The book of Daniel has always been fascinating to me. Daniel is one of the most impressive figures in biblical history. What has always amazed me is that according to the estimates of most historian, Daniel was approximately 15 years of age when he and his fellow Hebrew friends were taken into captivity. I can’t begin to imagine the emotion of being ripped from your culture, stripped of your God given name and forced into training in a pagan culture, in order to one day serve before the vicious King who ransacked your city. But Daniel and his companions did it well and found amazing ways to be public witnesses of God’s faithfulness and power to the watching world. Daniel’s enormous impact upon Babylon is impossible to measure. His strength of character and conviction is demonstrated over and over again throughout the book and ultimately leads two emperors to decree to all the people there was no God in all of heaven but Daniel’s God.
I am convinced that we can learn so much from the life and testimony of Daniel in our present day. Though this is an ancient book its relevance is clearly seen in light of our present culture. Daniel’s example of courage in the face of great consequences should challenge and convict us all. It is impossible to even get out of chapter one without being confronted by the extraordinary courage Daniel shows when he decides to protest the Babylonian culture by not eating the King’s delicacies or drinking his wine (Daniel 1:5-18). His protest was based upon two things. First there were the religious laws handed down by Moses which regulated food consumption an for all Hebrews who truly wanted to live a God honoring lifestyle. Secondly there was the defilement that Daniel would knowingly be involved in if he drank wine along with the other leaders of Babylon as the praised and worshipped the gods of gold, silver, and bronze (Daniel 5:1-4). Daniel was willing to suffer, sacrifice and ultimately risk his life, if that is what it called for, in order to stand against evil and remain faithful to God.
As I have been studying Daniel’s protest there has been more that a few questions which have arisen in my heart and spirit. What has spoken to my heart most is both what Daniel protested and how Daniel protested. Daniel’s protest shows his deep humility and great wisdom. I believe the way he protested was just as important as what he protested. I fear that far to many modern day Christians have become so assimilated into popular culture that we no longer resist the King’s delicacies and wine. And those who do protest often do in a manner that misrepresent God (like blowing up abortion clinics or committing hate crimes against homosexuals). So the primary questions that I have been wrestling with are what things in our popular culture should we be protesting and in what way should we protest so that God can be most glorified. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
