they knew was right.  

Proverbs 3:1, My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart. 

It is important to note here that Daniel’s approach was one of humility and not aggression.  He did not demand special treatment but humbly requested a test to be conducted through which he and his friends could continue to honor God and at the same time find favor in Babylon.   

Romans 13:1, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

We are told in Daniel 1:15-16, At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. (NIV) 

It is also important to note that after they took their stand and honored God, the Bible states that, “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” (Daniel 1:17 NIV)  

Example 2 

Daniel 6; 3-5, 10-11, Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.  At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” 

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. (NIV) 

Now we fast forward 69 years from the time Daniel was taken to Babylon.  Daniel had risen in the court of the king (s).  He had by this time served 3 kings faithfully.  It is the favor he had received which led to the passage above.  Daniel was so steadfast that the other officials could not find anything to accuse him of.  They knew however, that he would stand steadfast before God!  

What a testament to Daniel.  His only noticeable “fault” was his steadfast committed to God.  Oh, that this could be said of us all! “________________ was steadfast unto God!!” 

Acts 5:29, Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 

We know that Daniel kept up his regular prayer time three times a day.  He did not compromise his steadfastness even in the face of the lion’s den.  We know that again, because of his steadfastness, God provide a way out.  He sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was brought out of the den safe and unharmed.   

Second, Daniel walked in wisdom. 

Daniel 2:14-16, When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 

This decree was issued after “King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled, and he could not sleep.” (Daniel 2:1 NIV) He summoned his wise men, magicians... and asked them to interpret his dream.  They assured him that if he told them his dream, they would interpret it.  However, he refused to tell them the dream.  Instead, he demanded that they tell him both the dream and its interpretation.   

Daniel 2:10-11, The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” (NIV) In his anger the king ordered ALL the wise men to be executed.  This order included Daniel and his friends.  

You will recall from Daniel 1:17, that because of his steadfastness, God had given Daniel the ability to understand and interpret dreams. However, Daniel, in his wisdom, knew that this request was of major importance. Not only was it important to interpret the kings dream, but it was also matter of life and death! After asking the king for time to interpret the dream, Daniel returned to his friends. “He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.” (Daniel 2:18-19) 

The 1828 Webster Dictionary defines wisdom as: The right use or exercise of knowledge; wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. This is the wisdom which is from above. 

I want to point out here that God had granted Daniel the ability to interpret dreams. Daniel, however, did not take this ability lightly.  He knew his source of wisdom was (from above) God and it was to God he turned in this time of need.   

Daniel was given the details of the dream as well as the interpretation. When he was brought before the king, “The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), ‘Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?’ 

Daniel replied, ‘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. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.’” (Daniel 2:26-28 NIV) 

Daniel was able to interpret the dream and because of his wisdom Daniel continued to rise in favor, “Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” (Daniel 2:48-49 NIV) 

In this study we have seen that Daniel was steadfast and that he walked in wisdom.  Begin fit for service requires that we walk uncompromisingly in the wisdom that God had promise to those who ask.  James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (NIV)