“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
7. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 5:9) In Daniel’s prayers of thanksgiving to God we find him practicing the
Lord’s instruction on how to pray. He begins his prayers by meditating on the greatness of God’s character. Knowing God’s character fortified Daniel’s faith in God. 8. “Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts;
and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” I Corinthians 4:5 Daniel shows us how to wait on God and His timing. He waits for God to work in Ashpenhaz’s heart after he makes his appeal not to eat the king’s food. He waits on both God’s will and His timing since Daniel knows God is in control. He does not run ahead of God to make things work out as he desires. 9. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 Daniel is a man of prayer. As early as chapter 1 we see him unite in prayer with his fellow believers. This continued throughout his life. 10. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority.” 1 Peter 2:13 Daniel honors those in authority over him even if they are idolatrous and evil. He does this with King Nebuchadnezzar even though he ripped Daniel away from his parents and defiled the temple of God and with Belteshazzar even though he didn’t respect him. 12. “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” I John 4:21 In Daniel 4 King
Nebuchadnezzar receives the dream of his judgment from God if he does not humble himself. Daniel’s reaction is grief and sorrow. He loves the king and likely has been praying for years that he become a believer. Now when Daniel hears of the judgment that is about to fall, he does not rejoice that the king is getting what he deserves. He grieves over the fact that the judgment of God is about to fall on him. He doesn’t judge the king but longs for his good – to know God. 12“Speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15 When God sends a dream to the king of pending judgment it is up to Daniel to deliver a message that has the potential to make this fierce and volatile king become very angry. It is not easy to share the truth of God’s wrath but Daniel does not shy away from giving all God’s truth even though it has the potential to cause the king to hate him. Instead he speaks the truth in love. The king can see Daniel’s heart of love even as he hears the words of God’s judgment. 13. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 When a law is made that men must pray to one other than to King Darius for a month, Daniel is faced with obeying the law of the land or obeying God. He does not change his behavior or try to hide his faith. He worships God as he always has. At the same time he does not argue with the king or throw a tantrum over what has happened. He simply obeys God and trusts God to take care of the consequences.
What can we learn? How did Daniel live such a Godly life when the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers in the Old Testament? How did he have such wisdom? Daniel filled his life with the word of God. When the word of God dwells in a person (Colossians 5:16) the same fruit is produced as when one is filled with the Spirit (Ephesian 5:18-21). Daniel filled his heart with God’s word and then followed his heart’s desire which was to please God, That is a good example for us to follow!