Inspirational Messages

Life in the Secret Place

Reflect: How Can We Live For God In Troubled Times?

This message comes to you from the book of Daniel chapters 1:3-8

One question that keeps rolling over in my mind is, ‘’Why did Daniel refuse to eat the king's meat?’’

One might say because he knew of the harmful effects of consuming too much meat, or that he was trying to follow somewhat of a strict diet. However, the decision for Daniel to avoid eating the Kings meat was not just connected to his personal preferences, or any dietary concerns that he had. More so, it was his way of protecting himself from being ensnared by the Babylonian culture, and preserving his spiritual heritage, his loyalty, and reverence to God. Moreover, it was his way of maintaining his identify as a Jew.

Another question that comes to mind is: How are we maintaining our identity as Christians?

Later on as we read the scripture, we saw where God would reveal his Sovereignty over mankind. All through the book of Daniel we saw where God sets up kingdom, and pulls down kingdoms. We saw where man sets up degrees, and God overrules degrees to show his sovereignty, and his power over the affairs of men.

Furthermore, Daniel was a Jew, and he knew of the commandments of God, and he had a spiritual heritage with God. He knew of the God of his people, and he knew of the countless miracles that God had performed for his people.

So one might ask: How did Daniel become captive by the Babylonians, having had the spiritual heritage he had with God?

But the circumstances that led Daniel to be captured by Babylians were connected to the actions of his fore-fathers; his great grandfather Mannasseh. Mannasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord. Later, this aroused the anger of the Lord. One of the main things that he did was to set up carved images of Asherah in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 21). So God was angry with him, and vowed to remove Judah from his sight (2 Kings 23: 27). As a result of Mannasseh’s actions, God caused the Chaldeans, Ammorites, and the Syrians to raid Judah and carried away Daniel, along with other mighty men of valor captive to Babylon.

The Name Change

One of the things that the King sought to do was to change the names of Daniel, and his friends. Upon research I discovered that the Jewish name of these men each contained a name of God. Daniel and Misheal both contain the syllable ‘’el’’ which means God, and is the basis for the word ‘’ELOHIM. Daniel means, ‘’God is my judge.’’ Misheal means who is like God, Hannaniah means Jehovah is gracious, and Azariah means Jehovah is my helper.

Summing It Up

Living for Christ is not a simple exercise, or routine. Instead, it requires us to make a very purposeful step outlined in the word of God to maintain our position in Christ. Despite the obstacles we face, God still requires us to live according to his standards.