With Wisdom and Quiet Fidelity
In my morning devotional
reading I have been working through Daniel. A few thoughts struck me that I am
sharing with you. To begin, Daniel was written at a time when God’s people,
being disciplined for corporate infidelity, were taken captive into exile. That
means Daniel not only tells us the stories of 4 Jewish young men and Daniel’s
visions, but it was written for guidance for those now captured by non-Jewish
forces. Chapters 1-6 are examples of how to live and serve under pagan
authorities – who only rule at God’s whim. And chapters 7-12, declare that these
national and political powers will not always be in place, because God is
working out big things. But now I zero in on chapters 1, 3, and 6.
In the first chapter, God
gives. He gives Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (v.2). He gives captive
Daniel favor with his superior (v.9), and he gives the four lads learning,
skill and wisdom (v.17). That’s a good reminder in and of itself. Even when we’re
under a regime not of our liking or choosing, God is still very much with his
people, and aiding his folk.
But what catches my
attention is that when God gives Daniel favor with his superior, there is a
specific situation. The king wants Daniel and the other three to share food
from his table. There is no specific commandment against eating that meat and
drinking that wine. Therefore, (1) Daniel is “resolved” to not do it (v.8).
This is likely because he wanted to maintain some sense of distinction and
identity separate from Babylon. Then, (2) God gives Daniel favor in the eyes of
his superior, so Daniel presents his resolution to his superior, and takes his
superior’s concerns seriously (v.9-10). Instead of demeaning or dismissing his
superior he (3) offers him a test-case alternative solution (v.11-13). Daniel
is working toward a solution that benefits both himself and the superior, a
win-win opportunity. But then, Daniel submits to the outcome, “and deal with
your servants according to what you see” (v.13). The idea is, when God’s
commands are not being violated, walk in wisdom’s way. Seek out alternative
solutions in which all win, but also submit to the outcome.
But then you turn to both
chapter 3 and 6. In these two scenes there are clear mandates by higher ups to
violate God’s commands (worship the golden image, and only pray to Darius the
king). In both cases the believing lads quietly remain faithful. No
grandstanding, no foot stomping, no ranting and raving. Simply quiet fidelity
and conviction. For example, the three are maliciously exposed by others (3:8).
The king wouldn’t have known otherwise, the Babylonian version of NPR or Fox News
hadn’t even broadcast it. But when they are exposed and brought to the king’s
attention, they simply stand on their convictions, submitting themselves to
God’s outcome – “He can deliver us…But if not, we still won’t budge” (3:16-18).
A quiet fidelity.
The same with Daniel in
chapter 6. After a regime change, the envious undersecretaries want to trip up
Daniel because they don’t want him to get promoted (6:2-3). They can’t find
anything to charge him with because his integrity is clear and clean (6:4).
Therefore, they must concoct a scheme that will stoke Darius’s vanity, and snag
Daniel (6:5ff). Once they have the king hooked into their scheme, and he passes
the law that no one can pray to any deity but to Darius for the next 30 days,
Daniel pursues his quiet fidelity. He does what he has always done, goes into
his private chambers and prays to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (6:10).
He doesn’t rant and rave, he doesn’t draw attention to his moral and civil
superiority, he doesn’t stomp about, steaming and stewing, grandstanding and
declaring his righteousness. And you know how God delivers him.
What I find so useful and
helpful is that as a document written to God’s people in a difficult situation,
the examples are clear and valuable. They go along with God’s words in Jeremiah
29 (Jeremiah wrote at the same time as these events were happening). When the
higher ups issue directives that don’t violate God’s laws, but maybe aren’t for
our best, we walk forward with wisdom. We offer alternative solutions that can
be win-win. But if (and when?) the magistrates direct actions that are clearly
contrary to God’s order and God’s law, we live with genuine and discreet
integrity; with quiet fidelity.
Brothers and sisters,
remember our Lord’s words (which I will speak to this Sunday) and walk on in
the sober-minded traits of wisdom and quiet fidelity: “I have said these
things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Mike
(This was from my weekly letter to the congregation for 4 February 2021)
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