Forgetting the scam, what if a truly great honor did come your way for one reason or another? Let’s say that you witness an accident, a car was on fire and you risked your life to pull some people out, saving their lives. Just to add some spice to the story, let’s say that you were badly burned in the process. Then a few weeks later, the mayor and one of your state’s senators come to visit you in the hospital with camera crew in tow. What if one of those people whom you saved was very important or wealthy, and he later came to you offering a very impressive job, but which required you to move to Los Angeles, or New York? What if you did something which was recognized by the Federal government and you were offered an high-paying position in the cabinet? What if you were offered the kind of reward which was offered to Daniel?
Of course every situation is different, and there cannot be a standard answer and response. If you are married and with three kids, your response might be different if you were unmarried. If you were independently wealthy, that might make you re-think your response to this honor. Some situations could be used to help people less fortunate than yourself, and you might take that into consideration as you contemplate a response. Some honors could be used for the glory of the Lord while others couldn’t; wouldn’t that make a difference?
Nebuchadnezzar heard Daniel’s explanation of his dream, and he replied in an astounding manner. If I had to guess, I’d say that Daniel was as astonished at the king as the king had been to Daniel. Also, if I had to guess, I’d think that there are some critics of Daniel who’d say that his response to this honor was unworthy of the Lord and of a child of God. Personally, I don’t think that we have any reason to fault Daniel at all in this chapter.
What about this “oblation?” As I said last week, we are limited in our study these Aramaic words, because they are found so seldom in the Word of God. And this word is used only twice in the Bible – here and in Ezra, a book from a little later in this era. Ezra 7 says, “Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. All the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their MEAT OFFERINGS and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.” We don’t know how much Jewish law Artexerxes knew, but when some of the more important offerings were made – such as the Peace offering – the meat offering was usually an additional gift presented to Lord at the same time. It was a special sacrifice – an act of worship. This is the same Aramaic word which Nebuchadnezzar ordered to be offered unto Daniel. Of course this may have made perfect sense to the king’s idolatrous and superstitious religion. Since Daniel had access to divine knowledge, he could very well have been deity, and he should therefore be treated as such.
But what should the servant of God do before such idolatrous foolishness? We have several examples of proper behavior under these circumstances. Acts 10 tells us about Cornelius and the Lord’s graciousness towards him. This Roman gentleman sent to Joppa to find Peter, and when he arrived he was waiting. “And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”
When Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, the Lord provided a powerful miracle to authenticate the message. “And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God.”
The Apostle John tells us that he became so overcome with the vision of Revelation 19 that he fell at the foot of the messenger. “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God.”
In addition to these and others like them, we also have the opposite — “And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
Going back to Daniel, I believe that there is a gap between verses 46 and 47. There is evidence to that gap in the first words of verse 47 – “The king ANSWERED unto Daniel.” Strong’s Concordance says that Nebuchadnezzar “replied to” Daniel. But we don’t have recorded what it was that Daniel said. It is purely a guess on my part, but I think that Nebuchadnezzar’s reply reflected what Daniel told him. “Stop, stop, this idolatrous worship of me. I am nothing but a man, as you are. But Jehovah, the God of gods, Lord of lords, and the revealer of secrets has graciously given to me the words which the king desired to hear. Honour the God of Heaven, don’t dishonour Him, by praising me. I am nothing.” “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”
How should we respond to praise beyond what we deserve? Quash and squash it immediately.
Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel ruler over the province of Babylon. Just think of the opportunity that this afforded the man of God. As governor over Babylon, he could make sure that there was law and order in the province. He could see to it that the laws which were applied to one citizen would be applied to all the rest. Daniel could correct some of the injustice which he had seen inflicted on the children of Israel. Specifically, this would give him opportunity to ease the pain of Judah, as they began their incarceration in Babylon for their sins against God. Daniel might have looked upon his life to this point, and said that it appeared to him that this was his purpose in life – that God had called him, and trained him to this kind of work. Every major event in his brief life pointed to this day and this opportunity. If he refused it, it might have been be the same as refusing the commission of the Lord. And perhaps more importantly than everything else, he felt that he might have an impact upon Nebuchadnezzar himself.
Daniel was also appointed as chief of the governors over the wise men. He was not made an equal to the wise men of Babylon – he was the chief of their governors. As their governor, it was his responsibility to govern them – to lead them and teach them. Again I point to the Magi who came seeking the Saviour before His brief exile in Egypt. Daniel may have been involved in placing in their hearts a knowledge and a desire for the Messiah.
There may be some who condemn Daniel for agreeing to accept these honors, but I’m not going to join them. They appear to be gifts of God. Furthermore, the Bible hints that Daniel did use them for the glory of the Lord. But he did apparently seek to slightly alter the king’s wishes.
One of the first things that he did when he reached his royal appointment was to elevate his friends: Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. “Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” It appears that Daniel gave up the most obvious and outward aspects of his promotion to his friends. He felt that they were capable of handling it just as well as he could. In fact perhaps he felt that the three of them could do a better job than he alone could do. He wasn’t simply seeking the prestige and notoriety that such a position might afford. And certainly, they were as much worthy of honor as he was, because it was as a group that they assaulted the throne of God in order to obtain an answer for the King.
I think you could argue that Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah were like the faithful prayer partner of the missionary. There is that man risking his life in walking up to the wicked king of the head-hunters, or the Muslim terrorist, or the drug-dealing warlord. That missionary carries the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, while there are three times as many saints back in their rooms praying for God’s protection and blessing. And when that missionary receives his final reward, his praying friends will not be forgotten They are as much a part of all the victories on the field and the point man in the field. The practical question is – are there really three genuine prayer warriors for every missionary in the field?
Daniel willingly relinquished the most glorious aspects of the position Nebuchadnezzar offered. He might have received the king’s financial tokens and then distributed them to others in need. But ultimately he chose to merely sit in the gate. What does that phrase mean, “Daniel sat in the gate of the king”? There are two likely meanings – Daniel chose to be one of the chief judges in the city. This would be no mean or unimportant duty. He could have played a direct roll in the dispensing of justice. But another meaning could be that he was the man who governed those who presented themselves before the king. He may have regulated who had a legitimate reason to petition the throne. He could have kept men away from Nebuchadnezzar who might have made him more wicked and tyrannical. Daniel could have become a second and more improved royal conscience. What a great privilege.
There is a very good likelihood that Nebechadnezzar eventually became a believer in the Lord. Daniel, I am positive, was an instrumental ingredient in that man’s faith. Perhaps being so close to the king was a major part of that man’s conversion.
The point is, when the Lord seems to open a great door – go through it. Just because you’re used to using the back entrance and the little doors, that does not mean that this new, great honor hasn’t been arranged by God. When the Lord opens a door, enter it thanking Him and pledging to use it for the Lord’s glory.