Daniel 1:17-20, “17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom”.
In the past we have looked at the true desire that Daniel and his friends had in their hearts and how they manifested that desire in their request to eat vegetables instead of indulging in the King’s meat. Though in the ungodly land of Babylon, they refused to be infested by it influence. Instead the Lord Himself was their influence, which was evident as He placed within them the knowledge, and skill, in all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. God equipped these men to be the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Proverbs 9:10 shows us why this was so as it reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
These men certainly displayed this, once again in their prior actions of their food choice. Only these four would manifest the wisdom and knowledge that was matchless in light of the spiritual advisory board of Nebuchadnezzar full of astrologers, soothsayers, and sorcerers. The ungodly would not stand up to the godly. King Nebuchadnezzar summoned the four Hebrews into his chambers and communed with them finding them to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his realm. Because these faithful Hebrews communed with the King of Kings and had the fear of the Lord in their lives, directing their motives, thoughts, and actions, they could not help but to out shine all the others. God showed that His chosen ones were truly the best of the best. As a follower of Christ, I believe that God’s people should shine as the best of the best in this ungodly world (our Babylon). We should shine as the best parents, spouses, educators, businessmen, musicians, actors, artists, writers, journalists, and leaders of our class. By class I mean as the four Hebrews boys were the best among their group and so should we be the best among ours. And what is the reason we should be the best, but to bring glory to God.
Matthew 5:14-16, “14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
We need to covet the fear of the Lord in our lives, in order to have the same spirit manifest that shown in the lives of our four Hebrew examples. They lived in a land against their will, but thrived with that environment anyway. Perhaps you have chosen your path or perhaps it seems you found yourself in it, or it was chosen for you against your will. Whatever your scenario may be, be one that cultivates the fear of God in your life, and live in the fear and therefore wisdom of the Lord.
Application: What kind of parent, spouse, employee, teacher, etc…are you? Are you the best of the best? Blessings Pastor Phil
He Has Magnified His Word 