Daniel -- A Man of Character
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Only Daniel, through the Lord revealing it to him, could interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that foretold of several great empires that would mark the world leading to Christ’s return: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the end-times Babylon. And as Daniel demonstrated the excellent spirit he had been given, not in a display of ego but in a simple desire to honor God, he was promoted, becoming one of the three rulers of Babylon directly under the king.
Daniel was calm in the face of crisis. When King Nebuchadnezzar had the first dream that Daniel would interpret, the king went to his wise men and ordered them to tell him what the dream was and to explain it. The “wise” men couldn’t do it. In response the king got so angry that he decided to have all the wise men killed if none of them could provide the answers.
When Daniel heard the decree, he didn’t freak out. What he did do is ask the king to give him time to seek an answer. Daniel and his Hebrew colleagues, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, sought God for the response. And the Lord delivered the goods. When the Lord provides revelation, hemming and hawing are unnecessary, and lies have no place. And as Daniel handled the situation with calm and wisdom, the Lord was honored and Daniel and his colleagues were promoted.
“The king answered Daniel, and said, ‘Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.’ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” (Daniel 2:47-49, New King James Version)
Daniel was faithful. Daniel was faithful to the God he served and to the work God called him to do. In fact, Daniel was so faithful that the “haters” who surrounded him – jealous peers and underlings who resented his success and favor – knew there was no way to attack him except through his faith.
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.’” (Daniel 6:3-5)
Daniel knew his life and success rested in God’s hands, and he stayed close to God, praying to Him throughout the day. The haters watched him, knew his routine, and had King Darius (who reigned at this time), issue a decree that the only god or man that could be worshipped was King Darius. The penalty for not following the law was excruciating death – being eaten alive by lions.
