Find Me Faithful

FIND ME FAITHFUL (DANIEL 6)

In the second century, when early Church Father Polycarp, student of Apostle John, was asked to recant his Christian faith, he boldly declared, “86 years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King Who saved me?” The proconsul threatened, “I have wild beasts. I will throw you to them, if you do not repent.”

The proconsul then threatened Polycarp with fire, but he responded: “You threaten me with a fire that burns an hour and is soon quenched, for you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment stored up for the ungodly.”https://www.persecution.com/stories/stories-of-christian-martyrs-polycarp-of-smyrna/

What constitutes persecution? How can we handle persecution with faith and fortitude? Why is God’s grace sufficient and His strength perfected for us and in us through trials and tribulations?

Faithfulness Over Future

1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 6 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. 8 Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered — in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.

A voter asked, “How many presidents does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer, “None. They only promise change.”

“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev.

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx.

How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb? The answer is 1,000,001: One to change the bulb, and one million to write various bylaws, regulatory acts, amendments, and other completely useless legislation.

How many civil servants does it take to change the light bulb? 45. One to change the bulb, and 44 to do the paperwork. https://maaw.info/GadgetsandGames/PoliticalJokes.htm

What was special about Daniel? First, according to the king in the area of performance, he had distinguished himself, or “excellent” + “spirit” (v 3, KJV). The adjective “excellent’ is the same as “exceeding” (Dan 3:22, KJV). Daniel was preeminent, prominent, preferred and picked over others. He was extraordinary, exceptional and exemplary. None was as humble, hardworking and helpful as this high official practicing his higher calling in the highest risk job.

Second, according to the accusers, Daniel as a person was trustworthy or faithful (v 4, KJV). It similar to the Hebrew for “believe” - to be sure (1 Sam 2:35), steadfast (Ps 78:8) and stand fast (Ps 89:28). The root word is translated as verified (Gen 42:20), long continuance (Deut 28:59), like Mordecai in “bringing up” Esther (Est 2:7), assurance (Deut 28:66), established (1 Sam 3:20). Faithful is not measured by minutes or months, but moment by moment.

Lastly, Daniel was not corrupt nor negligent (v 4), or error and fault in KJV. Error is failing - a thing amiss, and fault is corruption. Failing is not doing wrong and fault is doing. The keyword in this section is the verb “find” (v 4 thrice, v 5 twice). Find is the disclosure, the discovery and the diagnosis of a covered or forgotten thing. There was no discrepancy, divergence or difference in Daniel’s public and private life, within or without, He was never discredited, disgraced or dishonored before. Daniel was loyal, legitimate and lawful. There was no scandal, shame or shock in his life; no skeleton, stench or slime whatsoever.

Fortitude Over Fear

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands — in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."