The prophet Daniel any lessons for us?

Norbert L

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By today's standards much of all the ancient world had some form of having numerous Hitlers of their day. It's also fair to say Atheists compare actions within the OT to being akin to genocide thereby likening the LORD to Hitler of their day.

I believe the bottom line is trying to see the world through their eyes as if we were born and raised at that time. It's not easy and who is to say that given the standards of that time, that king is publicly viewed more like the Winston Churchill or Roosevelt of his day?

Daniel didn't have an option.
 
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miamited

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Hi vicky,

Daniel is a wonderful teaching to us about following leadership and what it means when God's word says to respect those in authority over you. According to the account, Daniel always treated the king with respect. However, being respectful did not equate to doing what the king said to do.

The book of Daniel also gives us an understanding of God's faithfulness...to those who are faithful to Him. God supernaturally stepped in to protect both Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael in the face of certain death for disobeying the king's edicts. Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael showed their very, very deep assurance in God and His sovereignty when they explained to the king that even if God did not save them, they would not bow down to the king. However, they were respectful and not belligerent or angry in their response. Similarly, with Daniel, he always spoke to the king with the respect that his office afforded him while being clear that he would also not bow down to the king.

I think this is a great lesson for us, especially in the leadership quagmire that we find ourselves in today. We don't necessarily have to do or agree with what the king says, but we must treat the person in that position with respect.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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Vicky gould

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Daniel told the king to break off his sins by righteousness -before he
became a beast for seven times. He had heated the fire seven times
hotter for Daniel's three friends to be tossed in.

Daniel showed that even after being a beast, the wicked king would still
not give up his pride. Before he was made a beast, he had a dream about
how he was a tree. Daniel told how the king was intended to get three
things by being a beast. Daniel also showed several times that the king
only got two of those intended things. The third one -to realize that he
was the lowest of men -he did not admit. The king kept his prideful attitude.

But is that all that happened to the king because of daniel’s love of and faithfulness to him? How might we need to put these same principles to work in our service to all our neighbors including kings and politicians? Or do we?
 
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Vicky gould

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Hi vicky,

Daniel is a wonderful teaching to us about following leadership and what it means when God's word says to respect those in authority over you. According to the account, Daniel always treated the king with respect. However, being respectful did not equate to doing what the king said to do.

The book of Daniel also gives us an understanding of God's faithfulness...to those who are faithful to Him. God supernaturally stepped in to protect both Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael in the face of certain death for disobeying the king's edicts. Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael showed their very, very deep assurance in God and His sovereignty when they explained to the king that even if God did not save them, they would not bow down to the king. However, they were respectful and not belligerent or angry in their response. Similarly, with Daniel, he always spoke to the king with the respect that his office afforded him while being clear that he would also not bow down to the king.

I think this is a great lesson for us, especially in the leadership quagmire that we find ourselves in today. We don't necessarily have to do or agree with what the king says, but we must treat the person in that position with respect.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
Ted, how do we understand Daniel 4: 17. King David spoke of how he could end up fighting against God’s Will. Do we need to consider living towards our enemies with this same healthy respect for fighting against God’s will.
 
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Vicky gould

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He was right. God put him in that place.
Beautiful baby, congrats.

Jonah found out the hard way that God only places you where He wants us. Nineveh was a city whose people were violent and vicious. A people who Jonah knew if saved would attack and destroy his beloved nation and people. Yet the Lord wanted Jonah to save them. Would you say that if we all don’t have someone who to varying degrees is not like this king we may not be following the call of the great commission?
 
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Vicky gould

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By today's standards much of all the ancient world had some form of having numerous Hitlers of their day. It's also fair to say Atheists compare actions within the OT to being akin to genocide thereby likening the LORD to Hitler of their day.

I believe the bottom line is trying to see the world through their eyes as if we were born and raised at that time. It's not easy and who is to say that given the standards of that time, that king is publicly viewed more like the Winston Churchill or Roosevelt of his day?

Daniel didn't have an option.
We all have a choice because of the free will God Himself gave us. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. Of course this speaks of the things that make men fleshly fallen beings. Who was God concerned with Daniel or the king. Daniel 4: 17 tells us the Lord raises up the basest of men to positions of power. Why would the Lord raise up the basest of men to power?
 
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Vicky gould

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We saw how he spared the lives of the wicked wise men that couldn't tell
the king the dream that he'd forgotten. Daniel probably kept things better for
others at times, too, such as the Jews. He kept things as honest in his dealings
and was in charge of others. He had his three friends promoted and they were
later promoted again by the king. The king then didn't allow others in his realm
to speak against the God of Daniel. None could save like Daniel's God!
Exactly the one who did not believe in Daniel’s God declared that He was the one true God. By our words and actions towards unbelievers what are they saying about the one true God we serve?
 
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Vicky gould

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We saw how he spared the lives of the wicked wise men that couldn't tell
the king the dream that he'd forgotten. Daniel probably kept things better for
others at times, too, such as the Jews. He kept things as honest in his dealings
and was in charge of others. He had his three friends promoted and they were
later promoted again by the king. The king then didn't allow others in his realm
to speak against the God of Daniel. None could save like Daniel's God!
If Daniel had not actually loved and cared for this wicked king what would probably be the things this king would have done towards Daniel, his friends and daniel’s God?
 
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Vicky gould

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Daniel told the king to break off his sins by righteousness -before he
became a beast for seven times. He had heated the fire seven times
hotter for Daniel's three friends to be tossed in.

Daniel showed that even after being a beast, the wicked king would still
not give up his pride. Before he was made a beast, he had a dream about
how he was a tree. Daniel told how the king was intended to get three
things by being a beast. Daniel also showed several times that the king
only got two of those intended things. The third one -to realize that he
was the lowest of men -he did not admit. The king kept his prideful attitude.
All these things are true but because Daniel lived and served this king if he were serving his God the king declared daniel’s God to be the one true God. We forget that every knee will bow and every being will declare The Lord is God. Some on the way to eternal damnation and others to eternal life.
 
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miamited

Ted
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Ted, how do we understand Daniel 4: 17. King David spoke of how he could end up fighting against God’s Will. Do we need to consider living towards our enemies with this same healthy respect for fighting against God’s will.

Hi vicky,

Sorry, but I'm not getting the connection. Are you inferring that Daniel was wrong in not bowing down to the king at the sound of all the musical instruments? That he should not have refused the king's decree? Is it your position that Daniel was fighting against God's will in not obeying the king?

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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Norbert L

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We all have a choice because of the free will God Himself gave us. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. Of course this speaks of the things that make men fleshly fallen beings. Who was God concerned with Daniel or the king. Daniel 4: 17 tells us the Lord raises up the basest of men to positions of power. Why would the Lord raise up the basest of men to power?
Daniel wasn't given another option.

Choices are limited by the options life puts in front of a person back then as well as today. When you look at Jeremiah and who he represented, the letter he sent to those prisoners is very clear. "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." JEREMIAH 29:7 .

There would be no option in Daniel's mind but to stay there and serve that king.

As to who gets "chosen" nowadays, it's not as set in stone as people might imagine Esther 4:14. God too has options and one of them includes allowing people in their nations to behave and act independently of Him. Isaiah 60:12
 
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Ted
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We all have a choice because of the free will God Himself gave us. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. Of course this speaks of the things that make men fleshly fallen beings. Who was God concerned with Daniel or the king. Daniel 4: 17 tells us the Lord raises up the basest of men to positions of power. Why would the Lord raise up the basest of men to power?

Hi vicky,

I like to be careful in taking things that are found in the Scriptures and generalizing them beyond their intent. Yes, the Lord can raise up the basest of men for his bidding. Judas comes immediately to mind. However, I don't read that to infer that the Lord 'always' raises up the basest of men. The Scriptures tell us that it was the Lord's will that Pharoah's heart be hardened. They also tell us that it was the Lord's will that King Nebbie find his place in the history books when he did and to be used against Israel. So, it's my understanding that sometimes the Lord will raise up evil men to a position of power because that's what the people deserve. But, he doesn't always raise up such men to power.

My understanding is that God was concerned with Israel. King Nebbie just happened to be the man on the throne in Babylon when God brought His discipline upon Israel. However, just as God used Pharaoh to show his glory and power to Israel to bring them out of captivity, God also showed those Israelites in captivity in Babylon that He is the ultimate Sovereign rule over the earth by bringing King Nebbie under His will also.

God bless,
IN Christ, ted
 
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Vicky gould

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Hi vicky,

Sorry, but I'm not getting the connection. Are you inferring that Daniel was wrong in not bowing down to the king at the sound of all the musical instruments? That he should not have refused the king's decree? Is it your position that Daniel was fighting against God's will in not obeying the king?

God bless,
In Christ, ted
Not in the least. Daniel
Hi vicky,

I like to be careful in taking things that are found in the Scriptures and generalizing them beyond their intent. Yes, the Lord can raise up the basest of men for his bidding. Judas comes immediately to mind. However, I don't read that to infer that the Lord 'always' raises up the basest of men. The Scriptures tell us that it was the Lord's will that Pharoah's heart be hardened. They also tell us that it was the Lord's will that King Nebbie find his place in the history books when he did and to be used against Israel. So, it's my understanding that sometimes the Lord will raise up evil men to a position of power because that's what the people deserve. But, he doesn't always raise up such men to power.

My understanding is that God was concerned with Israel. King Nebbie just happened to be the man on the throne in Babylon when God brought His discipline upon Israel. However, just as God used Pharaoh to show his glory and power to Israel to bring them out of captivity, God also showed those Israelites in captivity in Babylon that He is the ultimate Sovereign rule over the earth by bringing King Nebbie under His will also.

God bless,
IN Christ, ted

Ted, I agree if that is as far as it goes.no we can see from the kings of Israel He raised up good and bad kings. Daniel’s passage tells us why He does this that men would find out the folly of following men instead of God. Who cannot look at our own day and see the folly that has resulted for large portions of our present day leadership and sheep who having tied themselves to the wrong person, the wrong parties have been reduced to having to call good evil and evil good because of our not heeding these teachings. The Lord warned Israel not to take Saul as their king but they did. If we read what the Lord told Israel it is what has come to pass with secular government down through the ages. We like Daniel, Joseph etc are to serve whoever the Lord has placed in power whether they be a Nebbiolo or fill in the blank. Hope that makes it clearer. Sorry I am not a person of eloquence.
 
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Vicky gould

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Neither Nebuchadnezzar II nor Belshazzar were saved. They didn't declare the one
true and only God as theirs. Nebuchadnezzar only called him later - the King of heaven.
He never mentioned not having his own gods on the earth still.

Daniel was not among those of the groups that were called to go to the image and
worship it when the instruments sounded. He didn't refuse because he didn't have
the type of job that was among those required to go there. Daniel's three friends
had to show up and then refuse to bow down to the image.

I agree that he never claimed the Lord as his but daniel’s actions showed him and let him to declare that He is the one true God. Daniel went where he knew they would find him not worshipping the image and when Daniel had to be slain for not following the decree look at the things neb declares. Look at nebs night as compared to the night Daniel spent.
 
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