It’s God’s Choice

“Then was Daniel brought in before the king.  And the king spake, and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.”  Daniel 5:13-14

It had probably been many years since Daniel had seen the inner sanctum of the king’s court.  He once had full privileges as a high official in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, but had been shelved away as one who no longer was useful to the Babylonian monarch or his administration.  When Daniel arrived before Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson who reigned after him, the king asked him if he was “that Daniel”, who was one of the captives of Judah taken by Nebuchadnezzar “out of Jewry”?  It seems as though Belshazzar had to get in a sarcastic jab at Daniel, reminding him that he was technically a prisoner and a Jew with both identities most likely meant as an insult.

Belshazzar continued by stating that he had heard that Daniel possessed a special spirit of the gods (Belshazzar was not a worshipper of the God of Israel) giving him extraordinary insight, understanding, and wisdom.  I think the king may have been somewhat skeptical of the abilities of this old Jewish man, but Belshazzar had no where else to turn, seeing that his own so called wise men had no answers for him.  He confessed to Daniel that his own seers could not interpret the writing that was written on the wall by a disembodied man’s hand nor even read it.  Again Belshazzar said to Daniel that he had heard that Daniel could interpret and make clear the meaning to him so that he would understand the message.  The king also said that if Daniel could actually do this, then the rewards of scarlet clothing, a gold chain necklace, and the high position as third ruler in the kingdom would be his to claim.  Daniel wasn’t interested in the king’s generous offer.  He did not serve the God of Israel for monetary gain or for his own honor.  He told the king to keep his rewards or give them to someone else, and that he would read the writing and make the interpretation.  Daniel was certainly an honorable man.

Daniel began to speak by recalling the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.  Belshazzar had brought up the subject of his grandfather to remind Daniel of Daniel’s commonality as a Jewish captive.  It was if he was saying, “My grandfather was the great king Nebuchadnezzar!”  Daniel responded by giving a little history about the former Babylonian king’s majesty, glory, and honor as coming from the most high God, and Nebuchadnezzar’s abuse of that great privilege.  He became a tyrant whose narcissistic rule caused people to fear him as a king without compassion who would kill at will and would assign positions to any he chose and would also cast out on a whim those he despised.  However, as one who had let his power go to his head believing his success was a result of his own effort, Nebuchadnezzar became filled with pride, but human pride in one’s own accomplishments without considering the One who is truly responsible for our success is an insult and an affront to the Creator, without whom nothing is possible.  Daniel then proceeded to tell the result of Nebuchadnezzar’s selfish pride.  He was driven from his throne, became like a beast, eating grass, living in the wild until he knew that the God of heaven was the One who was sovereignly in charge over the kingdom of men and could place whomever He desired over the kingdom.  I don’t think Daniel was attempting to retaliate for Belshazzar’s insults, but merely showing him that everyone regardless of worldly status, wealth, or poverty is accountable to God.

There are some men and women who think that they can thwart the plan of God by promoting leaders whom they can manipulate to fulfill their ungodly policies over the people of their nation.  Regardless of who becomes the leader of a nation, in particular, America, God’s plan will go forward whether as a judgment in allowing a leader to take office who will follow the dictates of those who desire to omit God from every facet of life or as a leader chosen to allow a temporary reprieve from eventual judgment.  Either way, judgment is on its way, maybe sooner rather than later.  However, God will protect those who are His, not necessarily keeping them from hardships and persecution, but giving them the strength to endure.  Many Christians all over the world have suffered for the cause of Christ.  Just because believers in the U.S have not suffered the kind of persecution that others have faced globally, it doesn’t mean that we will escape.  There are too many folks controlled by Satan who desire to bring us down because they hate Christ.  Those who remain loyal to Christ may lose some ground in the battle between good and evil, but we will win the war with Christ as our Commander in Chief.