Observations from the Book of Daniel
Lessons for our daily walk with God
(part 3)
mdb
OBEY: To comply with the commands, orders or instructions of a superior;
to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited.
To constitute obedience, the act or forbearance to act must be in submission to authority;
the command must be known to the person, and his compliance must be in consequence of it,
or it is not obedience.
Voluntary obedience alone can be acceptable to God.
Noah Webster 1828
OBEDIENCE
"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." (Ex 15:26)
Oh how often we have heard preached the last words of this verse ~ "I am the LORD who heals you." Yet how often have we heard taught the conditions on this promise of Adonai Roph'ekha ? Is not our God the same "yesterday, today and forever"? Can we really expect God to pour out health and blessings to those who do not "diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes" ?
I pray that all in need would experience the healing touch of God upon their lives. But most of us know dear friends and family that are ill and suffer. As a whole our nation, the world and the Church of God is sick and in bondage. As called out people of God (as were the Israelites to whom the passage above was first directed) we must realize that there are indeed conditions on that promise. We must be first hearing Him, and then walking in obedience to what He commands.
For those who would say that we have been set free from the Law by the Blood Atonement of Jesus and no longer need to "give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues", I say 'indeed we have been set free from the Law of sin and death as Romans 8:2 declares... But let us look at the 'how and why' of that verse in context. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8:1-2 NKJV)
Again a condition... "those who are in Christ Jesus" There is a big difference between "confessing Christ" and "abiding in" Christ Jesus, but that is another study for another time.
Notice in Romans 8 that only when we are lead by Law are we set free from the Law. Sounds strange doesn't it? Dear saints, let us know... we will always be governed by Law. We must always be obedient to the commandments of Jesus, just as He is always obedient to the commandments of God His Father. (see John 15:10). As professing Christians, we are either governed by and walking according to the Law of the Spirit of Life, or we are under the Law of sin and death (The Law of Moses) and walking according to the flesh (our sinful nature).
While it is True that we are no longer under the covenantal Law of Moses (the law of sin and death), as partakers of the New Covenant we are to be now and always subject and obedient to the Eternal Law of God (the Law of the Spirit of Life) and the commandments of Christ. Does not the New Covenant state - "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts"? God is not speaking here of the Law of Moses, but of His unchanging, neverending Eternal Law. (again a topic for future study)
Does a "profession of faith" nullify the need to keep God's Law? No, rather the keeping of God's commands is the only thing that proves our faith. In the New Testament we are exhorted to have the "faith of Abraham." who Paul writes is the "father of all those who believe." (Rom 4:11), and that as "those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham." (Gal 3:9) we might enter into the blessing of the promise made to him. Therefore with Abraham as our example; we ought to seek to know and obey the commandments and law of God, just as Abraham (who preceded the Mosaic Law) was obedient to God's voice and kept His charge, His commandments, His statutes and His laws. Abraham's faith was proven in his acts of obedience (Gen 26:5, Heb 11:8,17, James 2:20-24)
And another quick thought on Ex 15:26... if we truly did no longer have to "give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes" because we are now under grace - which would make that verse not apply to Christians - then how can we claim the promise of the last part of the verse for ourselves? Rather I submit that, and as we will read shortly in Daniel, as people of either covenant we are to be obedient to the Lord God in all that He commands us. Only then can we walk fully confident of His promised blessings.
Proverbs 3 states -
"My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones."
(Prov 3:1-8)
Let us look at the connection between obedience & faithfulness and health & blessing as we continue in the Book of Daniel...
DANIEL CHAPTER 1 continued...
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." - vs 8
Daniel and his companions had been raised according to the commandments God had given Moses with which to instruct Israel after the Exodus. These young men, now in captivity in Babyon, knew the Law of Moses and the commandments of God. To these Hebrew boys, eating of the portion of King Nebuchadnezzar's food would have been to defile themselves. They knew God's instructions given to their forefathers when they were delivered from Egypt -
"Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods."
- Ex 34:12-16
These instructions echo throughout the Holy Scripture, even to the Revelation. Prophesying to the people of God, these words are for Christians of all ages, warnings to those called out of the world to be conformed into the image of God's Son -
To the angel of the church in Pergamos write... "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality." - Rev 2:14
We see that not only in the Old Testament did God warn against eating food sacrificed to idols, but in the second chapter of Revelation we read of the Lord's displeasure with those in the churches who eat things sacrificed to idols. Again -
To the angel of the church in Thyatira write... "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." - Rev 2:20
Now here today in the 21st century, it is not necessarily stone or wooden idols that people sacrifice to, but rather giving ourselves over to, and partaking of things that honor false gods. Just here in America we have gods of money, entertainment, lust, violence, partying and greed. These are idols. People worship these things. I used to worship these things, by desiring what they appear to offer and spending my time, energy and money on them. God has not changed. He is the same today as He was in the Old Testament and throughout the New. God didn't want His people partaking of these things then, and He doesn't want His people partaking of them now.
An Eternal Kingdom principle states - "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Rom 6:16)
I used to be a slave to the lusts of my flesh and the end thereof would only have been death. Now I strive to be a slave of obedience to God, with the outcome of righteousness.
There is a "ruler of this world" (satan) and he puts many things, or shall we say - temptations - before us. We must consider them. They may look good, but it is a deception. We are to be as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and "Just say NO." When we make that decision to not partake of things which honor false gods, the One True God gives us strength to stand firm and be bold in our convictions.
The question to each of us is - What are we partaking of? The delicacies of the world in an attempt to satisfy the appetites of our fleshly nature, or the Bread of Life?
"When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food."
- Prov 23:1-3
"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." - John 6:35
Amen.
Moving on...
"Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs." - vs 9
Daniels' obedience to God bore fruit, and gave him favor even among his enemies.
"He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors."
- Psa 106:46
The Word of God promises -
"When a man’s ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."
- Prov 16:7
Our job is to be a light wherever we are. In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, may our behavior and speech be pleasing to the Lord. Currently most of us are not held captive in a foreign land. But we may find ourselves mocked for our beliefs, or at odds with neighbors, employers or even family members. Do our ways and our attitudes toward them please God? Peace will never come by holding a grudge, showing animosity or seeking vengeance.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."
14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables." - vs 10-16
Here we see the fulfillment of the promise of God in Proverbs 3 and Ex 15:26. Obedience and faithfulness to God brought health and blessing to these young men.
The NIV renders verse 15 - "At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food."
And because of their choices God rewarded them. Remaining obedient to God in not compromising their beliefs brought great blessings to Daniel and Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (or Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego).
"As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." - vs 17
They entered into God's blessings, and allowed Him to reward them by their obedience and faithfulness to Him. Had they given in and eaten of the kings food because they wanted to 'fit in' or spare themselves from persecution and ridicule, do we think God would have still blessed them and granted them these spiritual gifts? Do we think God would still have delivered them from the great trials they would soon face?
Can we here today really expect God to deliver us if we allow ourselves to continually fall to temptation, or if we ignore His Word or procrastinate in doing what we know He requires of us?
James writes - "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." - James 1:12,16-17
Indeed, we look forward to a Day in which those who have endured to the end in our walk with Christ, who have overcome, not loving their lives even unto death, will receive the crown of Life. But we can enter into His blessings even now, each day, as we humbly follow Him and let no one deceive us or take our crown. We are blessed when we endure temptation and refuse to compromise. I'm sure the food set before Daniel and his friends looked and smelled delicious. But they felt that to partake of it would be disobedient and displeasing to God. So they requested the vegetables and water. And we can see the result of their bold decision.
Friends, there are consequences to all our choices and actions. Blessings on those who choose to obey God, and walk in His ways. Curses on those who choose to stray from the Path He has set before us.
Looking briefly at the promised blessings of God to His chosen people IF they followed Him diligently and obeyed His commands to them...
Blessings on Obedience (NKJV)
1 "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
3 "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 "The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
9 "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
- Deut 28:1-14
Great and wonderful promises IF we obey Him. (Deut 28:15-68 describes the curses on the disobedient.) A popular teaching of God's unconditional love has fogged our minds so that we cannot see that there absolutely are conditions on all of the promises of God. Search the Scriptures and you will be amazed at how many times we see the "if... then..." scenario. In Deuteronomy 28 above we read of many great promises of God to His people (promises that are for us as well) if they would have (and if we would) but diligently obey His voice and His commands. Not only would the blessings of God come to them (and to us), but would "overtake" or be upon them in abundance if they would have heeded this Word. This is the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping. We read throughout the Old Testament of what happened to Israel based on the choices they made, and we can see in the world around us today the consequences of the choices we've made as a whole. The fullness of these blessings are not seen in the world or our nation and sadly not even in the Church, because we have not fully obeyed the Lord. We have not completely followed the Lord with our whole heart, and loved God with all our heart, soul mind and strength.
Again, contrary to some modern teaching, God didn't give the commandments of the Law of Moses to the Jews to show them that they couldn't keep them and needed a Savior. "Let God be true but every man a liar." No, He gave them commands because He expected them to keep them. Jesus gives us commands for the same reason - He expects us to hear and obey them.
When Jesus commissioned and sent His Apostles into the world He charged them -
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
- Matt 28:19-20a
If we are to follow Him, we must first believe in Him and then obey Him. Belief and faith do not replace obedience and righteousness. Grace does not negate His commands to us.
"If you love Me, keep My commands.
Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do You intend to show Yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them. Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me."
- John 14:15,21-24
Do we long to see Jesus? Do we want to see Him, even now, at work in our lives and on the earth? Is our desire to abide with the Father and the Son? Then we must seek to know His commands, and strive to obey them.
Returning to Daniel, let us observe the result of their obedience to God's command, and their boldness in standing up for what they knew was right...
"Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm." - vs 18-20
Again, we see the Kingdom principle played out, in what Daniel and his companions reaped. They had sown righteousness in that they obeyed the commands of God. And they reaped His reward. Greatly did He grant them gifts of wisdom and understanding "in all matters". What a wonderful example for us to follow.
"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me."
(Psalm 18:20-22)
I truly believe we find in Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah the faithfulness and obedience, the boldness and righteousness that God is looking for in His people even today. My prayer is that He will find us like that.
"He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints".
- Prov 2:7-8
Just one more (for now) -
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways."
- Psalm 119:1-3
Oh how I love being in the written Word, and following the Living Word!
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
- Ecc 12:13
to be continued...
next (Lord willing)... Walking in His gifts
