Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, fellow slaves.

I guess I’m comfortable with using that title because I’m convinced that everyone is a slave to something—or someone. There is really no such thing as absolute freedom. It’s important to get this nailed down: THE REASON WE’RE HERE IS TO BE SERVANTS (SLAVES) TO OUR MAKER. Oops!—I guess I’m preaching again. Moving right along—I need to be moving right along. Joe and I are heading to a shop to check out some stuff.

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

(Parenthetical note: This Book of Daniel is so stuffed with lessons, information, and meaning that I’m going to take the liberty to slow down here in our journey through the Old Testament and take on just one chapter per day.)

The very historical fact that Daniel was just a teenager when he was captured in the first invasion by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, forced to be a high-ranking slave, very likely even castrated and made a eunuch (for the same reasons owners do that to their animals), yet maintaining a faithful HEART AFTER GOD, is about as inspiring and exemplary as it gets. Do you realize that Daniel’s faithful service as a captured slave in a foreign environment continued for about 70 years?! With self-centered duplicity and shabby integrity so commonplace in our fallen world, Daniel glows with a halo of inspirational light and encouragement. He, along with his friends stand as role models to demonstrate the absolute superiority of a HEART AFTER GOD over any other mindset. No contest! Paul would agree and adds, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Wow! I’m already getting myself heated up! Think of it!—if you and I are being loved by the Sovereign God of the universe, how in the world can we become victims of an overpowering enemy?!?!

Please pay attention to this series of dots: “And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar’s) hand” (1:2). “Now God caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel” (1:9). “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished that any of the young men who ate the royal food” (1:15). “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning” (1:17). “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” (1: 20). How do we connect the dots? I think the best way to do so is to apply the Romans 8:28 principle. That principle does not necessarily eliminate the reality of human struggle or suffering, but it permits God to intervene in ways we may not even recognize, and allows us to participate in His plans and purposes. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Don’t miss the connection between the dot of “him who loved us” (Romans 8:37) and the dot of “those who love him” (Romans 8:28). A marriage-like reciprocal relationship is intended here that allows for the procreation of His will (Romans 12:2)—even if one is a eunuch!

And don’t miss Daniel’s use of CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES (a phrase I recall from Bill Gothard’s “Institute in Basic Life Principles”) when coping with the expectation (requirement) to violate his conscience relative to the imposed diet within this special Babylonian training program. He could have responded with belligerant refusal—“There’s no way I’m going to eat this stuff—pig, shrimp, and clams are not permitted in our Jewish diet!” But he recognized that his HEART AFTER GOD assured him that he was right where God wanted him to be, and by respect for his all-powerful Lord, as well as respect for his captors who were allowed to be that by the will of his all-powerful Lord, it was only right to explore and test alternatives so as to minimize his difficult violation of conscience. The way I process the account, I think Daniel would have submitted to eating pig, shrimp, and clams if his proposed test had failed.

May the Lord inspire us to being wise and respectful before the normal response of being reactionary and obstinate.