This week I was pondering upon Solomon’s life. I did not randomly start thinking about Solomon but as I read the ending of his life in 1 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles, I could not help but wonder how he managed to fall so miserably. Since he was the wisest man the earth has ever known (1 Kings 3:12), logically he should have also been the best human to live because his wisdom would give him an incredible advantage and insight on how to live life. Yet, what we see in his later life is probably a glimpse of what the Lord saw would happen if fallen men had access to the tree of life. The account of the life of Solomon is so humbling. When I read the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and some of the Psalms he wrote, I amazed and humbled. His life teaches me that it does not matter how intelligent you are, nor does it matter how wealthy you are, in fact nothing of what we have even if it makes us the best in this world can keep us from sinning or from falling, only God can. Our only remedy is to look to Christ, because the moment we start depending on our own strength, we are easily swayed and fall. Unfortunately, such falls often bring many along the course with us. Indeed, such was the case with Solomon, and his father, their sins did not stop at them but extended to the people of Israel. I love that the Bible has vivid stories of people that have failed and of people that have succeeded so that we may learn what not to do and learn what to do instead. This week, as I continue in Daniel, I would like to focus on the importance of having our eyes fixed upon Jesus as a strategy to fight the urge to rely on ourselves.
Idolatry is a sin that the Lord hates particularly because it is a direct opposition to His Holiness, it is a proclamation that God is not God and that there are others like Him. This is pure blasphemy. It is a slap to His face, an insult to who He is. God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) and there is no one like Him. Anyone who elevates themselves above Him He will oppose because He alone deserves the number one spot. The fanfare, the fame, the accolades all belong to Him and Him alone. This seems to be the sin we keep reverting to as humans, always trying to take the place of God. In chapter five of the book of Daniel, we are introduced to king Belshazzar who was a descendant of king Nebuchadnezzar. Whether Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar son or nephew is not certain but for the purpose of this post, I will assume Belshazzar was a son. King Belshazzar had a great feast thrown for a thousand of his lords. I wonder what was special about the thousand lords that beckoned a feast. The bible tells us that Belshazzar drank wine in front of the thousand. I find it peculiar that this note is highlighted in the Bible as if to remind us of the sayings from Proverbs 31 that say: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of the afflicted” (Proverbs 31:4-5). Here we have a king that is acting contrary to what is written in Proverbs. During this feast, the king asked to have the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem brought to him so he and his guests, including his wives and concubines could drink from them. His orders were executed and they drank from the vessels that belonged to God and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately, we are told that there was a hand whose fingers started writing on the wall and the king and all in attendance saw the hand as it wrote. Fear took over the king at this sight. I imagine a deafening silence filled the room. What a way to join a party! If the guest were drunk, they all became alert at that moment. This scene left the king in complete trepidation and shock to the point that his limbs gave way and his knees knocked together (Daniel 5:6). With the only strength left he had, he summoned the magicians, astrologers, enchanters and the like to have the meaning of what was written by the hand interpreted. Does this sound familiar? Just like it was with his father, the magicians and company could not interpret the handwriting on the wall. This left the king hopeless, but his mother told him that there was a Jewish man in his kingdom in whom “the spirit of the holy gods” resided, a man who during his father’s time was found to have “light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods” and he was made “chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and astrologers because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in him” (Daniel 5:11). At this, the king ordered that Daniel be brought before him and he asked Daniel if indeed he could interpret the writing on the wall and promised Daniel presents should he interpret the writing. Daniel outright refused any gifts but told the king he would interpret the writing. Daniel went on to explain the writing which turned out to be exactly whatever king Belshazzar feared: judgement. Daniel told the king that because he had equated himself to the level of God, drank from vessels that were reserved only for God with his guests and wives; because he had worshiped other gods knowing too well what had happened to his father Nebuchadnezzar when he did similar things, elevating himself above God, God was bringing judgement on him. Therefore, he was found guilty before God, the sentence was clear “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end”. The same night Daniel interpreted the handwriting, king Belshazzar died. What I find striking in this story is that God makes it clear that all glory belongs to Him and whoever tries to usurp or take His glory, He destroys. It does not matter whether the person is a Christian or not, whether the person belongs to a people group that worships the Lord or not, God is clear that all glory and adoration belongs to Him. He is not to be mistaken to lowercase gods that are man-made, with ears that cannot hear and eyes that cannot see. Humility, humility, humility. That is what the Lord requires. Meanwhile, Daniel has remained consistent with his God. He has remained humbled, minding his father’s business, not mingling with the heathen. One of Daniel’s characteristics that reveal his heart posture is his ability to play in the background. For someone to have the capabilities that he had, the wisdom he had and yet to always be looked for means, this was not someone who liked to show himself, he was not the type of person that would be in the first place nor would he be the first one to volunteer answers but he will come in when requested, he would give advice when asked, he would wait for his turn. In fact, my impression is that Daniel would rather provide solutions and never be recognized for his work. It is quite impressive and the only way to arrive at such a way of life is by having a greater interest than what the world can offer which is precisely what Daniel had. In chapter six, we get another glimpse at just how important his interest was. Daniel’s interest was Yahweh. Daniel would rather be in the presence of the Lord, studying the word of the Lord, than wasting his time feasting with pagans or indulging in debauchery. His devotion to the Lord was so fierce that he disobeyed another king’s orders to bow down and worship the statue he had made. Daniel was willing to die for the Lord just as his friends were rather than compromising or insulting the name of the Lord. Daniel certainly did not know Paul, but he lived what Paul wrote: “for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). The life Daniel lived in the body, he lived by faith in God. His life did not mean much, he counted it all joy to die for the sake of His mighty God. It is incredible, beautiful, inspiring and also frightening. Even though he was an exile, Daniel never lost his true identity. He knew he was a child of God, that he belonged to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The only God who saves his people in a manner that no eye has seen, and no ear has heard. He believed the promises of his God and he knew that this life was just temporary, so the pleasures of this world were nothing compared to the surpassing measure of knowing God (Philippians 3:8).
How did Daniel get to this point? He remained focused on the Lord. I picture Daniel searching the scripture, I picture him meditating on those scripture, I picture him seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting, I picture him waiting on the Lord, on his promises to come to pass without ever wavering. Was Daniel perfect? Obviously not, however, he is one bible character who has no faults recorded so he must have been quite exemplary. No wonder he had many enemies! Unfortunately, people’s righteousness can often make our unrighteousness shine which we often seek to hide. You might be reading this and wondering how on earth you can achieve what Daniel did. I would encourage you, rather than seeking to achieve what Daniel did, to seek the Lord for yourself. He has promised to be found if we seek Him. He only asks that we do that wholeheartedly. You have to depend on Him in prayer to be able to seek Him and know Him. You cannot do this on your own. We cannot. Therefore, cry out to the Lord for help and read His word to get to know Him. Seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6). A time is coming when this will no longer be a possibility. The Lord Jesus is coming soon, so do not delay any longer, come to him!
A Word Aptly Spoken 