Daniel 2:24, 27-28 (ESV)
[24] Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed
to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not
destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will
show the king the interpretation.”
[27] Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters,
magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has
asked, [28] but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has
made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream
and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
I find it fascinating that Daniel asked that the wise men
not be destroyed. He then gave essentially the same answer as the rest of the
wise men. They said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demands
. . . except the gods” (Dan 2:10-11). Daniel said, ““No wise men, enchanters,
magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has
asked, but there is a God” (Dan 2:27-28). Daniel could have said, “Don’t
destroy my friends and me. We serve the true God and have the answer. The other
wise men serve false gods and don’t deserve to live.” But that is not what he
said. He asked for the preservation of all the wise men, and pointed out that
there was nothing special about him, only about the God he served.
It makes me wonder. I heard a speaker yesterday challenge us
not to focus on those with whom we disagree, but to love those we lead. God told
Jeremiah to warn the people of God to work for the good of the people and the
land to which they would be exiled (Jer 29:7). That is what Daniel was doing.
Too often recently evangelical believers have been characterized as people of
hate. Part of the reason for that is that we live in a culture where to
disagree is to hate. That, of course, is hardly true. But, there is a second
reason. That is, believers have too often hated. We can rally, carry banners,
and shout down the opposition with the best of them. But we were never
commissioned to correct sinners. We were commissioned to make disciples. It
must start with a change of heart.
We have been going about it backwards, trying to change
behavior first, hoping that it will lead to a changed heart. God forgive us.
Have we learned nothing from Daniel and Jeremiah? Our presence in a community
ought to have at least two influences. First, our presence makes the community
better for everyone, not just for believers. Daniel didn’t ask just for the
preservation of his people, but the preservation of all. Second, our presence speaks
truth and grace, not in an antagonistic, attacking manner, but in a healing,
restorative way.
Daniel spoke truth, but his action also preserved the lives
of the wise men who did not yet know his God. You have to wonder how his action
affected the lives of those wise men. Some, I am sure, resented him. But
perhaps some were drawn to the true God. Only God knows. The question for us
is: How does my presence in my community affect my world? Am I working and
praying for the good of all, trusting that my words and actions will point
people to the true God, or am I working to preserve myself and destroy those
with whom I disagree? Dare to be a Daniel.
Comments
Post a Comment