Spiritual Diary for 12-10-2023 from Daniel Chapter One

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/10/2023 7:45 AM

 

We continue to look at the sermon by John MacArthur from Daniel chapter one.

 

Let me read you just a portion of Scripture from 1 Samuel 2:22.  “Now Eli was very old - ” Eli, the high Priest “ - and heard all that his sons did unto Israel; and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”  They were horrible sons.  “And he said unto them, Why do you do such things?  I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.”  It’s not good for you to do this, and it’s not a good report I hear.  You make the Lord’s people transgress.  “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him, but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall mediate for him?  Notwithstanding they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.”

            In other words, God - get this - actually held them in a constant state of rebellion in order to bring them to judgment.  They had gone so far there was no possibility to repent.  God literally controlled their rebellion.

            And verse 30, “The Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever:  but now the Lord saith, Be it far from Me; for them who honor Me, I will honor, and they who despise Me shall be lightly despised.”

            God says, “Look, you may be the high priest and you may have all of the promises of that priesthood, but I will set those at naught if you dishonor Me.  If you honor Me, I’ll honor you.  If you despise Me, I’ll despise you.”  The point is this.  The way we live either brings God into our defense or sets God against us.  And when we are obedient to God and live an uncompromising life, God honors us.  God is our defender.  It’s tremendous, tremendous truth, people.  And I hope, if you weren’t here last week, you’ll get the material on that and study it through. 

            I think about Joseph so often.  Joseph and Daniel are almost like parallels.  Here was Joseph, sold, as it were, into slavery by his evil brothers.  And what happens to him?  He winds up as a prime minister of Egypt.  Both Joseph and Daniel were in a foreign kingdom.  Both of them came to the rank of prime minister.  Both of them came there through the protection of God.  Both of them possessed extraordinary prophetic powers which served to elevate them to high places.  Both of them were able to confound all the pretenders and the phonies in those kingdoms. 

            In spite of all of the Satanic charlatans swarming around the courts of Egypt and Babylon, these two men, because of an uncompromising life, were protected by God, and they were given places of high prominence.

            A person who lives an uncompromising life will be elevated by God.  Somebody said that politics is the art of compromise.  I think that’s true.  I’ve often heard people say, and maybe I’ve said it myself more often than I thought about it, that no one can ever reach a high place in politics today without at least compromising somewhere along the line.  And I think basically what should be said is people who are in high places in politics have usually gotten there by compromising.  But if God wanted you there and you didn’t compromise, He’d put you there.         And if you did compromise, then you’re there on your own.  So, compromise only takes you out of the place of protection.

            Verse 10, “And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink:  for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your age?  then shall you make me endanger my head with the king.”

            In essence, the prince of the eunuchs, Ashpenaz, says, “Daniel, I like you a lot.  You’re a terrific guy.  And I’m fond of the other three friends of yours.  But I’ll tell you, Daniel, I’m afraid of the king.  If I don’t feed you the king’s food, you know what will happen?  You’ll come out at the end of this three years and you’ll be peaked, and pale, and washed-out, and weak, and the king will look at him and say, ‘What’s the deal here?’  And it will cost me my head.”  Capital punishment.

            So, behind the scene lurks the phantom of Nebuchadnezzar, you see.  I think it’s interesting that Ashpenaz at least takes the time to give Daniel the reason, which shows me that he really did have compassion.  He wasn’t just barking out orders without any substance.  He gives him a reason.  He tells him his thinking.  As much as he likes Daniel and has compassion, he will not lose his head over this.  So, things immediately went into neutral.  Daniel got turned down on his refusal to eat the king’s food.

            Now, listen, Daniel doesn’t get rebellious.  He doesn’t get testy.  He doesn’t get angry.  He doesn’t get mouthy.  He’s firm.  He’s gracious, but he’s very persistent, very, very persistent.  He hasn’t given up.  He’s under divine protection and he’s looking for another way.

            Now, let me sum up those first three points.  I want you to get them.  When you live an uncompromising life, number one, you have an unashamed boldness.  Number two, you set an uncommon standard.  And number three, you enjoy an unearthly protection.

12/10/2023 7:46 AM