Beroean’s progress on our Daniel series was interrupted by the events of the coronavirus pandemic. After building our team interactions up again over the duration of the Home Habits series, we’re now resuming progress with Daniel. Our apologies to the authors whose articles have sat unpublished for so long. You can refresh yourself on the series so far here. This article comments on the events of the story told in our previous article in the series: Crisis, and they both cover the events of Daniel 2.
Then Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel.
Daniel 2:46
As we serve the Lord in everything we do and ask to be renewed by him daily (Ps. 51:10), we are emptying ourselves of selfish desires, and exchanging them for the good and perfect desires of the Lord. The revelation of the dream and its interpretation to the king displays the power of God working through Daniel and causes Nebuchadnezzar to fall to his feet. With the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have now because of Christ, our opportunities to display the working of God through us will be even greater than Daniel’s, as we have the very Spirit of God living within us.
The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honours and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Daniel 2:47-49
Here we see an example of the humility that Daniel had before the Lord. Daniel was aware that the works that had been done in the kingdom were due to the power of the Almighty God! And furthermore, the reward was not his to take – the revelations Daniel had provided were the work of the Lord and not his own skill. I believe that Daniel felt rewarded enough by seeing such a monumental answer to prayer and that God was with him every step of the way, but he was keen that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were given recompense for all the help they had provided.
[perfectpullquote size=”17″]With the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have now because of Christ, our opportunities to display the working of God through us will be even greater than Daniel’s, as we have the very Spirit of God living within us.[/perfectpullquote]As Christians we can struggle to serve the Lord when we are on our own, so we come together as churches to serve and worship alongside fellow Christians, and we are able to help each other when we are in need. The way we care for each other stretches from encouraging talks and Bible studies at church, to having a chat with each other, right through to catering and helping set up the hall. By providing these things and encouraging each other, we can facilitate the Holy Spirit’s work in us and live our lives as best we can for Christ. Daniel recognised his friends’ help and thanked them, while knowing that everything was for the glory of God: let’s do our best to follow his example.
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Josh Boyce, The Church of God in Birmingham
