THREE LESSONS FROM THE MAN CALLED DANIEL
The book of Daniel in the Bible gives an account of a young man called… Daniel. Now, I imagine if all the Bible Characters had a meet and greet session, we would probably find this man in a corner, sitting and observing while Peter happily seizes the spotlight. This is the kind of man I think he was — a quiet thinker.
After Jerusalem was taken captive by the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, some of the princes of besieged Judah were taken to the King’s court to be trained for noble service. They were to be fed from the King’s table and to learn the Chaldean culture. Among these chosen princes was our friend, Daniel. While the other men did as the king instructed, Daniel refused to defile himself (the Hebrew Laws stated that some animals were unclean and not to be eaten). He opted, instead, to eat vegetables, much to the dismay of his master. Few chapters and a lion’s den after, we see the workings of God through Daniel and his friends- the Fiery Three.
But why am I here retelling the story of this man against the many others in the Bible? Nigerians often say, “follow who know road”. This means to achieve something, it is best to learn from someone who has excelled in that field. For me, I desire excellence. I desire the wisdom to live a righteous life. Who better to learn from than Abba's beloved Daniel? After a thorough study and watching a movie adaptation, here are three major lessons I got from Daniel and in turn, I want to share with you as your benevolent friend :)
THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD…
I do not think a man who has full conviction in something can be easily swayed. This is who Daniel was. It was evident, first, from the rejected meal plan that Daniel had a personal relationship with God and was willing to obey Him, even at the expense of his life. Daniel knew Yahweh, not only as the God of his fathers but as One who is to be revered even while he was in a foreign land. It is no wonder why God blessed him and he found favour in the king’s eyes. Simple acts of obedience please God and can bring bountiful blessings. An excellent life begins with recognizing God as our Lord. Remember that verse about those who know their God? Keep it in mind, we will need it soon.
…WILL BE STRONG AND DO EXPLOITS.
Following God is not without its challenges, we see it in Daniel’s life. There came a time when Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and sought an interpretation of it. Alas, none of the wise men in Babylon could tell or interpret the dream and so, the king declared that they would all be killed except the interpretation was found. Needless to say that the kingdom was on fire (but not from a furnace ;)) Was Daniel afraid? Probably. Knowing he could not rely on his wisdom, he went to the One who knows all things including Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. That was how Daniel saved the heads of many men including his. This is to say that a man who walks with God is never at a disadvantage. God is with him — he never fails.
RELEVANCE.
This, I believe, is the greatest lesson to learn from Daniel. In today’s world, it is so easy to be forgotten. We see it all the time — one-hit wonders. You know that musician or actor that was everyone’s favourite and all of a sudden, it is as though they vanished into thin air? Exactly.
In his lifetime, Daniel served as a high official under several kings! You would think that after the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel’s position would be given to someone else. This was not the case, instead, during the reign of the next King- Belshazzar, something happened that only Daniel could provide answers for. Soon after, another, King Darius, ruled and again, Daniel found favour in his sight. What would make a man be sought after for years? This can only be made possible by the Spirit of God. This is the legacy worth living- a life of excellence that transcends time and government.
The book of Proverbs in Chapter 22 verse 29 tells us that a man who is diligent in his business will stand before Kings, not just ordinary men. This verse is a summary of the life of Daniel. It could be the summary of our lives too when we learn to depend on the Spirit of God for wisdom, learn to obey His words and strive towards excellence in all we do.
